Advice Books For New Homeowners

Now a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are few people (if any) who can say that this virus has not impacted their lives in some way. From job loss and stimulus checks to working from home and shifting priorities, just about every aspect of our lives has undergone some sort of change within the past year.

One unexpected trend of this pandemic has been the rise in first time homeowners. Those who transitioned into working from home, for example those working in the technology industry, may have discovered that their current living conditions weren't cutting it anymore. Because of this, and given they weren't going out and spending money nearly as often, many looked to upgrade their homes. Some of them even making a big real estate purchase for the first time.

But once you've found the home of your dreams and won the bidding war (which is no small feat), you may find yourself drowning in all the aspects of homeownership. After all, there's no landlord you can call to fix the toilet or maintenance team to mow your yard each week. You're on your own in your new home, which can be an exciting and scary prospect.

To help educate yourself, and to make sure your home is in prime condition, it's a smart idea to pick up some books catered to your home's needs. Recommended categories include home improvement, gardening, houseplant care, decorating and organization.

Gardening and Plant Care Books

Though the weather looks less than ideal across the country this winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t get back to nature. Bringing more plants and greenery to your home is not only good for your health (plants naturally filter out toxins in the air) but they can also aid in your mental wellbeing. And if you’re new to the plant parent life, have no fear! The following books will help you learn how to keep even the most pesky houseplants alive or how to grow your own kitchen garden on your windowsill.

• The Lawn Bible by David Mellor
• Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin and Margaret Magrikie Berg
• How to Make a Plant Love You: Cultivate Green Space in Your Home and Heart by Summer Rayne Oakes

Organization Books

You’ve binged Tidying Up with Marie Kondo 1,000 times, so why doesn’t your home spark joy? Getting rid of what no longer brings you happiness and keeping things organized over time is easier said than done. If you find yourself nodding along to that last sentence, you may need a deeper breakdown on how to get organized once and for all. These books are designed to help even the messiest of homeowners — pick up one today and learn just how great it feels to put everything in its place!

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
• Remodelista: The Organized Home by Julie Carlson
• The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin

Home Projects and Improvement Books

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you want to go further when it comes to changing your home. Instead of just organizing your pantry or planting a garden, you may have an itch to totally redo one room or knock down a wall to create an open floor plan. And with the pandemic keeping everyone apart, it’s no surprise if you decide to go the DIY route rather than calling in an expert. Luckily, you can turn to the experts right in your bookshelf with these guides to home improvement projects.

• 100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know: How to Save Money, Solve Problems and Improve Your Home by The Family Handyman Editorial Team
• Beginner's Guide to DIY & Home Repair: Essential DIY Techniques for the First Timer by Jo Behari and Alison Winfield-Chislett
• Black & Decker: The Book of Home How-To by Cool Springs Press

Check out the infographic below on the advice books for new homeowners, to help you fill up your bookshelf and learn a thing or two along the way. And don't forget to cheers to your new purchase, you've earned it after all!