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!
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