Happy Friday! Today kicks off the Sephora Gifts For All Event, one time use 20% off coupon (30% off Sephpra Collection) code YAYGIFTING for anyone interested so I'm using some of my favorite products to get ready. This video is actually less about the makeup and more of a personal story time so I hope you enjoy hearing about the latest drama, house updates and holiday adventures! If you ever notice that I haven't been posting videos or IG stories in a while, it's probably because I'm putting out fires on the home front lol I cannot wait until we get to a more peaceful place but we are still doing our best to enjoy the ride! xx
Thanks so much, glad you and your family got through it alright!! ❤ Zion national park is def on my bucket list, el Capitan looks so magnificent! I just love that kind of outdoorsy trip so thanks for the canned oxygen tip!! haha
You are so well spoken. I know you’ve talked about your background in TV and you have zero filler words such as ummm , and or like that are on repeat with other influencers. It’s so refreshing. Keep up the good work.
Yes great job on telling your story. We have owned many homes and never had that many issues. However, I’m in California. I sure Hope your homeowner insurance covered some of your expenses.
I’m so glad someone picked up on that because those sentence fillers especially the word “like” are so annoying. I do have a soft spot for well spoken content creators such as Erin❤
That and the prominence of ‘these ones’. I honestly cringe every time I hear it. I even remember where I was the first time I heard someone say ‘these ones’ approx 5-6 yrs ago. Now everyone says it. We live in a monkey see monkey do society. While I don’t have children and shouldn’t care…I do.
My husband and I go to Spain every summer, and since we always have to check our luggage here's a packing tip: do not pack two individual bags, always divide your clothes between the two because if one bag gets lost the two of you have clothes in the meanwhile. I don't have a bag for me and a bag for my husband- I always make sure there is underwear, socks, tops, bottoms and shoes in both bags. I also include a pair of underwear and socks for each of us and keep them with me inside my personal handbag. Hope that helps!!
I've been watching your videos for some years but this video is one of my best ones I felt like I was sitting with my friend, putting make up together and telling each other or our problems. your house reminds me of that movie that it’s called The Money Pit. Erin I promise you the things are gonna get better in your house. Once you get to know the house those problems are going to feel normal and you won’t be stressing out anymore. You’re just gonna know what to do. Thank you for sharing your story with us and making us feel like we’re part of your life.🥰
I live here in Miami, the termites swarm in May and November. Keep your windows closed those 2 months!! It's just incredible, sorry you needed to go through that.
I used a designer to help replace my kitchen. My advice is to go to the designer with your vision/choices and ask them to help refine that vision and guide you away from potentially expensive mistakes. That’s what I did and it worked beautifully. The kitchen is essentially my design and reflects my aesthetic, but the designer validated my choices and sourced some items like lighting that I would not have otherwise had access to. I think it’s important to control the process and you’ll get what you want. There is nothing I’d chant about my finished kitchen and that’s a great feeling!
I feel you about having such a huge emotional drag about house issues. I’m a single mom in Alaska and having leaks, roof repair, leaks, roof repair, frozen pipes that the city had to come dig up that night, and multiple things over the years, it has certainly brought me to tears and a thought of hopeless at times. Thank goodness my dad and family are here otherwise I would be a crazy momma! Good thoughts and prayers to you all ❤️❤️❤️
We have owned 4 houses thru out our 44 years of marriage. The house we currently own had all kitchen appliances break within weeks of each other so sometimes when it rains it pours. It will get better so keep your chin up. Glad your mom is doing better and glad they got your luggage to you. Your video was fun and interesting.
Thank you for sharing! Me and my husband are 3 years in owning a house. We started by owning a condo first. The house repairs are like no other! It is very overwhelming and we are still dealing with some issues but the stress has lightened because we are no longer shocked. I don’t think it stops just have more time in between in the future.
Altitude sickness is definitely a thing, I never experienced because high altitudes is where it seems that my body feels the best. I have asthma and believe it or not, in high altitude I can feel the oxygen in my lungs … but a few years ago I took my children and husband to my home country, Perú 🇵🇪 and visited Cusco, which is above 11,000 feet (Cusco city) and one of my kids and my husband almost passed out. Anyhow, at the end we had a great time, never to be forgotten and sure to be repeated. I’m happy you had a lovely time with your family despite of the scary moments and hiccups, it will always be a fantastic story to be shared. XO! 😘
Im not sure if you mentioned it before, but didnt you guys do a home inspection before making your final offer on the house? those find so many things that the homeowner might not disclose or hide. and you either could have made the homeowners fix it, or reduce the price of the home..many decide to decline an inspection but you might have been more aware of serious problems
My aunt, uncle, and cousins who live in Las Vegas drive to Zion National Park all the time. Their pictures are always so beautiful. Every time I see pictures of the national parks in Utah, it convinces me it is the most beautiful state in the country.
So sorry to hear about all the things going wrong with the house, as a homeowner I can definitely sympathise to the point that I sometimes have nightmares about things going wrong with the house that are expensive to fix 🫣 I hope it’s all smooth from here on in for you both. It’s a breath of fresh air watching people be real and honest on UA-cam so thank you for sharing xx
My husband and I own a home built in 1904 and it’s a very humbling experience. It’s a hard place to be when a situation is frustrating but you also are trying to be grateful. I’m so glad you had this “rant.” I feel seen!! P.S. Life Hack- put an air tag in your luggage so you can track it at all times. This works with pets as well. 🤗
Hi Erin!! I love watching your videos, it seems like you've had an adventure these last few days! 🤭, I'm glad your mom is okay, I can imagine the anguish you went through... as for the house, I don't know why but... Sometimes it happens that everything breaks down at the same time, it has already happened to us, I hope you don't have any more problems, I send you a hug!
I’m glad your mother is doing well and you all got to enjoy the remainder of your vacation. As for the house my advise is hire an attorney because it seems that the seller was not totally upfront with the preexisting conditions of the house and then have the house blessed ,lol. Your husband sounds like a dream prince. Thank you for sharing. I love these types of videos Erin .
I am glad everything is ok and I am so sorry you had all these troubles. Home ownership can be difficult at times because everything that goes wrong is on you. I hope now you will have the best
Omg. What a nightmare. I’m so sorry you two had to go through all that with your house. Hopefully you’re done with all the issues. You’re a trooper Erin ❤️❤️
Next year will be our 10th year in our first home. We also live in an older home like yours and we’re the second owners. The original owners were the first to buy after the development was built. We too had a few hiccups when moving in, one after another. It gets better but the work on the house is never done. There’s alway something, but hopefully it’ll be more spread for you after the initial few years. Now raising a toddler and preschooler in it!
Oh Erin. I know exactly what you mean about the trauma of house stuff. It sounds so dramatic but it really is the worst panicky feeling to me. Not unlike medical panic! We’ve had some minor enough water stuff and that has scarred me enough, I can’t imagine dealing with yours! You are right, though. We’re 12 years into homeownership now and just starting to feel comfortable dealing with it. Stay strong and save up! ❤
I had a five month renovation years ago and had the best contractor and workers. Every Amy before they went home they cleaned up the construction site. They even cleaned and coiled up the outside hoses. That said, 22 years later we are still friends and go to their home every year for Thanksgiving. It was the best renovation experience ever. We were lucky and we know it.
Erin, I can totally relate to the horror stories as I have had my share. It seemed like at one point for 5 years in a row, we had something major happening. But, there is nothing better than owning your own home, your personal space to make happy memories… I can’t wait to see your final look on your home. Take your time with it and enjoy the little moments… ❤❤❤ As always, your makeup looks is 🔥
Thank you Susan, I feel like we've entered the big leagues of adulthood! I could never go back to an apartment after finally having so much more space but there are definitely aspects I miss! I'm looking forward to the day that I don't have to walk around on eggshells waiting for the next thing to break lol xx
Oh, true. I have learned that I take most of my makeup and a change of clothes on the plane with me for a day. I figure I can always buy a day of clothes in most places! What a drag !
