First-Time Home Owner Renovation Story

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The first-time home owner journey is rarely simple, especially in a market like Massachusetts. For Jim’s daughter and her fiancé, it was a rollercoaster, from bidding wars to renovation surprises—but the end result is a house that finally feels like home.

This renovation story is about how thoughtful updates, creativity, and persistence turned a first house into a home that fits just right.

The Reality of Buying a First Home Today

Like most first-time home owners, they started with high hopes and got hit with market reality.

They were ready:

  • Mortgage pre-approval in hand
  • Focused on location and layout
  • Sticking to a realistic budget

But after being outbid more times than they could count, they finally landed a late 1800’s farmhouse style home with loads of potential!

Buying a House That Needs Work as a First-Time Owner

This 1000 square foot farmhouse house style home checked just enough boxes:

  • Two original bedrooms
  • First floor bathroom
  • A functional kitchen
  • An enclosed three season porch perfect for coffee mornings

More importantly, it had what first-time home owners need most: good bones and room to grow.

Renovating the Second Floor of a First Home

The original second floor was tight on headroom so dad (aka Jimbo) decided it would be feasible to make some changes.

He tore off the old roof, added two full shed dormers for extra headroom, and reimagined the entire layout to include two real-sized bedrooms and a full bathroom.

Jim’s daughter and fiance left for work with a roof in tact and during lunch time, Jim sent this picture with the roof gone in our group text with his daughter.

I couldn’t help but laugh because it looks so crazy with the roof gone!

You can see the below, the new exterior rendering features the 2 dormers on either side of the roof peak which essentially removed the slanted ceiling in both bedrooms.

The plan below shows the architects floor plan featuring a slightly modified bedroom layout with a full bathroom in the middle.

Space that works for daily life is everything, especially when you are young and starting out.

Siding Challenges and Exterior Fixes for First-Time Buyers

The next hurdle?

The Siding.

The home’s original Certainteed Buckskin vinyl shake had been discontinued so we had to get creative.

The solution?

Keep the original siding on the main house and add Savannah Wicker on the new dormers.

The rendering I created above shows the two colors side by side and I think they look great together!

The lighter, complementary tone of Savannah Wicker brings contrast that feels intentional, adding both architectural interest and curb appeal.

Creating a First-Time Home Owner Aesthetic, One Room at a Time

The inside transformation is on-going with a budget-friendly living room refresh (I’ll share a blog post soon) with a modern farmhouse vibe already completed! A new patio walkway built by her fiancé and a few minor updates in the bathroom complements of dad.

The living room is the cutest and I think you will love it!

Massachusetts Housing Market Tips for First-Time Owners

Buying a starter home in Massachusetts these days feels almost impossible.

Scoring anything under $500,000 is rare, and if you do find one, expect a fierce bidding war and to get creative fast if you want any chance of landing it.

Massachusetts has started allowing detached ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) since February 2025 which will be a huge benefit to the ridiculous housing crisis.

For first-time home owners, this could offer:

  • Additional space
  • Income opportunities
  • Flexible living arrangements

It’s one of the few practical steps to buying a house first time that could shift the game for new buyers.

House Buying First Home Advice from the Real World


Along the way, this couple learned that you don’t need a perfect house—just one with solid potential.

Renovations became their biggest opportunity, proving that first-time home owners can benefit most from strategic, phased improvements.

Even small upgrades can make a big difference in how livable space feels.

What’s Next for These First-Time Home Owners

Stay tuned for the inside framing, sheet rock and plaster along with the new bathroom layout.

Are you a first-time home owner navigating renovations or making an imperfect house work for your life? Share your experience in the comments or send an email—we’d love to feature more real home stories.

Buying your first house doesn’t mean settling. It means seeing what could be—and making it yours, one project at a time!

Meet Jessica

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.

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