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DIY home repair tips from Mercury Stardust, TikTok’s ‘Trans Handy Ma’am’
Stardust doles out DIY advice on TikTok and Instagram and is working on a new book about the first year of homeownership.
So you stalked every available listing on Zillow, made an offer, and finally bought your dream home. Congrats! You’ve now entered your home project era.
“Your life has now to be balanced with being the head maintenance person of your house,” said home repair expert and social media darling Mercury Stardust, who is the Wisconsin-based author of “Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair” and host of the “Handy Ma’am Hotline” podcast.
Affectionately known as the Trans Handy Ma’am, Stardust doles out DIY advice to a TikTok and Instagram fan base that numbers in the millions and is working on a new book about the first year of homeownership. As a relatively new homeowner myself, I spoke to Stardust to map out what that first year of upkeep should look like and how it can serve as a blueprint for each year thereafter.
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Month one: Budgets, binders, and setting yourself up for success
Many people pay at the top of their budget and then immediately become house poor, with nothing left over for repairs or improvements. Stardust advises that new homeowners should set aside between 1 percent and 5 percent of the value of the home for maintenance. This means that if you paid $600,000 — which is right around the average price for a first-time home buyer in Massachusetts, according to Zillow (the actual figure is $647,505) — then you should look to save between $6,000 and $30,000.
“The last thing you want to do is put yourself in a situation where you have your hands tied behind your back,” Stardust said.
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What’s nice about creating this yearly repair budget is that whatever you don’t spend can be treated like a bonus at the end of the year, said Stardust. Any unspent funds can roll into the next year, or go toward a purchase like a snowblower, lawn mower, or another house-related expense. With a budget in place, Stardust recommended keeping a binder where you’ll track home repair history, maintenance quotes, paint colors, receipts, and other records.
Now it’s time to get to know the house.
Upon first moving in, Stardust recommended changing out electrical covers, switch covers, and doorknobs as a way to familiarize yourself with all the “nooks and crannies” of the house. You’ll also want to label everything in the electrical box — or else confirm the accuracy of what’s already present.
Go on a walkabout to get the “lay of the land” by locating things like your main water shut off, the entry point for your natural gas (if present), and — if you’re not on a public sewer line — the cover to your septic tank for when you’ll eventually need to get it pumped.
If you waived the home inspection in favor of a speedy closing, pay out of pocket to get one anyway. This will give you a starting point for basic home improvements.
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Lastly, Stardust suggested draining the water heater as one of the very first projects that new homeowners should do.
“That’s going to get the sediment out, and that’s going to extend the life of your hot water heater” as it keeps the internal heating element from getting corroded, Stardust said.
Monthly check-in: Mastering the art of paying attention
Get in the habit of walking around your house and taking note of anything amiss. Stardust said to make a list of “every single thing you want to change in the house,” and then combine it with the notes left by the home inspector.
“We won’t always catch everything,” she said. “But the more that you are walking the house, the more that you can recognize things that were not there before.”
Once you have a solid list, set aside some regular time to complete items and cross them off. If it’s not something you know how to do, or if it could be dangerous to do it yourself (such as electrical work), then hire someone.
Seasonal checklist for home maintenance
Fall: Getting ready for winter
- Clean out gutters (“If you only do it once a year, do it in the fall. “You don’t want ice dams.”)
- Clean out the garbage disposal (twice a year at minimum)
- Clean out the chimney and make sure it’s clear of any nests
- Get oil burner cleaned and inspected (if present)
- Power wash siding
- Look for drafts and insulate windows if needed
- Cover outdoor spigots with insulated winter covers
- Detach and drain outdoor hoses and store them inside a garage or basement
- Check the roof, driveway, siding, screen doors, and windows for any cracks or damage and make any necessary repairs
- Replace screens with glass on storm doors and windows
- Fill gaps around doors and windows with spray insulation. (Check for this by carefully removing trim and looking for gaps between the drywall and the wood.)
- Check decks for rot and replace any boards as needed
Spring & Summer: A fresh start
- Clean out gutters (if needed)
- Change furnace filters
- Check vents to make sure they’re clean and unobstructed
- Clean out the dryer vent
- Reset overhead fans to circulate counterclockwise (this pushes cool air back down into the room)
- Clean out the garbage disposal (twice a year at minimum)
- Flush the hot water heater
- Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Make sure fire extinguishers aren’t expired
- Make sure fire blankets are accessible in the kitchen and garage.
- Get the septic tank pumped (this can be done every 3-5 years, but scheduling it for the summer will make digging out the cover easier)