Your video was playing in the background as I cleaned but as soon as you started speaking about your mom, I stopped and sat down to pay attention. I'm so glad she made it through okay💜
I’m so hesitant to leave this comment because you are literally the most positive person ever! We’re terrified of water leaks and we’ve had 2 hairline leaks from our old pipes in 2 years and ended up repiping our house. Our AC has been replaced after waiting on home owners insurance for 3 months in the summer (California summer so probably nothing like yours) but we’re so salty about our situation and it doesn’t sound anything even remotely comparable to yours. You guys are dealing with it so well! Seems like you have most of it figured out! Good luck! You should totally do a house tour one of these days whenever you’re done decorating!!! :)
Erin, this is called the Law of the series🙃. You've had it all so hopefully all that had to go wrong went wrong and now only good things will be coming to you. Thank you for sharing all these little catastrophes in such a soft, smily manner which shows your elegance. Lots of positive vibes to you all the way from Paris xoxox
Living in south Alabama we have all the weather and termite horrors as you! Just don't let mold from the roof leak grow! UGH!! Glad your mom is okay, When it rains it pours, literally!! Thanks for the video.
Oh Erin I can totally relate. Within a year of moving into our new home we had a roof leak resulting in window and brick and repair, an interior pipe leak and wall replacement, and a burst pipe in the basement! I totally get your frustration and have felt so overwhelmed because of it. Things will settle though. It’s almost like there’s a mandatory new home ownership hazing everyone has to go through. This was a great video! Also.. Apple Air Tags for any checked luggage! I always use them. If delayed, you know better than the airline where the bag is. It definitely reduces the stress level for me.
wow you're a trooper!! when you first buy a home theres aaalllwwayyyss things that break, and need upgrading but you deff take the cake! that is a lot thrown at you in a short amount of time. Luckily that means you get a few years to just enjoy your hose and decorate!
Wow! My niece and her husband live in Miami and you practically have parallel stories! From the trees, the roof, the leaks, the termites oh and appliance issues. Welcome to the joy of homeownership!!
Yes! SO many of our friends have their own horror stories, some actually worse than ours. I think it will take more time living in the house but eventually we will have it under control xx
If they won’t let you cut down the trees cut those branches all down. We lived in a tree city too and that was an option as well as being able to remove the problem trees and replace them on other areas of the property. Best wishes!!
You’re not alone Erin!!! I have years of endless things to repair jejej… please take advice from a interior designer to refine your vision!…don’t worry about the timing because at the end, everything it’s worth
For our home we went with Restoration Hardware for every room and are so glad we did. Hearty and modern - won't look dated. I would consider their line so you can trust your furniture after all your issues. One patio coffee table faded after a rainy winter and they replaced it without objection.
I loved this video. I was happy to let you vent while I watched you apply makeup. Win-Win! 😘❤. I am truly sorry you've had to deal with those problems and yes, it is traumatic when our "shelter" seems to be falling apart. Our shelter is our most basic need. Hang in there!!
Hey Nichole, I live in New Zealand so we get a lot of rain here too. We've had the same issues and what we finally did was to buy a water pump and now if the water level gets to 3cm it automatically starts to pump out the water. Although we regularly clean the gutter and roof, the pump has saved us a few times. We can now go on vacations with a free mind .
I'm collecting my keys in 3 months and the theme of my house is 'all wood and no metal/glass' because my house has a sea view. And my plan of decorating is to buy one piece of furniture/appliances every month and take my time to get it to wherever i want it to be especially because where i live (Singapore), everything is crazy expensive. Im also keeping my toilets undone and do it only when i recover from the financial damage of renovating my kitchen because i made a list of priorities of what was most important to me and what being done up would make me the happiest and more motivated to get on with the crazy rollercoaster ride of owning a home. You are definitely not alone Erin! Keep soldering on and you will enjoy the fruits of your labour one day. Sending love your way ❤
Oh my goodness! So sorry to hear you went through all that. Homeownership really is rewarding! What you went through is relatively normal, hopefully not all at the same time. The good news is you will find what prevention and maintenance works for you. Gutters are awesome...if you do not have trees, debris, birds, and squirrels. We opted to only have small section of gutters over the front door due to all of our trees. Even the new gutters with the screens or covers hold "the stuff" no matter what they tell you. Basically they are a fancy shelf. We put small trenches and decorative rock where the water pours off the roof in our lovely Florida down pours. Decorators are awesome. You can hire them to fully decorate everything or just for certain things (wall paper, curtains, furniture etc). The key is to find someone who really listens to you. In the end they are so worth it because you purchase the right stuff once and love the result. They keep you on track of your budget and style. I strongly recommend you pick mostly timeless design elements with bigger ticket items (so your home or room is not dated in ten years). Keep the trends for less expense elements that are easy to replace (like throw pillows). Because pictures are worth a thousand words, I like to cut out images of rooms containing elements I love out of magazines and put them in a scrap book to show my decorator exactly what I love. This saves a lot of time.
Ggiirrlll - it's called owning a home. It never ends but still so much joy to call it yours. As far as a decorator. I always feel that you can feel when a home is decorated by a decorator vs the home owner. It's something to be said about decorating your own space, you will find if you take 1 room at a time, get the basics. Of course furniture and a rug. Then let the other items collect over time. Like lamps. I find when I'm looking for the perfect lamp, it doesn't happen. But when I'm just "shopping" I run across a gem everytime. So, moral of the story. You go pick out your furniture and the rest will just come together. Oh and as far as that tree....I believe I would show the county/city all of your repairs from one tree and explain the other home owners issues too with that tree. It shouldn't be allowed to destroy your investment. Loved this video. You're personality really showed through...loved it !
Thank you! I have had my fair share of meltdowns and not so graceful moments lol but I can finally start talking about it since things are calming down again :) xx
This was such a great video and the makeup look was, as always, beautiful. I feel that owning a home is a full time job in repair and maintenance as there is always something going on. The older the home the more likelihood of issues, especially if the previous owner neglected the upkeep of the home. When we moved into our home, which was brand new, over 20 years ago we have non stop problems. The main one being the building contractor didnt cure the wooden window frames properly so whenever it rained ( I like in the tropics so the Monsoon rains are torrential) the windows leaked really badly. Before leaving the house if it looked like rain we had to put bath towels on every window to soak up the water. Anyway unbeknown to us, this water was soaking through the cement and tiled floors upstairs and leaking into the living room. At the time we didnt put two and two together. Ceilings downstairs were ripped up to trace the leaks, it was a nightmare with plaster dust all over the place. It was a friend who finally solved the problem of where the water was coming from. Anyway we ripped out all the window frame and replaced them with aluminium and solved the problem. Its a labour of love maintaining a house but really worth it as each issue you tackle and solve gives you more knowledge on what needs maintained. I wish you much joy and happiness in your new home! x
Oh Erin. I feel your pain in the water issues. We’ve had several water disasters in several of our houses. Water is so damaging and it happens so quickly. At least you’re aware of the cause of the issue now so you can keep on top of keeping the gutters clean. So sorry you had to deal with this. But unfortunately, home ownership definitely comes with some negative aspects. But it’s more rewarding overall.
Oh Erin🫣. I am SO sorry to hear about all the issues your home is having. So many people warned us about needing extra money for home repairs when we purchased our house, but man that sounds excessive. We ended up FINALLY purchased our home in Sept this year and even though the house is only 2 years old, we have had to call the plummer at least 3 times and have an electrician come out to fix our air conditioning manual. I guess this just comes with the house owning territory 😩. I do hope your home adventures take a turn in the positive direction(no more repairs) only good things like decorating and really making the space your own. Your home really is so lovey. I love that you were able to get information from the owners who really loved the home💓.
This home ownership journey 😮 my advice to new homeowners is to keep the dryer vents clean (I have someone come every 6 months!). I had a designer also bc I wanted my home to look layered and intentional-I don’t have the eye for this. Best wishes to you all and happy holidays!
Oh my goodness. We too have had many issues since buying our house 5 years ago. However, they did not come all at once. I'm so sorry that you have had so much in so little time. In terms of an interior designer, it has been well worth it for us. We essentially gutted our house (live in Oregon and bought an old farmhouse with 5 acres and a horse, alpacas and chickens). The space is somewhat odd and it was very helpful to have someone help with deciding how to orient furniture pieces and buy the right size. In addition, she was a color specialist, so her eye for color added so much life into our house. She got to know us and see how we function in our daily lives too, which helped determine certain aspects of organization and appropriate "function" that matches how we live. Lighting in general is crazy expensive, but it changed the aesthetic in the most beautiful way. She also got to know our "style" and helped choose furniture that matched our desire/aesthetic. Well worth it, but it's definitely and investment. We are so in love with our house now and get compliments whenever we have guests. Good luck, Erin!
