Did you notice that I didn’t get a chance to comment on everyone’s post last week? If I didn’t comment on yours, I’m sure you noticed. I am still making my way around because I appreciate the fact that you come here and you share. From my perspective, there’s nothing worse than writing and never knowing if anybody ever read it. I want you to know that I read it just like I hope you read my writing.
As you may have noticed if you’ve reading any other posts lately, I’ve been busy preparing to sell my house and launching my professional site and blog. I’ve also been dealing with a 4 year old that I believe is truly trying to make me insane. And I’m not very organized. But I’m working on it so I hope you link up again this week.
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I love my house. Or rather I loved my house. I mean, I still do. When my husband and I picked this house out, it was quite unexpected. We were driving around looking at new home communities. We stumbled acorss this one. Didn’t even know it was here, nestled back among the trees and the river.
It wasn’t the area we necessarily wanted but with all things considered, the price was right, the lot was right, the timing was right. They had just opened up the thrid and final phase of the community – prime lots. We were able to pick a 1/3 acre lot that backed up to a permanent green space (i.e., trees). And just beyond the trees was the Neuse River.
In our slash and burn lot, we planted 19 trees and over 8 years have come to grow a forest of our own. I’ve painted every room in the house – some of them twice. I’ve decorated and redecorated and really developed my sense of style. We also added, took away, built so many things to make this home ours.
I still remember, before the house was ours, driving around the bend to see construction almost finished. The front porch lights were on and gave the house a sort of glow. I proclaimed it look like a Martha Stewart house (coincidentally years before there actually was something called a Martha Stewart house).
Now, we lived in and loved this house for 8 years. We’ve taken care of it and neglected it all at the same time. It’s bittersweet. To realize how much work we have to do to get it ready to sell and to see the fruits of our labor as our house is restored to its glory.
Maybe it’s good that I’m killing myself with painting and cleaning and getting it ready to sell. This way I’ll be so glad to start over in a new house and hopefully fall in love all over again.
33 comments
Selling a house in England is so different. I read a piece in the NYT about an Englishman who had lived in DC for 8 years and was getting his house ready to sell to move back to England and how weird he thought it was that American buyers expected your house to look as if no one had ever lived in it because in England it was expected that most houses were a century old and had a LOT of living done in them. This is embarrassing, but we forgot to clean out our fridge when we moved out, somehow it just slipped our minds, and we got several offers… with the old food in the fridge (we moved six months before the house was sold). We noticed it when we went back for the final collection of our stuff. So. Gross. Point being, I am not looking forward to ever having to sell a house in the states. Bleck!
It’s bizarre, isn’t it? We try very hard to make our house look unlived in. People want to see a model home. I feel like I’m putting relaxed living on hold. Good news is 2 showings in 2 days. Hope it goes quick!
The part where you say “We’ve taken care of it and neglected it all at the same time” for some reason really struck a chord with me. I think, if I can find time today to write it, you’ve inspired my post for SOC today! It’s only 9am here— I should be able to find some time to write today, shouldn’t I? Anywho, enjoyed your post!
I think the bottom line is that we’ve simply lived in it. We relaxed and we made it a home. Unfortunately, people want a perfect house so that’s what we have to try and deliver.
And how is Evan taking the fact that you all are moving? Could he be trying your patience because of the getting ready to move? Since it’s the only home he’s known maybe he is freaked out a bit?
I don’t look forward to getting our home ready…I’m thinking if we rent, we won’t really have to do much. That’s the lazy in me coming out and shining through…
He’s confused. Anytime I mention anything real estate related, he asks “are we moving today?” Poor guy still doesn’t quite understand the process but I try to keep him informed as much as possible.
I’m so incredibly in love with our house, too, but home ownership is HARD. Today we have a crew tearing up our living room to find a water leak! But It’s so great to have a home all your own that you can paint and decorate any way you choose. I know it’ll break my heart when we move someday.
I love my house. I didn’t realize how much until we cleaned and decluttered and I looked at it through a potential buyer’s eyes. And it’s so pretty! Think I’ll go cry now…
Geeze you have been crazy busy. You outline several of the issues with home ownership I do not miss. Its as if we leave huge parts of ourselves behind each time we move on but like a silent part. hard to explain. the visible remnants remain – the redecorating etc but there is an energy we leave behind too.
