The end of March will be five years in this old house that my husband and I have worked so very hard to renovate. When we bought her she was pretty much a dump. Her maintenance had been ignored for many years and she was in bad need of a few lifts and tucks and upgrades but she had good bones and vast potential. Last year we completed the last of her renovations and now she is a shining star in a time worn, economically and socially neglected neighborhood.
We enjoyed the journey and learned new things about repurposing and we learned new things about ourselves. Life can be that way, no matter your age. When we moved in this century plus old house I swore it would be the last time I moved. It was time to sit back and enjoy rather than looking for the next challenge. And then challenge found me. The “fall” happened and everything about the way I work and live changed. Suddenly the staircase my husband and I had loving rebuilt became a nightmare. The even narrower staircase to the attic turned third floor was really scary business. The endless flowerbeds and gardens around the yard grew overwhelming. Over the past few months we have come to see that another move is necessary and that as much as we love this house, we must list it. We will be putting this old house up for sale late next month.
The search for the next house has already begun. We’re looking for something about half this size and all on one floor. Two bedrooms is quite sufficient as long as there is office space. A nice, manageable yard with a small gardening spot is essential. No major renovations required. I like houses with charm in eclectic neighborhoods so new is out of the question. More importantly there must be mature trees. In fact, I skip over the listings that don’t have lovely trees in the yard. Wood floors and more charming details inside are a must. And the street name is important. Snake Road and Tick Ridge just don’t work for me.
Additionally we have given tremendous thought to location. We want to live close enough to shops and markets that taking a nice walk to pick up a loaf of bread or jug of milk is possible. A nearby drugstore and small shops would be good. We’re looking at the Five Points area in Huntsville and the downtown area of Athens. Both meet the requirements on our lists. Since we’re not as familiar with Athens, we’re spending more time there strolling around the town square and checking out the neighborhood. The lovely downtown area of Athens is less than half an hour from where we live now so it wouldn’t be a major move.
What about you? Have you decided to list a home you love? When was your last move? Did you have a check list of must haves and absolutely nots? I’d love to hear your sage advice!
Flexibility and wriggle room are important re your list. You will NEVER find that perfect house with all the boxes on your list ticked. Unless you build it yourself. Sure, some things are non negotiable but don’t set your list in stone.
And always look ahead. In 10 years time that lovely sized garden may become an enormous challenge/jungle for you to control 🙂
Oh and be prepared to compromise about living on Mickey Mouse Road 😀
Good luck – I love looking at properties 😀
Thanks, Willa! Good points!
I’m so sorry you have to leave your beautiful house, Deb. But I totally understand. The next house we move to has to be one story. This crumpled body can’t take the stairs anymore. (Well, it can, but it doesn’t like it.) Sucks getting older. We look at properties all the time, and I love the ones with the grand staircases and the lofts. Realistically, though, they’re off limits. I can look and dream, though. ;o)
Good luck finding a new family to love your home and finding a new home for you to love. :hugs:
Thank you, B.E. It’s a little sad but a new adventure!
Oh I completely understand your situation. 7 years ago, we decided we needed to move out of our 1900 home and find a rancher, with 2 hip replacements and several neck surgeries I knew I needed a house on one level when I got to be older. So on Dec. 15th, I paid all my credit card debt off in full except for the house we were living in and said ok it’s time now to find me a new home! We planned on looking the following spring, but I got nosey and started to see what was on the market, because in my area ranchers are hard to come by. I found several didn’t like the location then I found one and when I looked at the pictures I thought “mmm” but the price was just above our amount we wanted. But I wanted to see the house for it to tell me “NOPE YOU CAN’T DO THIS” with my check list in hand, but instead I walked in and fell completely in love with it! I took my family back on Christmas Eve to look at it as well, all the while trying to convenience myself we can’t do it. My family too fell in love with it. It had enough room for our family and everyone would have their own room and the five of us would no longer have to share one bathroom, since this home had 4 to choose from, and with three daughters my poor hubby liked that. We looked around some more but thought this house was perfect, my checklist was all checked off!! We didn’t want to let this house go, so we made an offer on it and it was accepted at our price that we could afford! So we moved in a month later. Well we lost our business due to the economy and now for 2 years we are faced with losing our home, we purchased my grandmother’s property at an exceptional low cost that had 2 mobile homes on it. We have been working on them and trying to make them livable and moved into one (not the one we wanted to) while we are working on the other so we can move into that one. But we just got word that the bank on our home is going to reduce our loan and work with us and we are now able to save our dream home! With that for over 2 years we have been living back and forth and it’s been a headache because you don’t want to lose everything you have. So now we are finally able to say we are going to be able to move back “HOME” this June for good! We pray now that God lets us live there till we are old, because not only is this house perfect, it is also equipped with a handicap accessible bathroom and ramped porch etc… The view of the mountains from the sunroom will be the place I will be looking out at when I am in my scooter some 50 years from now! 🙂 My check list included: Handicap accessible entrance, lots of kitchen cupboards, and bedrooms for each of my children, more than one bathroom and a house big enough where family can come! We do lots of parties and we needed room so everyone was comfortable! Our house is 2400+sf, we have plenty of room! Now I will have to hire a maid when I get older to help me dust! 🙂 LOL
Good Luck, Deb!