That sounds amazing! It really is worth the investment to feel at peace when you're home. I think I may try to get help for the front room and see how it goes because I feel stuck. I've already purchased a piece of furniture on a whim that doesn't work in the space so I'd rather not waste anymore money. I've always wondered how people with beautiful homes were able to put it all together! xx
Omword, you climbed on the roof during a rain storm! You're having a lot at once. Houses are constant maintenance, but the big things are usually more spaced out. The idea of a decorator sounds fun & you've been through a lot and could use some fun.
Its stressful enough taking on a mortgage and moving into your home, it’s even more stressful when things go wrong. Houses need maintenance and when previous owners don’t maintain the home problems occur. Keeping your home dry and preventing water incursions is key to maintaining it. Termites can be very intrusive so I treat and test for them annually, and maintain your home, if you keep it structurally sound it will keep you safe.
Make sure you get a counter-depth fridge so that it doesn't stick out past the countertops! :) All of this is normal when you first buy an older house. Most of it is fixed now so you will be relaxed in no time!
Oh wow-you have had so much going on Erin! I'm glad your mother was okay-that must have been frightening for you all. I am with you 100% about the creepy crawlies-I have a bunch of natural bug repellents around that really do the trick but the termites, bees and cockroaches one after the other? Ugh! How horrible for you and your husband. You have really had a lot to deal with over the past few months in your home and you still have so much grace. Love your make up look today 🦋
Your Zion film was the most stunning I've seen! It was like being there. If you have more, please share. Glad your Mom recovered, I can imagine how scary that was. Hope your house woes wrap up. I think it's par for the course when you own and hopefully having it happen now will mean smooth sailing down the road. I always say that's what would happen to me.
Owning a house is hard work! Never had a house that wasn’t! My husband works construction and he has worked for some companies in the past where he said it’s a miracle there aren’t more house problems.
Oh gosh! I am so very sorry for your first house experience! First of all, be safe! Try to have references for professionals to help you with your house. Also and most importantly, thank god your mother is healthy.
I totally understand we bought our first house and knowing what we know now we wouldnt use the same realtor or inspector. We have had to do so much and its emotional. The financial and time stress is draining and sucks when your stuck doing fixing when you budget money for decor and customizations. We have been in our house now a year and half and are just now feeling better in it. We live in Tampa and I high recommended a quarterly pet safe pest service company.
Erin hang in there! Sadly new home ownership can come w/it's share of challenges. We've owned our home for 13 years and have definitely had our share of issues! Many of which I've been home alone to deal with since my husband travels for work. You're doing great it'll all come together! Thank you for sharing and plz try not to climb on the roof too often lol Love your channel:)
there is an option to lay something on the floor (plastic, paper) in the rest of the house while having work done in it, to keep the dirt from polluting the floor... saves time and effort.
Sorry to hear that you’ve had so many problems with your house. Our first house was a total money pit. It gets better. We bought a new house six years ago and have had issues with that too. It’s definitely a learning experience!
I remember when we first started seriously looking, my parents tried to warn us about older homes but I just didn't listen. I love the charm of an older home so much, still do, and in some ways the building materials are probably better than some of the newer builds, but WOW. I will never look at a historic home the same way again! lol xx
OH MY GOSH NICOLE!!! This is AWFUL about your roofers causing this damage and everything you've been through with the water leaks. What a NIGHTMARE! I completely understand the rain since I also live in view of the ocean (Pacific) & it rains all Winter for 5+ months. Yikes, you're brave going up on the roof. I would have been so scared! We did have the main water supply line to the upstairs bathroom break a few years back and it was AWFUL!! We have all hardwood, pine floors upstairs & downstairs. The water was all over both floors and in the walls. I was pouring buckets of water down the toilet as fast as I could while my husband shut off the water supply to the house. UGHHHH. 😲 Also your mom; would have been so scared if this was my mom....so glad to hear she is ok!!! You two deserve a peaceful and calm, blessed Christmas!!! Sending thoughts and prayers! Xoxo ❤❤❤
I bought my home May 2023. I specifically did not want a fixer upper home because we are not Chip and Joanna Gaines. Well looks can be deceiving. We moved in and our refrigerator had a leak that caused mold on the hardwoods throughout the dining room. Then the piping in one of the bathrooms wasn’t done correctly so we randomly have nasty smells coming from the sink and shower drain. Our master bathroom was remodeled 3 times because it was not done correctly and caused yet another leak. To top it all off the refrigerator that we bought brand new from whirlpool dispensed water at an extremely slow rate. So that took 4 tries before they actually fixed the problem. This is our second home and we did not have any of these issues with our other house. You will feel like the house is cursed for some time after the trauma, but when a home is old it’s full of many surprises, oh the joy. I still have not been able to even buy room furniture because I’m too busy putting out fires. God speed Erin, I lived in Miami 28 years and I’m very familiar with the bug problems, but the roaches are the worst. We also hope that at some point this will all be over and we can actually start making this feel and look like our home 🏡
Hi Erin. Thanks for sharing. I bought my first home this year as well and can both identify and empathize completely with your woes. My home is almost a hundred years old and while cute and charming there are also quirks and upkeep issues that I am struggling with learning to handle ( though not to the level of roof and water issues that you and your husband have had to deal with). I can’t agree more with your very wise words that in the midst of it all we must try to remain grateful. It took so many years to be able to finally purchase a home. I had almost given up hope that it would happen. But it did and I am so grateful for this blessing. Hopefully, we will both grow as savvy, capable homeowners 😊. P.S. the insect issues are the worst. I too have a phobia and the exterminator has been called several times as we are still trying to figure out how they are getting in and how best to keep them out. The saga continues…
As a fellow Florida-girl who recently experienced a leak in her home (and then a second leak in the same room), "trauma" is the exact right word to use to describe the feeling. I am proud of you for purchasing your home and hope that you all are able to really settle in and make it your own in every way. I do suggest contacting the company who repair/replaced the roof tiles and added to the issue by haphazardly discarding the broken tiles. I would casually mention the many, as in over 100K, subscribers who faithfully watch you and how you'd hate for them to not use their company because you'd be compelled to mention them by name in an upcoming video that tells of your homeowner (mis)adventures. I will say that it gets better! I cannot wait to see your 1 year update. By then, it's likely that the unexpected ticks and quirks will have diminished and the joy of ownership will emerge. To save time and frustration, interview a few area decorators. See who feels your vibe and can make suggestions that save time and money. Next, I love trees but at a certain point I might have to cut the tree that is like causing issues down. It would be a situation of saying "sorry" vs "please" where the city or HOA is concerned. First though know what the penalty is for doing such. IJS Lastly, so glad your mom is well. I lived in Utah and Colorado for a while. I had the same issue with altitude sickness. We are talking falling out on a city street in Fort Collins... Its real!
So sorry to hear about all your bad experiences, there are so many of them too, I wouldn’t know if I should cry or laugh about it 😂 I guess as it’s an older house there are more surprises with it. I am sure you will be able to handle it and it won’t continue like that forever 😅
A house is a place that you love, but it’s a money eater. The water heater broke the first week after closing. Then the sump pump stopped working. Then the gutters froze which created mold in the house. Houses and boats are money eaters, but in general are a blessing. Good luck, honey. You’ll be fine❤️
OMG Erin! What a nightmare! So sorry about all you’ve had to deal with on the new house! I can really relate to a lot of it because we have also had multiple serious tree problems over the years, as in heavy hardwood trees falling on our house. Sounds like you really need to get rid of those trees. Hopefully your bills will impress whoever makes those decisions.
Thank you! The city arborist is apparently a tough man to convince lol but there are state laws that give us a case with the amount of ongoing damage it's caused. I love trees and nature but this particular tree has spines all over it too so it's very unpleasant across the board lol xx
We have been living in our house for over 40 years. A few years back we had a simular series of events. First, a monsoon storm tore part of our roof off. We did not know this and it continued to rain for a few more days. By the time this was discovered, the roof had caved in in the bedroom under where the roof was leaking. The whole room was trash. Then two weeks later the main drain pipe from the house ceased to work. The house was almost 60 yrs old and the pipe had finally deteriorated to the point that it would not work. Replacing it involved digging a 4ft by 4 ft hole down to the pipes in our main bathroom. While this was going on, they discovered mold between the bathroom and the kitchen. The cabinets in the kitchen had to be removed and the walls replaced. They also killed the mold with a chemical that smelled disgusting. Then the hot water heater went out. And the main air conditioning unit. This was all within about 9 months. That was the year from hell.