I was just talking about this with my husband last night. This isn’t our house. It’s our home. It’s where we thought we would grow old. Yes, I will definitely leave a part of me behind with this house.
We’re about to buy a house… I can’t wait to put the time into our future house like you have in yours!
I love my house. I’ve put my mark on every room. Full of color and eccentricity. I know I can do it again but I do love this place.
I am not looking forward to the day we sell this house. I hope it’s a long way off, because the to do list would be massive and I suck at painting.
It’s taken us years to put our stamp on this place. I’d like to think it would take a lot less time to do that again, now that we know what we like.
I’m GREAT at painting but will admit it’s much more fun to create a room than to touch it up. We have stamped this place up and down and now I see how much I will miss it.
Gah! My daughter and I moved within the last year and like you I realized there were som many things that were let go, so many things that I ignored and this post really reminds me to get myself back on target to love my place.
-r
Do it!! Especially if you think you may ever have to see again. Plus, it will make you fall in love with your place all over again.
Gah! My daughter and I moved within the last year and like you I realized there were som many things that were let go, so many things that I ignored and this post really reminds me to get myself back on target to love my place.
-r
My neighbor (and very good friend) just went through this last fall. She spent so much time scraping wallpaper, refinishing woodwork, remodeling the kitchen and baths. And her husband worked hard reviving the lawn and tending their vegetable garden. When they moved last November, it ripped her heart out. The house they live in now (several states away) is really nice, but it’s fairly newly remodeled, so she says she can’t really put her “stamp” on it, and whenever we talk on the phone, we’re both blubbering idiots who wish there was a ‘do-over’ button so they could change their decision to leave.
Make sure you ‘stamp’ your new home right away – even if it means painting your bedroom hot pink!
Aww, that makes me kind of sad. I wish I could just put her back. I have a very strong feeling I’m going to feel that way. I’m going to miss this house and this town more than I thought I would.
Aww, that makes me kind of sad. I wish I could just put her back. I have a very strong feeling I’m going to feel that way. I’m going to miss this house and this town more than I thought I would.
Wow. I have never been attached to a home before. Mostly because I’ve lived in 21 of them in 21 years. I imagine it to be a little heart-wrenching though. Here’s to long days of decorating and painting and making a house a home – followed by nights accompanied by wine. Right?
You just made it sound totally fun. I love decorating and painting. I do not like renovating and remodeling. I hope I can find a happy-medium because I need a house that’s a home!
You just made it sound totally fun. I love decorating and painting. I do not like renovating and remodeling. I hope I can find a happy-medium because I need a house that’s a home!
We just moved in December, and I was so grateful for the space that I’ve only just started to really LOVE the character that this house has. I hope you and your husband find a place that you can really connect with again!
You said it – I want character! I’ve looked at so many online and they all just say “house” to me. I want something that I can see myself living in and that I can make my own. I hope I can. I’m glad you did!
I love that you feel so attached to your house – and especially that you called a Martha Stewart home way back when you built it. I wish I felt that way about where I’m at… but unfortunately that’s not the case. 🙁 Only 24 more years of payments before it’s paid off… and then I *might* be able to sell it. (Yeah, you can feel the optimism in that one. LOL)
We’re not where we thought we would be with this house after 8 years of owning it. I love my house and my yard. I’m not sure I would want to live in this community forever. So I’m trying to make the best of this!
We’re not where we thought we would be with this house after 8 years of owning it. I love my house and my yard. I’m not sure I would want to live in this community forever. So I’m trying to make the best of this!
This post brought me back to the memory I have of being 10 years old and driving every weekend to eastern Long Island to see our house being built. We would video-tape it, ooh and ahhh at the progress, and I would listen to my parents spend the 2 hour ride back to Staten Island discussing when the closing would be. It’s a warm and fuzzy memory!
We did the same thing too when the house I grew up in was being built. I remember walking through the heavily wooded lot before it became our yard. There’s something special about being able to handpick your house!
I don’t think there is anything harder than getting a house ready to sell. It’s both physical and emotional.
I am completely behind on commenting. However, I actually put it on my list of things to do today. I am nothing if determined. 🙂
Obviously I’m even more behind in commenting. Yes, it’s already taken it’s physical and emotional toll and all we’ve done is put it on the market!
Obviously I’m even more behind in commenting. Yes, it’s already taken it’s physical and emotional toll and all we’ve done is put it on the market!