Skip to main content

About Suburban Journal

Welcome to Suburban Journal.

I am Jason Shaw, a homeowner, writer, and occasional fixer of things that I probably should have called a professional for.

This blog began as a simple notebook where I kept track of small lessons about homeownership. Over time, it became a place to share those experiences with others who are going through the same learning curve.

I live in a quiet suburban neighborhood where weekends often mean mowing the lawn, talking with neighbors, and finding new reasons to visit the hardware store. Most of what I write about comes from everyday life, the repairs that went right, the ones that did not, and the moments in between.

My goal is not to act like an expert but to be honest about what real homeownership looks like. Houses do not come with manuals, and sometimes the best advice comes from someone who has just been through the same problem. Writing helps me make sense of it all, and maybe it will help you too.

Here you will find a mix of personal stories, practical checklists, and reflections on what it means to take care of a home. If it feels more like a journal than a guide, that is exactly how it is meant to be.

Thank you for visiting and reading. I hope these posts remind you that every homeowner is learning, adjusting, and doing their best to keep things standing strong.

Jason

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Hidden Costs of Owning a Home Nobody Warns You About

When I bought my first home seven years ago, I thought I had everything figured out. The down payment was lined up, my credit score was strong, and I had even calculated the expected property tax increase for the next five years. What I did not see coming were all the expenses that quietly show up after you unpack the last moving box. People talk about the pride of homeownership, the backyard cookouts, and the stability it brings. What they rarely mention is the endless list of hidden costs that come along for the ride. These are the small but steady drips that slowly turn into a flood if you are not ready for them. The Myth of “One-Time Costs” The first surprise came two weeks after moving in. The water heater gave up. I had budgeted for furniture, not for replacing a 50-gallon tank that costs more than a living room set. At the time, I thought it was a one-off fluke. But that moment was my initiation into what I now call the “hidden cost loop.” Every time you think you are done, som...
Read more

How I Handled My First Major Home Repair

 If you have owned a home long enough, you know that the first major repair always arrives uninvited. Mine came late on a Sunday night after a weekend barbecue. I was half-asleep when I heard the unmistakable sound of water where it did not belong. At first, I thought it was just the washing machine finishing a cycle. Then I stepped into the basement and felt water touch my socks. The sump pump had failed. A steady flow from an exterior drain had been running for hours, quietly turning the basement into a shallow pond. I remember standing there, in the half-dark, wondering what I was supposed to do first. There was no manual for this moment. The First Hour: Panic and Paper Towels My first reaction was to grab every towel I could find, which, as anyone who has been through this knows, is pointless. Within minutes, I realized this was not a quick cleanup. I shut off the main valve and unplugged the pump, then stared at the water line creeping across the floor. I searched online for ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Understanding How Septic Tanks Work and Why Regular Maintenance Matters

 Beneath the quiet surface of many rural and suburban homes lies an entire wastewater management system that most people rarely think about. The septic tank is a simple yet highly effective way to treat household wastewater when public sewer systems are not available. It functions quietly, day and night, keeping your home safe, clean, and sanitary. But for such an essential system, many homeowners have only a vague idea of how it actually works or what proper maintenance involves. A septic system is designed to handle all the wastewater that comes from your home’s sinks, showers, toilets, and washing machines. The process begins when water flows into the tank, a large underground container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Inside the tank, gravity and natural biological processes separate the waste into three layers. Solids settle at the bottom to form sludge, oils and fats float to the top as scum, and the liquid in between - called effluent - flows out into ...
Post a Comment
Read more