OMG. I hate roaches too. They are huge in the area where we moved to and every summer they would get in the house through the kitchen ventilation and just jump on the stove. We ended up closing the hood of the ventilation to block their way into our home.I hope t enjoy your new home once all little problems are fixed
When we lived in Savannah we had a house, it was our first house as well. We had skylights and one of them leaked all the time, even after having it sealed. We also had tree issues, a few of ours had tree rot and when my husband was deployed, during a storm one of the huge branches crashed through the roof of the garage, barely missing my husband's Nissan 370Z. I was of course by myself since my husband was overseas.
Hi Erin. Thank you for sharing your life updates. We recently had a water leak in our home. Our insurance company had a list of companies they recommended, as the water damage is covered by insurance. We had a remediation company come immediately as we did not want to get any mold damage. I say this so that you can think about both insurance and ensuring no mold forms.
Same here, i think we purchased ours around the same time you did yours and it's the pool we have that's the gift that keeps on giving. Had someone out to check it when we bought it and they said it's all good and no issues they filled it up and got it ready to use, a week later the side of it blew out and water ran down the hill. It was literally the day i had planned to go in. Had to then have the whole pool redone after summer was hard work and missed out on our first summer, it was sooo expensive and i couldnt even look at the area just made the vibe of the house abit sad. Ended up getting it all done however the new pool liner got a tear in the seam 9months later. Its under warranty but have to take the deck all off again for them to replace it. They also ordered the wrong liner so im still waiting for that before they can do the job again. May have to miss ANOTHER summer. Well lets see how we go. Among other things the area and property is really beautiful but the environmental factors, animals/pests is something we also have to keep an eye on and have a plan of attack for "maintenance". We'll have to start talking about maintenance checks or updates now haha the list is long but i think foundational items are really important for the first few years. I also can't wait to get funiture ive been waiting too so i can get something cohesive in the space but im of the same mind now just taking abit too long. I think after this pool is done I'll get some help with someone who knows what they are doing 😂 I'd like to take a pause on skill development for now after all handy work haha
Ugh…I feel for you guys! I feel like the previous owners did not take very good care of the house. It’s normal to have some issues, but so many one after another?! Dear God!! I hope things will settle down and you’ll get to enjoy your home and home ownership 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
FYI, the best and least expensive way to treat roaches (I had the same problem) is to buy the Raid Roach Bait Plus Egg Stopper. You put these everywhere you can think of and they work quickly, I haven't had this problem now for a very long time. I've left the baits were they are since they're hidden just in case.
I live in Parkland Florida and had a similar experience to you with extensive water damage. After that we hired a decorator as we needed some help with one room. It was the best decision we ever made we made. We then. Hired her to do the rest of the house. Now it looks like it cane out of a magazine and we could have never done that ourselves.
They can build a mesh cube over the gutter entrance that can divert debris so it builds up in a way that still allows water to flow into the gutter. My father had the same issue. You’ll find a solution. Hope you get some ease in your home asap.
This is one of reasons why I have been reluctant in buying a home. Especially, as a single female. When I was married to my ex, we lived in a house that was previously owned by his father. So the property maintenance was already done beforehand when his father and step mom lived there. I had seen a glimpse of home maintenance such as those small details that need extra care and attention to like your water gutter. It can be tasking and daunting. Things like that can cause catastrophic damage if not handled sooner than later. After being single for many years, I just don’t see myself buying a home. And even though they are a dream to look at from afar, but it’s not for everyone. Owning a home is a big responsibility and much more costly than paying rent. Due to these unforeseen housing circumstances and maintenance costs to keep the house habitable and healthy. That’s just me. You and your husband are young and thriving which makes it a lot easier to upkeep your new home starting out before starting a family. Your make up looks beautiful and you definitely look beautiful without make up as well. So glad to hear your mom is ok. Whew must have been so scary. Thanks for sharing your updates! ❤️
The issues are normal. Absolutely exhausting and I have actual trauma around several very bad experiences (very very pregnant, dead of summer, no ac and projects taking exponentially longer and inept contractors.) You have to fully get the bones in order- the pipes the roof the ducts the critters. The trees the electrical. All that does have to have a deep once over and likely repair in the beginning. The first year of all the firsts: first rain, first big storm, first hot summer, first snow (I recognize you live in FL), but you have to live in and use the house to see its weak spots. Take care of them fully and then it’s more upkeep than constant fires. There still will be fires, but far fewer and less overwhelming. Sadly, the fun part of decorating a home really comes last. Get good contractors. Get second opinions. Use references from friends. Always get a signed contract for the scope of work. Remember it will take at LEAST 1/3 longer to do any project than planned and it will 100% always cost more. A hose is a black hole for time and money if you’re renovating or fixing stuff. But after that surge and the first year or so, if you’re proactive and smart, it will be maintenance stuff. Then you’ll be more able to enjoy your home and see how it wants to be decorated and how you want it to be decorated and you’ll be comfortable because it will be your safe space, not the booby trap course it is now. ❤. Oh, and do as much as humanly possible before having children. Omg. Before babies. 😂
I have worked in Property Management for over 20 years now and I hear these kinds of stories about home buyers all the time. My heart aches for you. Hiring an interior designer sounds like a great idea. If you plan on getting more dogs or ever having children, think about furniture you could use coverings over. If you plan to spend a lot of time in there make sure the furniture is comfortable. Good luck, I am sure it will look beautiful!
Omg - our family (15 of us) went to Breckenridge, CO over Labor Day weekend. Half if us got altitude sickness. I ended up in the ER for several hours middle of the night. Horrible headache and nausea. The cans of oxygen you can buy did not help at all. No one told us to be prepared for that!
Hi Erin... you look amazing as always! I have had a lot of the same issues as you with owning a home.... for the water issues.. someone recommended these water devices I bought on Amazon....you place them under any area with pipes or where you have water issues. They connect with bluetooth to your phone so they will alert you when it senses water. It has helped us with under sink leaks... not sure it you can place them in a room or somewhere you know has water issues. They are really loud and do notify you on your phone! Hopefully all gets better soon! Happy Holidays!! Xx💕😘
Oh now that is interesting! I might look that up because I've been getting anxious now every time it rains. It could be helpful, at least until we get the room fixed again! xx
Happy Friday! Today kicks off the Sephora Gifts For All Event, one time use 20% off coupon (30% off Sephpra Collection) code YAYGIFTING for anyone interested so I'm using some of my favorite products to get ready. This video is actually less about the makeup and more of a personal story time so I hope you enjoy hearing about the latest drama, house updates and holiday adventures! If you ever notice that I haven't been posting videos or IG stories in a while, it's probably because I'm putting out fires on the home front lol I cannot wait until we get to a more peaceful place but we are still doing our best to enjoy the ride! xx
Thanks so much, glad you and your family got through it alright!! ❤ Zion national park is def on my bucket list, el Capitan looks so magnificent! I just love that kind of outdoorsy trip so thanks for the canned oxygen tip!! haha
You are so well spoken. I know you’ve talked about your background in TV and you have zero filler words such as ummm , and or like that are on repeat with other influencers. It’s so refreshing. Keep up the good work.
Yes great job on telling your story. We have owned many homes and never had that many issues. However, I’m in California. I sure Hope your homeowner insurance covered some of your expenses.
Thank you, I think broadcasting prepared me for UA-cam in so many ways! xx
I’m so glad someone picked up on that because those sentence fillers especially the word “like” are so annoying. I do have a soft spot for well spoken content creators such as Erin❤
That and the prominence of ‘these ones’. I honestly cringe every time I hear it. I even remember where I was the first time I heard someone say ‘these ones’ approx 5-6 yrs ago. Now everyone says it. We live in a monkey see monkey do society. While I don’t have children and shouldn’t care…I do.
You’re right I never thought about that but she never sounds like an idiot
The visual of Erin in a shower cap, dish gloves, climbing on a ladder to a roof in the middle of a storm is truly something!
