Have Some Soup. Or Some Tea.

Stop. Have Some Soup.

You just closed on your new home. Yay!

I’m so happy for you. Now you can forget all about escrow, title, mortgage rates, loan papers, docusign, notarization, wiring, funding, utilities and insurance. 

(Just don’t forget about your real estate agent – me! – because you’ll probably have some needs and questions I can help with in the coming months and years.)

But with the stress of the transaction behind you, do you now:

a) Make a 5-year plan for renovations?

b) Demolish the rec room?

c) Start redoing the garden?

d) Replace the sewer lateral?

e) Do all of the above?

f) Do nothing?

If you answered “f” you’re on the right track. 

Unless there’s a compelling reason to begin a project now rather than later (leaking roof, floors need refinishing, front stairs are gone) simply live in the house and let things settle. Take a break from decorating and planning, and enjoy. After all, you probably just exhausted all of your savings and most of your energy on the purchase.

Here are a few ideas to honor your new homeownership and give yourself a chance to settle into place:

• Fashion a ritual.  Light some candles at the table. Or serve tea in your nicest china.

• Read in a corner. Let a place in the house beckon to you. Sit down and peruse some poetry.

• Sleep in. That’s right. See how long you can make yourself stay in bed next Sunday.

• Celebrate. Have your friends and family over for a champagne toast or invite new neighbors over for a housewarming.

• Make a big pot of soup. Keep it homey – potato, minestrone, chicken noodle, lentil.

Or combine two or three ideas from the list above. The point is to pause, notice and be grateful for your home, your friends and your family. Otherwise – honestly – what’s the point? 

Photo Credit: Rawpixel 

Cynthia Cummins is a Top Producer and Partner at McGuire. For info on SF real estate visit http://CynthiaCummins.com.