Many Should Not Be Home Owners

[Gailete]

One we looked at today, the homeowner didn't even go to the effort to make the beds, there were skid marks in the toilet and underwear laying on the floor.

That is just gross!

Back when Mr. Big Bucks and I were getting a divorce and the house was on the market. I had a set way of doing things when I knew the house would be shown or for an open house. I got 5 white bath towels, some white hand towels and white wash clothes. I embroidered flower designs to coordinate for each bathroom, so I could tell by the design which set went where. So, when someone came there were new towels hanging in a clean bathroom. Even though money was tight, I bought a new, cheap bedspread for our bed as the quilts we usually used were looking a bit worn. That way when someone saw the master bedroom and bathroom, it was as neat and clean and pretty as I could make it. Same with the boys’ bedrooms and baths. Everyone was under strict instructions to not touch or use those towels under any circumstance. I would take them away when the viewing was done until the next time. The frustrating thing as one point, after the sale, someone needed cushioning for something or other and used one of those white towels to do the job and got grease on it. Why do guys have such a hard time telling a good towel from a bad one? Believe me if they had asked I had plenty of rags they could have used! I think I was paranoid about the towels after going through an open house of the former CFO at my hospital. The downstairs was like a furniture showroom, the upstairs was a mess of old stuff including raggedy old towels on a house selling for around $250K back in the late 80's! You would think someone that thought they could afford a house like that would have decent towels even if they were cheap?

As to house maintenance. We have fallen on our noses on that. So many things need done that we don't have the money for. We moved in July 1, 2007 so you expect things to be wearing out and now that he got his last piano finished, he is working on some of the projects that have been waiting for him. I have already decided though if something happens to him, this place will go on the market and I will try to get into senior housing - maintenance free!

[snafu]

If you genuinely expect to sell your home and move to a senior facility sometime in the future, I hope it's ok to suggest you are begin a few baby steps now. What facilities and services would like that are within reasonable distance and preferred. If you have items in your home that you no longer use, need or serve you, it's really in your interest to spend at least 20 minutes each and every day, to identify, prepare items to display, photo, write ads and upload to local FB sale page, CL or other free sites.

Likewise, set up containers for items you can donate so that as each fills, it can go to vehicle to drop off at a Thrift on next trip out. The experts are suggesting we limit bedding to 3 best sets for each bed. 1st set on bed, #2 in laundry, # 3 in cupboard. Time to release those that are stained, thin, sprung elastic, dropped hems etc. Excess in decent condition are appreciated by Thrifts you are comfortable supporting.. Any old blankets, quilts are appreciated by Animal Rescue Organizations.

The same organizers likewise recommend limiting towels to 3 sets S M L for each person + 2 sets for visitors like the white towels you mentioned for display. The Animal Rescue Organizations truly appreciate donations of towels.

As we've just moved into summer, I'm reviewing seasonal apparel to release anything not used since my review of winter garb that I might have missed. Used clothes don't sell well here. Brand named clothes in pristine condition are accepted at Consignment. I've asked DH to wear anything looking frumpy for a last time, doing chores etc. The'll get pitched before they come to the wash.

The chore of releasing useless paperwork can be made pleasant sitting on a patio early in the day, with a manageable bin and preferred beverage. You only need to destroy the portion with account numbers, SS, DL identifiers. You name and address are available instantaneously to all.

[Gailete]

If you genuinely expect to sell your home and move to a senior facility sometime in the future, I hope it's ok to suggest you are begin a few baby steps now.

Doing much of that now! The biggest problem is hubby has said multiple times that I will never have to move again and he sure doesn't intend to as he built this house, it is his baby, We might be able to maintain it once the mortgage is paid off, etc. but currently it is more than we can afford.

I have been trying to clear things out and send to our thrift store, my biggest problem being all the boxes to hold plus or minus 20K sewing patterns for our business and my sewing stuff. That sewing stuff hopefully to help support me as I get older with developing projects and patterns as well as writing articles for sewing magazines.

We have a couple senior facilities right here in town so I would be in a familiar place. However, neither of my boys live here in town anymore. I turn 63 this year and really see the writing on the wall so to speak. So I am working to get to some new goals. I just don't want to live the last years of my life eating oatmeal for every meal because the propane bill for the year is over $5-10K!

[GypsyGardener]

Hello Everyone nice to meet you

Yes I noticed this when we were house hunting a few yrs ago. Prices in this area seemed to reflect a home already well maintained.
People aren't as energetic as they once were. I suspect home maintenance has become something to conquer, not part of the typical plan.

We bought more house than we could reasonably afford but it afforded us about a year to get to know the area.
Made many friends here, we love it.
Sold that house a year later and now live f/t in a Forest Service Cabin.
Biggest downfall is we miss having a garage though we rent a storage container nearby so it's been workable.

[Singuy]

Went to a lake house people were selling and I was astonished how the owner let a renter with 9 KIDS live in the house! The floors were all scratched up, you can barely move in the house, there were children's bicycle everywhere around and inside the house.

It was a short sale so the owner was probably like whatever, going to rid of it or foreclosed on anyways.

I found pictures of the house from 2 years prior and it was immaculate. Currently it looks like a hurricane went through the inside of the house.

[Milly]

I've got three toddlers, ages 2, 3, 4. It is easy to get into the "I'll worry about it later" mindset.

I've chosen my battles and my front yard is not one of them. We'll clear it from tumbleweeds and trash every other month or so, and clear out the weeds maybe twice a year. We never once turned on the sprinklers and the decorative rocks are nearly filled in with sand. I'm not worried. I only see it briefly a few times a day anyways. All the fun happens in the back yard.

It's a good thing I'm friends with the neighbors and they plan on living there until they aren't living anywhere or else they might be upset.

Someday I'll have to figure out a presentable way to sell a yard of sand. Not today though.

I hope I'll always imagine a swamped mom inside of all the run down homes.

[~bs]

I've got three toddlers, ages 2, 3, 4. It is easy to get into the "I'll worry about it later" mindset.

I've chosen my battles and my front yard is not one of them. We'll clear it from tumbleweeds and trash every other month or so, and clear out the weeds maybe twice a year. We never once turned on the sprinklers and the decorative rocks are nearly filled in with sand. I'm not worried. I only see it briefly a few times a day anyways. All the fun happens in the back yard.

It's a good thing I'm friends with the neighbors and they plan on living there until they aren't living anywhere or else they might be upset.

Someday I'll have to figure out a presentable way to sell a yard of sand. Not today though.

I hope I'll always imagine a swamped mom inside of all the run down homes.

after years of messing with yards, I've had friends that either paved it over and placed potted plants around the property, installed fake grass, or installed gravel. If you have the money to pay a groundskeeper, GREAT. If not, it's a PITA.

I can tell you don't live in a wet climate, otherwise your yard would be 4 feet high and full of weeds and scrub bushes