My husband and I go to Spain every summer, and since we always have to check our luggage here's a packing tip: do not pack two individual bags, always divide your clothes between the two because if one bag gets lost the two of you have clothes in the meanwhile. I don't have a bag for me and a bag for my husband- I always make sure there is underwear, socks, tops, bottoms and shoes in both bags. I also include a pair of underwear and socks for each of us and keep them with me inside my personal handbag. Hope that helps!!
That is brilliant thank you so much for this tip!
anytime! We are very used to travel oversees and by now we have it down!! lol@@AreYouKittenMeRtNow
I've been watching your videos for some years but this video is one of my best ones I felt like I was sitting with my friend, putting make up together and telling each other or our problems. your house reminds me of that movie that it’s called The Money Pit. Erin I promise you the things are gonna get better in your house. Once you get to know the house those problems are going to feel normal and you won’t be stressing out anymore. You’re just gonna know what to do. Thank you for sharing your story with us and making us feel like we’re part of your life.🥰
Thank you so much :) I'm so glad you've been with me for so long and really appreciate your encouragement! xx
Owning a home means that something always needs repair, etc. You guys have a lot of company with the issues of home ownership!
That has been the biggest lesson so far, it makes me appreciate the quiet times! I'm hoping 2024 is kind to us! xx
I live here in Miami, the termites swarm in May and November. Keep your windows closed those 2 months!! It's just incredible, sorry you needed to go through that.
Honestly I LOVE you spilling all the house tea. I appreciate the honesty about how humbling it is 😅😅 You guys are doing great!!!
I used a designer to help replace my kitchen. My advice is to go to the designer with your vision/choices and ask them to help refine that vision and guide you away from potentially expensive mistakes. That’s what I did and it worked beautifully. The kitchen is essentially my design and reflects my aesthetic, but the designer validated my choices and sourced some items like lighting that I would not have otherwise had access to. I think it’s important to control the process and you’ll get what you want. There is nothing I’d chant about my finished kitchen and that’s a great feeling!
Bless you! When we moved into our house, 11 years ago, we had the same situations, it was a nightmare, but things will settle down
I feel you about having such a huge emotional drag about house issues. I’m a single mom in Alaska and having leaks, roof repair, leaks, roof repair, frozen pipes that the city had to come dig up that night, and multiple things over the years, it has certainly brought me to tears and a thought of hopeless at times. Thank goodness my dad and family are here otherwise I would be a crazy momma! Good thoughts and prayers to you all ❤️❤️❤️
I’m so glad your mom is feeling better 🥹🙏🏽 omg your house drama - I would cry 😭
Thank you Cindy, it's been a lot! Many tears have been shed to say the least lol xx
I’m exhausted just listening to all you have been through!! The stress!!
lol it's been a wild ride! The AC going out with roach/termite invasion was the triple whammy cherry on top! xx
We have owned 4 houses thru out our 44 years of marriage. The house we currently own had all kitchen appliances break within weeks of each other so sometimes when it rains it pours. It will get better so keep your chin up. Glad your mom is doing better and glad they got your luggage to you. Your video was fun and interesting.
Thank you for sharing! Me and my husband are 3 years in owning a house. We started by owning a condo first. The house repairs are like no other! It is very overwhelming and we are still dealing with some issues but the stress has lightened because we are no longer shocked. I don’t think it stops just have more time in between in the future.
Altitude sickness is definitely a thing, I never experienced because high altitudes is where it seems that my body feels the best. I have asthma and believe it or not, in high altitude I can feel the oxygen in my lungs … but a few years ago I took my children and husband to my home country, Perú 🇵🇪 and visited Cusco, which is above 11,000 feet (Cusco city) and one of my kids and my husband almost passed out. Anyhow, at the end we had a great time, never to be forgotten and sure to be repeated. I’m happy you had a lovely time with your family despite of the scary moments and hiccups, it will always be a fantastic story to be shared. XO! 😘
Oh gosh, that is so scary! We were only around 6,000 ft so I can only imagine! I hope you and the family are having a great holiday season so far! xx
Im not sure if you mentioned it before, but didnt you guys do a home inspection before making your final offer on the house? those find so many things that the homeowner might not disclose or hide. and you either could have made the homeowners fix it, or reduce the price of the home..many decide to decline an inspection but you might have been more aware of serious problems
My aunt, uncle, and cousins who live in Las Vegas drive to Zion National Park all the time. Their pictures are always so beautiful. Every time I see pictures of the national parks in Utah, it convinces me it is the most beautiful state in the country.
So sorry to hear about all the things going wrong with the house, as a homeowner I can definitely sympathise to the point that I sometimes have nightmares about things going wrong with the house that are expensive to fix 🫣 I hope it’s all smooth from here on in for you both. It’s a breath of fresh air watching people be real and honest on UA-cam so thank you for sharing xx
My husband and I own a home built in 1904 and it’s a very humbling experience. It’s a hard place to be when a situation is frustrating but you also are trying to be grateful. I’m so glad you had this “rant.” I feel seen!!
P.S. Life Hack- put an air tag in your luggage so you can track it at all times. This works with pets as well. 🤗
Hi Erin!! I love watching your videos, it seems like you've had an adventure these last few days! 🤭, I'm glad your mom is okay, I can imagine the anguish you went through... as for the house, I don't know why but... Sometimes it happens that everything breaks down at the same time, it has already happened to us, I hope you don't have any more problems, I send you a hug!
Glad your mom is okay. That must of been scary. Hope your house journey is smooth sailing now.
Oh Erin, I am so sorry for everything you have been through!❤ You handle it with such grace!
I’m glad your mother is doing well and you all got to enjoy the remainder of your vacation. As for the house my advise is hire an attorney because it seems that the seller was not totally upfront with the preexisting conditions of the house and then have the house blessed ,lol. Your husband sounds like a dream prince. Thank you for sharing. I love these types of videos Erin .
I am glad everything is ok and I am so sorry you had all these troubles. Home ownership can be difficult at times because everything that goes wrong is on you. I hope now you will have the best
Omg. What a nightmare. I’m so sorry you two had to go through all that with your house. Hopefully you’re done with all the issues.
You’re a trooper Erin ❤️❤️
Don’t stop for the hand expressions, just keep on applying! ❤❤😊
Next year will be our 10th year in our first home. We also live in an older home like yours and we’re the second owners. The original owners were the first to buy after the development was built. We too had a few hiccups when moving in, one after another. It gets better but the work on the house is never done. There’s alway something, but hopefully it’ll be more spread for you after the initial few years. Now raising a toddler and preschooler in it!
I can absolutely empathise with everything you have been going through. Everything happens at once and it’s exhausting. Hope your Mum is doing ok. ❤
Oh Erin. I know exactly what you mean about the trauma of house stuff. It sounds so dramatic but it really is the worst panicky feeling to me. Not unlike medical panic! We’ve had some minor enough water stuff and that has scarred me enough, I can’t imagine dealing with yours! You are right, though. We’re 12 years into homeownership now and just starting to feel comfortable dealing with it. Stay strong and save up! ❤
I had a five month renovation years ago and had the best contractor and workers. Every Amy before they went home they cleaned up the construction site. They even cleaned and coiled up the outside hoses. That said, 22 years later we are still friends and go to their home every year for Thanksgiving. It was the best renovation experience ever. We were lucky and we know it.
Erin I have no words! My goodness you guys have dealt with A LOT! I’ll pray it’s smooth sailing from here on out! ❤
Thank you so much! xx
Erin, I can totally relate to the horror stories as I have had my share. It seemed like at one point for 5 years in a row, we had something major happening. But, there is nothing better than owning your own home, your personal space to make happy memories…
I can’t wait to see your final look on your home. Take your time with it and enjoy the little moments… ❤❤❤
As always, your makeup looks is 🔥
Thank you Susan, I feel like we've entered the big leagues of adulthood! I could never go back to an apartment after finally having so much more space but there are definitely aspects I miss! I'm looking forward to the day that I don't have to walk around on eggshells waiting for the next thing to break lol xx
Oh, true. I have learned that I take most of my makeup and a change of clothes on the plane with me for a day. I figure I can always buy a day of clothes in most places! What a drag !
