This Father’s Day, we reflect on how dads teach us lessons that stick—especially when it comes to owning and caring for a home.
Some of the best lessons I’ve learned about owning a home didn’t come from a YouTube tutorial or a home inspection checklist. They came from my dad.
Not that he sat me down for a lesson plan. He was more the “watch what I’m doing and try not to fall off the ladder” kind of teacher. And honestly, those lessons stuck.
I remember being around six or seven when I first got the privilege of mowing the lawn. Not with a gas-powered mower, mind you. It was a reel mower—no engine, no noise, just pure muscle and those satisfying click-click-click sounds as the blades spun. I felt like a grown-up pushing that thing across the yard, even if I probably missed more patches than I hit.
Around that same age, I got to go up on the roof of our 1.5-story house with my dad to do some shingle repair. That roof felt like a skyscraper at the time, and I still remember the view—wide open sky, tree tops, and the world looking smaller from up there. I wasn’t much help, but I sure felt important.
By the time I was in junior high, my parents “hired” me to scrape and paint the entire house. That job took me all summer. I wasn’t exactly what you’d call a dedicated employee, but I learned a lot—mainly how long prep work takes and how much you’ll regret cutting corners.
Those moments didn’t just teach me how to maintain a home—they taught me how to care about one.
That’s what Father’s Day reminds me of. The dads who handed us the wrench, showed us how to use a level, or just quietly modeled what it means to take pride in the place you call home. Being a homeowner isn’t just about square footage and equity. It’s about fixing things when they break, maintaining what you’ve built, and doing the kind of work that may not show up in listing photos but makes all the difference in how a house feels.
So if you’re lucky enough to have a dad who handed down those lessons, take a minute this weekend to thank him. And if you’re a dad yourself, remember—those little hands pushing the mower or handing you shingles might not say much now, but they’re learning more than you think.
Here’s to the dads who showed us what it means to care for a home—and the people in it.
Happy Father’s Day.
As a Broker Associate/REALTOR® at EXIT Realty and Associates, I specialize in buying and selling real estate throughout Central Iowa, including Norwalk, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Cumming, Indianola, Carlisle, Waukee, Urbandale, Grimes, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill. I proudly serve Warren, Polk, Dallas, and Madison Counties.
đź“ž Call me, Jon Niemeyer, at 515-490-4675, and let’s find your dream home in Central Iowa!
Last week, I had the chance to unplug and paddle through the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota with a group of boys and leaders from a church in Fort Dodge. Each day brought a new lake, a new campsite, and new challenges. But amid the wilderness
Wondering if a home warranty is worth it? Get the pros, cons, costs, and expert advice from a Central Iowa REALTOR® with real-world insight.  The Real Costs, Contractor Issues, and When It Might Actually Make Sense  When you're buying
Most of you are probably wondering what Jon has been smoking, but what if that were true? Just what would a normal interest rate be? Less than 3%? In the 3’s? How about in the 4’s? Well, let’s take a look.  Freddie Mac has tra
Last week, I had the chance to unplug and paddle through the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota with a group of boys and leaders from a church in Fort Dodge. Each day brought a new lake, a new campsite, and new challenges. But amid the wilderness
Wondering if a home warranty is worth it? Get the pros, cons, costs, and expert advice from a Central Iowa REALTOR® with real-world insight.  The Real Costs, Contractor Issues, and When It Might Actually Make Sense  When you're buying