Congratulations op! What a terrific achievement to be in this position.
100% mortgages were a thing when I was young which was how I got on the property ladder. These days it's so difficult.
I bought my first house when I was quite young and your situation seems much more doable than mine was tbh.
This is what I wish I'd known and been told, I hope you find it useful about home owning and saving cash.
People will try and trick younger women. Example, I got a quote for carpets from my local flooring shop and I was chatting with my nice neighbour about it. He was horrified at my quote, went in with my measurements and was quoted almost 500 quid less. So always be vigilant.
Don't ever get into debt doing it up, that was my mistake (I was 20, so it was all new to me) slowly and steady, not all at once on credit cards. I fucked up majorly with that. Made life much tougher.
I wish back then I'd have had things such as Instagram for home accounts to see what I liked before I spent money on things I never.
Fb marketplace - godsend, really it is. Gumtree also is brilliant.
Free and cheap. Look for everything... paint/rugs/wardrobes/drawers second hand. Those massive IKEA drawers, the 8 drawer chest is £250 in IKEA, they're often £50 second hand.
Ebay/vinted/charity shops. Best sofa I've ever had was free and I once spent 2k on one that barely lasted 2 years.
Do hire a sander for a week or so and sand/varnish the floors, it'll be so much more beneficial than carpets, if you're wanting kids much easier to maintain.
Lots of places have things youd not expect to find before you're doing a house up, so places that are paint banks almost, donated paints and hardware supplies, Google what's local to you.
Get everything cheap as possible and save for things you truly want that will bring you joy, but I don't mean buying things that won't last 5 minutes. Save your money. My best friend bought a new couch for 200 quid online, I've sat on comfier swings. 200 pound would have gotten a decent 2nd hand couch until she had saved for one she loved, that kind of thing.
Try finding a reliable and skilled tradesman for work that needs doing so you're not paying out more to have shoddy work repaired. That'll save you a fortune. If its someone you feel easy about having in the home even better.
Get Insurances on white goods, your boiler and make sure the guttering isn't in need of any repairs.
Get quotes on everything, absolutely everything and always ask to see a portfolio, often they're online now anyway on social media business pages.
Never be bullied into anything from tradesmen, if they're too pushy, red flag. Go elsewhere.
I often would lie back in the day I was just waiting for my partner to discuss things with him, very sad I felt I needed to but I did.
I wasn't sensible because I wasn't shown and even though it all comes good in the end for me, I wish I'd have had a adult in my life whos mistakes I could have learnt from, or a mumsnet type group to chat to about these things. Always seek advice with big decisions, you'll find, especially places like mumsnet women, contrary to some of the posts, but on the whole, women who've been in the position of a young/solo buyer will want to give you the advice and encouragement they could have used.
And next year, when you've had a year in your new place there will be things you'll have to share with someone else. It really is constantly learning. I'm 20 years into owning a house now and I still worry about doing the right things and have found being able to discuss issues with other posters invaluable. I've found the posters on the property and gardening sections to be incredibly knowledgeable, I'm eternally grateful for tons of advice given here.
It's all trial and error, but financially you're going to be much better off if this is your forever home. And so many positives to not needing another person to make it affordable etc, you sound really sensible and i hope my kids have this level of drive 💐
You'll absolutely smash this out of the park, I wish you the very best.