Your video was playing in the background as I cleaned but as soon as you started speaking about your mom, I stopped and sat down to pay attention. I'm so glad she made it through okay💜
I’m so hesitant to leave this comment because you are literally the most positive person ever! We’re terrified of water leaks and we’ve had 2 hairline leaks from our old pipes in 2 years and ended up repiping our house. Our AC has been replaced after waiting on home owners insurance for 3 months in the summer (California summer so probably nothing like yours) but we’re so salty about our situation and it doesn’t sound anything even remotely comparable to yours. You guys are dealing with it so well! Seems like you have most of it figured out! Good luck! You should totally do a house tour one of these days whenever you’re done decorating!!! :)
Erin, this is called the Law of the series🙃. You've had it all so hopefully all that had to go wrong went wrong and now only good things will be coming to you. Thank you for sharing all these little catastrophes in such a soft, smily manner which shows your elegance. Lots of positive vibes to you all the way from Paris xoxox
Living in south Alabama we have all the weather and termite horrors as you! Just don't let mold from the roof leak grow! UGH!! Glad your mom is okay, When it rains it pours, literally!! Thanks for the video.
Thank you! Yes, mold is enemy number one! xx
Oh Erin I can totally relate. Within a year of moving into our new home we had a roof leak resulting in window and brick and repair, an interior pipe leak and wall replacement, and a burst pipe in the basement! I totally get your frustration and have felt so overwhelmed because of it. Things will settle though. It’s almost like there’s a mandatory new home ownership hazing everyone has to go through. This was a great video!
Also.. Apple Air Tags for any checked luggage! I always use them. If delayed, you know better than the airline where the bag is. It definitely reduces the stress level for me.
wow you're a trooper!! when you first buy a home theres aaalllwwayyyss things that break, and need upgrading but you deff take the cake! that is a lot thrown at you in a short amount of time. Luckily that means you get a few years to just enjoy your hose and decorate!
Wow! My niece and her husband live in Miami and you practically have parallel stories! From the trees, the roof, the leaks, the termites oh and appliance issues. Welcome to the joy of homeownership!!
Yes! SO many of our friends have their own horror stories, some actually worse than ours. I think it will take more time living in the house but eventually we will have it under control xx
If they won’t let you cut down the trees cut those branches all down. We lived in a tree city too and that was an option as well as being able to remove the problem trees and replace them on other areas of the property.
Best wishes!!
You’re not alone Erin!!! I have years of endless things to repair jejej… please take advice from a interior designer to refine your vision!…don’t worry about the timing because at the end, everything it’s worth
For our home we went with Restoration Hardware for every room and are so glad we did. Hearty and modern - won't look dated. I would consider their line so you can trust your furniture after all your issues. One patio coffee table faded after a rainy winter and they replaced it without objection.
I love Restoration Hardware! We actually have an outlet really close to us too! That's really good to know about the furniture quality! xx
I loved this video. I was happy to let you vent while I watched you apply makeup. Win-Win! 😘❤. I am truly sorry you've had to deal with those problems and yes, it is traumatic when our "shelter" seems to be falling apart. Our shelter is our most basic need. Hang in there!!
Hey Nichole, I live in New Zealand so we get a lot of rain here too. We've had the same issues and what we finally did was to buy a water pump and now if the water level gets to 3cm it automatically starts to pump out the water. Although we regularly clean the gutter and roof, the pump has saved us a few times. We can now go on vacations with a free mind .
I'm collecting my keys in 3 months and the theme of my house is 'all wood and no metal/glass' because my house has a sea view. And my plan of decorating is to buy one piece of furniture/appliances every month and take my time to get it to wherever i want it to be especially because where i live (Singapore), everything is crazy expensive. Im also keeping my toilets undone and do it only when i recover from the financial damage of renovating my kitchen because i made a list of priorities of what was most important to me and what being done up would make me the happiest and more motivated to get on with the crazy rollercoaster ride of owning a home. You are definitely not alone Erin! Keep soldering on and you will enjoy the fruits of your labour one day. Sending love your way ❤
Oh my goodness! So sorry to hear you went through all that. Homeownership really is rewarding! What you went through is relatively normal, hopefully not all at the same time. The good news is you will find what prevention and maintenance works for you. Gutters are awesome...if you do not have trees, debris, birds, and squirrels. We opted to only have small section of gutters over the front door due to all of our trees. Even the new gutters with the screens or covers hold "the stuff" no matter what they tell you. Basically they are a fancy shelf. We put small trenches and decorative rock where the water pours off the roof in our lovely Florida down pours. Decorators are awesome. You can hire them to fully decorate everything or just for certain things (wall paper, curtains, furniture etc). The key is to find someone who really listens to you. In the end they are so worth it because you purchase the right stuff once and love the result. They keep you on track of your budget and style. I strongly recommend you pick mostly timeless design elements with bigger ticket items (so your home or room is not dated in ten years). Keep the trends for less expense elements that are easy to replace (like throw pillows). Because pictures are worth a thousand words, I like to cut out images of rooms containing elements I love out of magazines and put them in a scrap book to show my decorator exactly what I love. This saves a lot of time.
Ggiirrlll - it's called owning a home. It never ends but still so much joy to call it yours. As far as a decorator. I always feel that you can feel when a home is decorated by a decorator vs the home owner. It's something to be said about decorating your own space, you will find if you take 1 room at a time, get the basics. Of course furniture and a rug. Then let the other items collect over time. Like lamps. I find when I'm looking for the perfect lamp, it doesn't happen. But when I'm just "shopping" I run across a gem everytime. So, moral of the story. You go pick out your furniture and the rest will just come together. Oh and as far as that tree....I believe I would show the county/city all of your repairs from one tree and explain the other home owners issues too with that tree. It shouldn't be allowed to destroy your investment. Loved this video. You're personality really showed through...loved it !
Erin! That’s a lot in a short amount of time. You’re handling it with Grace. Hope from here on out is much better at the house. Keep us updated xx
Thank you! I have had my fair share of meltdowns and not so graceful moments lol but I can finally start talking about it since things are calming down again :) xx
Definitely you're not alone! Owning a house is not easy... Fun seeing you using the PML palette after last video but that was the point 😉
This was such a great video and the makeup look was, as always, beautiful.
I feel that owning a home is a full time job in repair and maintenance as there is always something going on. The older the home the more likelihood of issues, especially if the previous owner neglected the upkeep of the home.
When we moved into our home, which was brand new, over 20 years ago we have non stop problems. The main one being the building contractor didnt cure the wooden window frames properly so whenever it rained ( I like in the tropics so the Monsoon rains are torrential) the windows leaked really badly. Before leaving the house if it looked like rain we had to put bath towels on every window to soak up the water. Anyway unbeknown to us, this water was soaking through the cement and tiled floors upstairs and leaking into the living room. At the time we didnt put two and two together. Ceilings downstairs were ripped up to trace the leaks, it was a nightmare with plaster dust all over the place. It was a friend who finally solved the problem of where the water was coming from. Anyway we ripped out all the window frame and replaced them with aluminium and solved the problem.
Its a labour of love maintaining a house but really worth it as each issue you tackle and solve gives you more knowledge on what needs maintained.
I wish you much joy and happiness in your new home! x
Oh Erin. I feel your pain in the water issues. We’ve had several water disasters in several of our houses. Water is so damaging and it happens so quickly. At least you’re aware of the cause of the issue now so you can keep on top of keeping the gutters clean. So sorry you had to deal with this. But unfortunately, home ownership definitely comes with some negative aspects. But it’s more rewarding overall.
Oh Erin🫣. I am SO sorry to hear about all the issues your home is having. So many people warned us about needing extra money for home repairs when we purchased our house, but man that sounds excessive. We ended up FINALLY purchased our home in Sept this year and even though the house is only 2 years old, we have had to call the plummer at least 3 times and have an electrician come out to fix our air conditioning manual. I guess this just comes with the house owning territory 😩. I do hope your home adventures take a turn in the positive direction(no more repairs) only good things like decorating and really making the space your own. Your home really is so lovey. I love that you were able to get information from the owners who really loved the home💓.
This home ownership journey 😮 my advice to new homeowners is to keep the dryer vents clean (I have someone come every 6 months!). I had a designer also bc I wanted my home to look layered and intentional-I don’t have the eye for this. Best wishes to you all and happy holidays!