Thank you, Toni!
Deb, I hate that you have to leave your house too. But I know you will make the next one home.
LOL about the street name. Dirt Ditch Road when you can have Maple Lane, it’s no contest. We lived on Spring Creek Drive in Bozeman. Now it’s just numbers.
We talk about building a house on our property. We live in an old one that comes with its unique problems. Single level, more open with a sunny exposure would be so nice.
Good luck with your move. I now never say, “This is our very last move.”
I said that on this one, BJ! Had no idea life was about to change.
Debra,
It is sad that you have to leave your charming old house. But you will make the next one just as lovely and we get to watch. Single story homes are great. I know my parents prefer the one level home that they built a few years ago, with just enough room for them.
Good luck with your move.
Thanks, Linda. I think this means much more junking and shopping!
We talk about this all the time. I’ve had this house for almost 15 years, and I want something smaller! Big house, big lot means lots of cleaning and yard work. But I don’t want to move until the kids are done with school. On our list is WARM and WATER.
Sounds good, Kendra! I understand totally about the kids. We stayed put for the kids and then thought this old house would be the last. Alas, the journey continues.
Deb, wow, I didn’t know you were selling 🙁 … but for all the right reasons. And it’s really about the journey, right?
I don’t want to move from the house we’re in now, but we’re seriously thinking about moving out of California within the next two years. It’s going to be a daunting task because two of my kids will then be in college, but I’ll have three at home so school is crucial. I know what I want and what I don’t, but first Dan and I have to decide on the location. California has become a nightmare in so many ways (and I’m 5th generation) — but being self-employed, I get doubly screwed. SO … No or low state income taxes; low crime rate; top schools and/or a Catholic school or reasonably priced private school that we like; close to a major city but not in a major city. Lots of things to do with kids, but not a “young” town because sometimes, I go into my youngest son’s classroom and feel ancient! (When it was my first born, I felt young … now, not so much!) LOL.
I also realize that this won’t be my last move. I think, when all my kids are out of college, that I’ll want to move again. Downsize. Smaller. Travel. I would love to have a “home base” of a small house somewhere, but live in different places around the country (or the world) for 3 or 6 months at a time. I can write anywhere.
Anyway, I love that you know what you want. You will find it. I can’t wait to see the pictures!
Excellent plan, Allison! That’s what we’re thinking about. This old house has to be painted every five years. The yard is really big with lots of upkeep. We want plenty of free time for weekend getaways and long, leisurely Sunday drives!
Wow, Deb, this is truly touching. I can thoroughly relate to the bittersweetness of it all, having just gone through the same thing, 18 months ago, when we left our home of thirteen years. The move wasn’t far, except in psyche: From the woodsy and mountain view county of Marin, across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco. Not only did we empty-nest and downsize, we put ourselves in the thick of city life. Yes, we love it. It was the right move at the right time, for the right reasons. I’ve no doubt yours will be the same.
It was the project of a lifetime, and I”m sure we’ll all be reading of the experience in a book….(soon, I hope.)
With love and respect,
Josie
Exactly, Josie! I have a lifetime of photos and stuff I want to divvy up between kids and just relax and enjoy!
Deb how exciting! My one must have is a large open family room and of course a gynormous, gourmet kitchen!
Karin, you’re so right about those two rooms. I don’t care about having huge bedrooms or even more than one bath (who wants to clean 3 or 4 toilets anymore). Just a comfortable sized living room and kitchen.
Ah moving, bittersweet, but filled with new adventures. I’ve moved so often that I finally just gave most of my stuff away and bought a beautiful, single level condo with a nice patio (and a small place for the flowers I love), a great view, and the ability to lock the door and hit the road. I plan on keeping it as my homebase (Nevada is a fairly inexpensive place to call home) but traveling and staying in a few places that seem interesting for a couple of months at a time….as the funds allow:) That’s sort of where I am–kid is grown and on his own…so am I:) So, enjoy the memories, but look forward to new ones.
I like your thinking, Deb C!
We moved into our current house in 2001. When we were looking with the realtor we came down the street (ours was the corner house) and that was it. It was the one. It was just so cute. Of course, my husband saw the 3 car garage and he was sold. LOL
LOL, Jill! That will sell a man every time!