Need HELP wanting to start Crossfit

I have no idea about cross-fit. I just started with weights at home and running (not in that order). But welcome to MFP, and bumping so that hopefully someone with the expertise you need sees this.

I have been crossfitting for 6 years- it is completely understandable that you feel overwhelmed at the start. It's great that you have space to create your own gym. However, if you're just starting out, I would suggest finding a crossfit gym and at least signing up for a foundations class- it's sort of crossfit's introduction class, and some gyms call it something other than "foundations," but all the gyms should have something similar for beginners. If they don't, find another gym. It's exactly what it sounds like- teaching the foundations of the movements. This is important as it helps make sure you are doing movements properly and can prevent injury. Especially on movements, like the Olympic lifts which involve a lot of technique, it's important to learn how to do these correctly, and likely will cover movements you have never done before even if you are an experienced athlete. I know joining a gym is more expensive than creating your own home gym, but I think this is extremely important to reap the greatest benefit from crossfit. In addition, you'll meet other people just starting out, and will gain friends learning along side you, making it easier to continue on your journey.

Some suggestions to make sure your entree into crossfit is done safely and effectively:
1. Make sure the gym has a foundations class. If they just let anyone with no experience jump into a regular class (other than maybe a one time intro-class), there's something wrong.
2. Check out the coaches and their experiences. They should have at least a crossfit Level 1 (L1) certification. Other possible certifications include higher levels of crossfit certification, weightlifting certification, and other certifications from other associations. But make sure they have other experience as well. How long have they been crossfitting? How long have they been coaching? What is their background. A good gym will have a variety of coaches with a variety of backgrounds, leading to a collective base of knowledge to properly train you. Most gyms will have info on their coaches on their websites, but don't be afraid to email and ask as well.
3. Look at the programming. Some gyms have this available publicly, others only allow members to see it. But if you can take a look, see what and how they are programming. This may be hard to tell whether it's good or bad at the beginning, but try to see if they have a wide variety of movements programmed in over the course of a month. You'll be able to tell if a gym favors Olympic or Power lifts, or gymnastics movements, or long or short workouts. You'll be able to tell how a class is typically structured (such as warm up, strength, WOD, or some other format). Get a general sense of how a class is structured.
4. Talk to the coaches. Take the intro class. Do these things to get a general vibe of the gym itself. Does it's personality fit your style? Are other members friendly? Are the coaches helpful, and not only willing to answer questions, but capable of answering them? Just make sure it's a good fit for you personally.