Oh my goodness. We too have had many issues since buying our house 5 years ago. However, they did not come all at once. I'm so sorry that you have had so much in so little time. In terms of an interior designer, it has been well worth it for us. We essentially gutted our house (live in Oregon and bought an old farmhouse with 5 acres and a horse, alpacas and chickens). The space is somewhat odd and it was very helpful to have someone help with deciding how to orient furniture pieces and buy the right size. In addition, she was a color specialist, so her eye for color added so much life into our house. She got to know us and see how we function in our daily lives too, which helped determine certain aspects of organization and appropriate "function" that matches how we live. Lighting in general is crazy expensive, but it changed the aesthetic in the most beautiful way. She also got to know our "style" and helped choose furniture that matched our desire/aesthetic. Well worth it, but it's definitely and investment. We are so in love with our house now and get compliments whenever we have guests. Good luck, Erin!
That sounds amazing! It really is worth the investment to feel at peace when you're home. I think I may try to get help for the front room and see how it goes because I feel stuck. I've already purchased a piece of furniture on a whim that doesn't work in the space so I'd rather not waste anymore money. I've always wondered how people with beautiful homes were able to put it all together! xx
Omword, you climbed on the roof during a rain storm! You're having a lot at once. Houses are constant maintenance, but the big things are usually more spaced out. The idea of a decorator sounds fun & you've been through a lot and could use some fun.
Its stressful enough taking on a mortgage and moving into your home, it’s even more stressful when things go wrong. Houses need maintenance and when previous owners don’t maintain the home problems occur. Keeping your home dry and preventing water incursions is key to maintaining it. Termites can be very intrusive so I treat and test for them annually, and maintain your home, if you keep it structurally sound it will keep you safe.
Make sure you get a counter-depth fridge so that it doesn't stick out past the countertops! :) All of this is normal when you first buy an older house. Most of it is fixed now so you will be relaxed in no time!
Thank you! Yes, counter-depth it is! xx
Counter depth also means small! Get a garage fridge if you plan to ever shop for more than 2 people!
Oh wow-you have had so much going on Erin! I'm glad your mother was okay-that must have been frightening for you all.
I am with you 100% about the creepy crawlies-I have a bunch of natural bug repellents around that really do the trick but the termites, bees and cockroaches one after the other? Ugh! How horrible for you and your husband. You have really had a lot to deal with over the past few months in your home and you still have so much grace. Love your make up look today 🦋
Your Zion film was the most stunning I've seen! It was like being there. If you have more, please share. Glad your Mom recovered, I can imagine how scary that was. Hope your house woes wrap up. I think it's par for the course when you own and hopefully having it happen now will mean smooth sailing down the road. I always say that's what would happen to me.
Owning a house is hard work! Never had a house that wasn’t! My husband works construction and he has worked for some companies in the past where he said it’s a miracle there aren’t more house problems.
Wow! Thanks for sharing this. We can all learn from this.
‘I need options!’ Every time I overpack for a vacation. I’m always met with eye rolls. I rarely use the ‘options’.
Oh gosh! I am so very sorry for your first house experience! First of all, be safe! Try to have references for professionals to help you with your house. Also and most importantly, thank god your mother is healthy.
Our decorator is worth every penny. Every penny.
LOL! Owning a home can be a bitter sweet experience. It takes a little time to get things in order. It will all come together in time.
I totally understand we bought our first house and knowing what we know now we wouldnt use the same realtor or inspector. We have had to do so much and its emotional. The financial and time stress is draining and sucks when your stuck doing fixing when you budget money for decor and customizations. We have been in our house now a year and half and are just now feeling better in it. We live in Tampa and I high recommended a quarterly pet safe pest service company.
Erin hang in there! Sadly new home ownership can come w/it's share of challenges. We've owned our home for 13 years and have definitely had our share of issues! Many of which I've been home alone to deal with since my husband travels for work. You're doing great it'll all come together! Thank you for sharing and plz try not to climb on the roof too often lol Love your channel:)
Happy Friday Things are going to happen when you own a older home, glad to hear things are going better for you 2, God Bless.
there is an option to lay something on the floor (plastic, paper) in the rest of the house while having work done in it, to keep the dirt from polluting the floor... saves time and effort.
Sorry to hear that you’ve had so many problems with your house. Our first house was a total money pit. It gets better. We bought a new house six years ago and have had issues with that too. It’s definitely a learning experience!
I remember when we first started seriously looking, my parents tried to warn us about older homes but I just didn't listen. I love the charm of an older home so much, still do, and in some ways the building materials are probably better than some of the newer builds, but WOW. I will never look at a historic home the same way again! lol xx
Love ur video, we have had many of the same problems and hurricane damage. Right now, it’s good. ❤
OH MY GOSH NICOLE!!! This is AWFUL about your roofers causing this damage and everything you've been through with the water leaks. What a NIGHTMARE! I completely understand the rain since I also live in view of the ocean (Pacific) & it rains all Winter for 5+ months. Yikes, you're brave going up on the roof. I would have been so scared! We did have the main water supply line to the upstairs bathroom break a few years back and it was AWFUL!! We have all hardwood, pine floors upstairs & downstairs. The water was all over both floors and in the walls. I was pouring buckets of water down the toilet as fast as I could while my husband shut off the water supply to the house. UGHHHH. 😲 Also your mom; would have been so scared if this was my mom....so glad to hear she is ok!!! You two deserve a peaceful and calm, blessed Christmas!!! Sending thoughts and prayers! Xoxo ❤❤❤
I bought my home May 2023. I specifically did not want a fixer upper home because we are not Chip and Joanna Gaines. Well looks can be deceiving. We moved in and our refrigerator had a leak that caused mold on the hardwoods throughout the dining room. Then the piping in one of the bathrooms wasn’t done correctly so we randomly have nasty smells coming from the sink and shower drain. Our master bathroom was remodeled 3 times because it was not done correctly and caused yet another leak. To top it all off the refrigerator that we bought brand new from whirlpool dispensed water at an extremely slow rate. So that took 4 tries before they actually fixed the problem. This is our second home and we did not have any of these issues with our other house. You will feel like the house is cursed for some time after the trauma, but when a home is old it’s full of many surprises, oh the joy. I still have not been able to even buy room furniture because I’m too busy putting out fires. God speed Erin, I lived in Miami 28 years and I’m very familiar with the bug problems, but the roaches are the worst. We also hope that at some point this will all be over and we can actually start making this feel and look like our home 🏡
Hi Erin. Thanks for sharing. I bought my first home this year as well and can both identify and empathize completely with your woes. My home is almost a hundred years old and while cute and charming there are also quirks and upkeep issues that I am struggling with learning to handle ( though not to the level of roof and water issues that you and your husband have had to deal with). I can’t agree more with your very wise words that in the midst of it all we must try to remain grateful. It took so many years to be able to finally purchase a home. I had almost given up hope that it would happen. But it did and I am so grateful for this blessing. Hopefully, we will both grow as savvy, capable homeowners 😊. P.S. the insect issues are the worst. I too have a phobia and the exterminator has been called several times as we are still trying to figure out how they are getting in and how best to keep them out. The saga continues…
As a fellow Florida-girl who recently experienced a leak in her home (and then a second leak in the same room), "trauma" is the exact right word to use to describe the feeling. I am proud of you for purchasing your home and hope that you all are able to really settle in and make it your own in every way. I do suggest contacting the company who repair/replaced the roof tiles and added to the issue by haphazardly discarding the broken tiles. I would casually mention the many, as in over 100K, subscribers who faithfully watch you and how you'd hate for them to not use their company because you'd be compelled to mention them by name in an upcoming video that tells of your homeowner (mis)adventures. I will say that it gets better! I cannot wait to see your 1 year update. By then, it's likely that the unexpected ticks and quirks will have diminished and the joy of ownership will emerge. To save time and frustration, interview a few area decorators. See who feels your vibe and can make suggestions that save time and money. Next, I love trees but at a certain point I might have to cut the tree that is like causing issues down. It would be a situation of saying "sorry" vs "please" where the city or HOA is concerned. First though know what the penalty is for doing such. IJS Lastly, so glad your mom is well. I lived in Utah and Colorado for a while. I had the same issue with altitude sickness. We are talking falling out on a city street in Fort Collins... Its real!
