Jimmy and Rachel Saunier ended the search for their first house by finding a property that represented what, to Jimmy, is a homeowner's ultimate goal.

Jimmy and Rachel Saunier enjoy residing in Eagle Landing. "We'd never lived in a subdivision before. The kids are nice here, it's quiet, and we never have any problems."

"If there are improvements to be made, you want them to be only cosmetic," he said, folding the sports section over his lap as he sat in his chair in the living room of their six-year-old home in North Georgia's Eagle Landing subdivision. "We looked at several houses, but we settled on this one because of the price, the neighborhood, and the fact that we could do what work needed to be done ourselves. There was a lot to do, but it was all cosmetic."

The work involved removing carpet and installing new hardwood flooring, replacing carpet in the bedrooms, interior painting, and refinishing the two bathrooms.

"I've always liked open ceilings and an eat-in kitchen," Rachel says. "I think it's such an inviting space."

"One of these days we'll get it all done," Rachel added, referring to the back porch ("It still needs painting") and the décor ("It's pretty plain in here, I would say. I love to decorate, but it's hard on a budget").

Rachel, a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital, took charge of landscaping when they moved in. "I've taken it a little bit at a time. When we got here, this area was overgrown. I cleared out wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows of ivy. I found shrubs and other things that had been hidden under it, and I've since planted a few new things."

"The more you're able to do on your own or get help with, like painting, sheetrock, and flooring, the more money you'll save to be able to make the finishing touches to your preference," said Jimmy, a regional manager for Diversified Maintenance who also holds a real estate license.

"Of course, if you're not in construction as a profession, the first thing you should do is have the house inspected for major structural defects by a professional inspector. You want to know that it has a sound structure, that there are no framing issues, a good foundation, and a solid roof. You also want to be sure that there are no water leak issues that could cause mold, because you definitely don't want to deal with that."

The Sauniers, both UGA fans, share their home with Herschel, a miniature pincer-cocker spaniel mix. Named after the Bulldogs' star running back, "he goes over the top like Herschel Walker," according to Jimmy, although he can be glimpsed here scurrying under the bed in their guestroom.