So sorry to hear about all your bad experiences, there are so many of them too, I wouldn’t know if I should cry or laugh about it 😂 I guess as it’s an older house there are more surprises with it. I am sure you will be able to handle it and it won’t continue like that forever 😅
A house is a place that you love, but it’s a money eater. The water heater broke the first week after closing. Then the sump pump stopped working. Then the gutters froze which created mold in the house. Houses and boats are money eaters, but in general are a blessing. Good luck, honey. You’ll be fine❤️
It s a lot in such a short time!!!!!!!!!! Hope now it s going to be just happy moments !!
I’m so sorry! This shall pass! 🙏🏻💕
OMG Erin! What a nightmare! So sorry about all you’ve had to deal with on the new house! I can really relate to a lot of it because we have also had multiple serious tree problems over the years, as in heavy hardwood trees falling on our house. Sounds like you really need to get rid of those trees. Hopefully your bills will impress whoever makes those decisions.
Thank you! The city arborist is apparently a tough man to convince lol but there are state laws that give us a case with the amount of ongoing damage it's caused. I love trees and nature but this particular tree has spines all over it too so it's very unpleasant across the board lol xx
Wow, so sorry you have been having so many troubles! 🙏🏻💕
Thank you so Stephanie! xx
We have been living in our house for over 40 years. A few years back we had a simular series of events. First, a monsoon storm tore part of our roof off. We did not know this and it continued to rain for a few more days. By the time this was discovered, the roof had caved in in the bedroom under where the roof was leaking. The whole room was trash. Then two weeks later the main drain pipe from the house ceased to work. The house was almost 60 yrs old and the pipe had finally deteriorated to the point that it would not work. Replacing it involved digging a 4ft by 4 ft hole down to the pipes in our main bathroom. While this was going on, they discovered mold between the bathroom and the kitchen. The cabinets in the kitchen had to be removed and the walls replaced. They also killed the mold with a chemical that smelled disgusting. Then the hot water heater went out. And the main air conditioning unit. This was all within about 9 months. That was the year from hell.
OMG. I hate roaches too. They are huge in the area where we moved to and every summer they would get in the house through the kitchen ventilation and just jump on the stove. We ended up closing the hood of the ventilation to block their way into our home.I hope t enjoy your new home once all little problems are fixed
When we lived in Savannah we had a house, it was our first house as well. We had skylights and one of them leaked all the time, even after having it sealed. We also had tree issues, a few of ours had tree rot and when my husband was deployed, during a storm one of the huge branches crashed through the roof of the garage, barely missing my husband's Nissan 370Z. I was of course by myself since my husband was overseas.
Hi Erin. Thank you for sharing your life updates. We recently had a water leak in our home. Our insurance company had a list of companies they recommended, as the water damage is covered by insurance. We had a remediation company come immediately as we did not want to get any mold damage. I say this so that you can think about both insurance and ensuring no mold forms.
Same here, i think we purchased ours around the same time you did yours and it's the pool we have that's the gift that keeps on giving. Had someone out to check it when we bought it and they said it's all good and no issues they filled it up and got it ready to use, a week later the side of it blew out and water ran down the hill. It was literally the day i had planned to go in. Had to then have the whole pool redone after summer was hard work and missed out on our first summer, it was sooo expensive and i couldnt even look at the area just made the vibe of the house abit sad. Ended up getting it all done however the new pool liner got a tear in the seam 9months later. Its under warranty but have to take the deck all off again for them to replace it. They also ordered the wrong liner so im still waiting for that before they can do the job again. May have to miss ANOTHER summer. Well lets see how we go. Among other things the area and property is really beautiful but the environmental factors, animals/pests is something we also have to keep an eye on and have a plan of attack for "maintenance". We'll have to start talking about maintenance checks or updates now haha the list is long but i think foundational items are really important for the first few years. I also can't wait to get funiture ive been waiting too so i can get something cohesive in the space but im of the same mind now just taking abit too long. I think after this pool is done I'll get some help with someone who knows what they are doing 😂 I'd like to take a pause on skill development for now after all handy work haha
Ugh…I feel for you guys! I feel like the previous owners did not take very good care of the house. It’s normal to have some issues, but so many one after another?! Dear God!!
I hope things will settle down and you’ll get to enjoy your home and home ownership 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
FYI, the best and least expensive way to treat roaches (I had the same problem) is to buy the Raid Roach Bait Plus Egg Stopper. You put these everywhere you can think of and they work quickly, I haven't had this problem now for a very long time. I've left the baits were they are since they're hidden just in case.
I live in Parkland Florida and had a similar experience to you with extensive water damage. After that we hired a decorator as we needed some help with one room. It was the best decision we ever made we made. We then. Hired her to do the rest of the house. Now it looks like it cane out of a magazine and we could have never done that ourselves.
They can build a mesh cube over the gutter entrance that can divert debris so it builds up in a way that still allows water to flow into the gutter. My father had the same issue. You’ll find a solution. Hope you get some ease in your home asap.
I wish you the best with your house ! I can say that you had a lot happening!
This is one of reasons why I have been reluctant in buying a home. Especially, as a single female. When I was married to my ex, we lived in a house that was previously owned by his father. So the property maintenance was already done beforehand when his father and step mom lived there. I had seen a glimpse of home maintenance such as those small details that need extra care and attention to like your water gutter. It can be tasking and daunting. Things like that can cause catastrophic damage if not handled sooner than later. After being single for many years, I just don’t see myself buying a home. And even though they are a dream to look at from afar, but it’s not for everyone. Owning a home is a big responsibility and much more costly than paying rent. Due to these unforeseen housing circumstances and maintenance costs to keep the house habitable and healthy. That’s just me. You and your husband are young and thriving which makes it a lot easier to upkeep your new home starting out before starting a family. Your make up looks beautiful and you definitely look beautiful without make up as well. So glad to hear your mom is ok. Whew must have been so scary. Thanks for sharing your updates! ❤️
The issues are normal. Absolutely exhausting and I have actual trauma around several very bad experiences (very very pregnant, dead of summer, no ac and projects taking exponentially longer and inept contractors.)
You have to fully get the bones in order- the pipes the roof the ducts the critters. The trees the electrical. All that does have to have a deep once over and likely repair in the beginning. The first year of all the firsts: first rain, first big storm, first hot summer, first snow (I recognize you live in FL), but you have to live in and use the house to see its weak spots. Take care of them fully and then it’s more upkeep than constant fires. There still will be fires, but far fewer and less overwhelming.
Sadly, the fun part of decorating a home really comes last.
Get good contractors. Get second opinions. Use references from friends. Always get a signed contract for the scope of work. Remember it will take at LEAST 1/3 longer to do any project than planned and it will 100% always cost more. A hose is a black hole for time and money if you’re renovating or fixing stuff.
But after that surge and the first year or so, if you’re proactive and smart, it will be maintenance stuff.
Then you’ll be more able to enjoy your home and see how it wants to be decorated and how you want it to be decorated and you’ll be comfortable because it will be your safe space, not the booby trap course it is now. ❤. Oh, and do as much as humanly possible before having children. Omg. Before babies. 😂
I have worked in Property Management for over 20 years now and I hear these kinds of stories about home buyers all the time. My heart aches for you. Hiring an interior designer sounds like a great idea. If you plan on getting more dogs or ever having children, think about furniture you could use coverings over. If you plan to spend a lot of time in there make sure the furniture is comfortable. Good luck, I am sure it will look beautiful!
Thank you! We're trying to be strategic with the decorating, I love your advice! xx
Omg - our family (15 of us) went to Breckenridge, CO over Labor Day weekend. Half if us got altitude sickness. I ended up in the ER for several hours middle of the night. Horrible headache and nausea. The cans of oxygen you can buy did not help at all. No one told us to be prepared for that!
Hi Erin... you look amazing as always! I have had a lot of the same issues as you with owning a home.... for the water issues.. someone recommended these water devices I bought on Amazon....you place them under any area with pipes or where you have water issues. They connect with bluetooth to your phone so they will alert you when it senses water. It has helped us with under sink leaks... not sure it you can place them in a room or somewhere you know has water issues. They are really loud and do notify you on your phone! Hopefully all gets better soon! Happy Holidays!! Xx💕😘
Oh now that is interesting! I might look that up because I've been getting anxious now every time it rains. It could be helpful, at least until we get the room fixed again! xx
I always try to carry on, but I now bought one of those apple tiles to put in the bag so it can be tracked if it’s lost
I use the 100 Nude from Dior in Matte then I layer the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Iced Coffee, I love the glossy look!