Should I love or list my home of 26 years?

I had a 3 bed house and being on my own I struggled to keep on top of the cleaning and working full time both my sons have their own houses with wife’s and grandkids. I was 53 when I downsized to a one bedroom bungalow I’ve a dining room which I have a sofa bed and camp beds all fold out when needed and folded back when not should any of mine stay but as it’s easier for me to go to them they don’t stay very often. I downsized for me because I was rattling around in my house and now a family of five lives in it. Is it worth putting all that money into when you don’t know how long you got to enjoy it. If you downsize you could relax in a smaller place and spend the money on a few nice holidays and enjoy yourselfs let it be someone else money

Go now whilst you are fit enough for the move. We did this 10 years ago and it was a new beginning. I couldn't face it now.
Good luck. Go for it.

You might think of moving out temporarily so workmen can get stuck in. Rewiring is a time consuming and messy job. You could use some storage facility to take some of furniture so safe from dust damage etc and easier for them to work about. Defo think of future needs... downstairs shower? less carpeting might be in order too.

If you decide to move make sure you check carefully that you're not inheriting the same problems that you are leaving behind. We downsized, having achieved a good price for our last property. But we rushed the decision only to discover that a lot of this place is "tired" and needs replacing. It is going to end up costing quite a bit. For example kitchen units not really fitted properly, a drainpipe embedded in concrete, an extractor fan not extracting properly, a slight leak in airing cupboard, wobbly floorboards in a bedroom... not really things that a surveyor would necessarily pick up on but annoying. We have moved several times and have never moved to a house without something needing doing. Even a new one we once had needed fixing in places.

Tricky because it does cost so much to move these days. Taking thousands. When my son moved from his flat to a small house I was horrified how much it cost him to move. Plus if you sell with it looking a bit tired, you may not get as much as you hope for. And then you may feel the need to decorate a new property. You could probably use the selling/buying money to pay for a good bit of upgrading to your current property. Make it as easy maintenance as possible. Go with your hear as you will be spending money either way.

I would love to move, but house prices here have dropped so I can't afford to. As I'm retired I don't want to take out a mortgage. Do what you feel is best for both of you

Hetty58

I want to move - but not downsize, as I sometimes need the four spare bedrooms when the family stay. Still, I do wish I'd done it a few years ago, when I had more energy - and fewer repairs to do.

We did move 17 years ago but didn't downsize much for the same reason as you. However we found that we only once had all the family to stay at one time and have now downsized again to a much smaller property. As we're closer to family we are certain that we won't need all those spare rooms. We do have one really nice big spare double with an ensuite, a study which would take a blow-up mattress and a huge sofa which is lovely to sleep on - just in case!
We had renovated our last house very thoroughly at the start (thinking we would not be moving again) and wondered if we would lose money on it. However we made a very substatial profit and the house sailed through the buyer's survey.
It really is very relaxing having a much smaller property which only requires decorating from now on, as the external maintenance, heating and hot water are organised by a management company

It probably comes down to cost and inconvenience: both moving house and a repair/refurbish will require both, so I agree with those who say that weighing up the various factors is what you need to do.
Our house is on 3 floors and has 7 bedrooms, not all used as bedrooms. It is well maintained. The garden is a typical suburban size and atm we can manage it- just! In our early 70s we enjoy the space but with OA I find the climb to the top floor and the climb up the garden steps to the patio and lawn quite taxing. I'd be happy to keep the space but lose the steep climbs.

Do it now! My DH and me have bought properties over the last twenty odd years to renovate and have really enjoyed the process. We really shouldn’t have bought our current home. It has needed far more doing than we expected, we’re both feeling overwhelmed. DH is so good at DIY, but he’s now starting with joint problems and finding it all a little too much. I now have arthritis in my shoulders and hands so can’t help out like I used to. We’re now employing an odd job man to do any heavy work. It’s not far off completion now thank goodness. It’s easy for others to say stay and get the work done but, I’m sick of dust everywhere every day! I feel like I’m eating it!
At the end of the day it’s your decision, but I would sell now and find something that needs nothing or very little doing and enjoy yourselves. Good luck. 🍀

You need to be realistic about the selling price Dunne18 and bear in mind that if you want the same number of bedrooms you may have trouble finding them in the "something smaller" that you envisage.
Perhaps try to find out which estate agent your friends and neighbours recommend and ask them for an idea of selling price with and without updating?
It is more than possible that they wouldn't recommend that you renovate or rewire the property. Anybody moving in can do that, and many younger people would prefer to "put their own stamp" on their new home which includes any necessary renovation and redecoration.
You could also ask a local electrician to assess your electrics to get a realistic idea of what a seller could expect you to knock off the price.

A lot depends on how much the repairs you mention will affect the price you can expect to get for the house, if you sell it without having at least done the re-wiring. Depending on how old the electrical installations are, you may not legally be able to sell unless you modernize them.

On the other hand, redecoration and a new garden gate will not significantly affect the value of the property, - a new driveway might.

Why not have one or two house agents come and give their evalutation of what you can expect realistically to get for the house if you put it on the market now, and what you could expect if you do the things you mention before listing it?

Is the layout of the house such that you could have a carer living-in later on, if this should become necessary?

If there space to make the house more handicap friendly if you are doing alterations - bathroom access for wheelchair or rollator, plus helper? If you want to stay in the house, that is.

Another consideration: can you afford the upkeep on your pensions once your husband retires, and when as time passes you no longer want or can do them yourself.? How large is the garden and who looks after it?

Public transport: is there any, or will you be housebound or forced to move when the day comes that one or both of you are no longer safe to drive? And come it will!

Moving: do you mean to somewhere smaller in the same vicinity, or moving away? It can be hard making new friends at our ages, if you move away.

What kind of other properties are available and how does their price and running costs compare to your present home?

There is an awful lot to consider here.

You say your husband isn't keen on moving but will do so if you really want to - this sounds like a recipe, if not for disaster, at least for the kind of recriminations later of "You wanted to move, I didn't!" "we would have been better off in our old house".

A four bedroomed house sounds very large to me, but I do realise that in the UK people attach an importance to guest bedrooms that we do not do, where I live, but are the three bedrooms you and your husband don't occupy, ever used?

Might you be able to rent one or two out, if you need the income later on?

There is a lot to be said for moving before you get too old to face it, but it is a difficult decision to make, so do please think carefully about the pros and cons of it.

Have a good look round first before you make any decision

Is your house easy to clean and maintain or is this why it’s been neglected?
Is it reasonably energy efficient (double glazing etc) or does it cost a lot to heat?
Do you use all the rooms most of the time or are some used only occasionally?
Does it really need more work than you mention? New kitchen and bathroom(s)?
Is the garden manageable?

Remember you will not get any younger and that the house won’t stop needing work.

Decide by the throw of a coin - Heads 'stay' tails 'sell up'. As someone has said before me "You always know before it lands which side you want the coin to come down on"

We are 67 and moved into a 4 bedroom house in a part of the country where we wanted to be. We didn't want to downsize because of our growing number of grandchildren.
The house needed rewiring,a new roof and lotsze of other things done. We are almost at the end.
Husband is retired but I am still working a little so we have been able to afford the work.
It has been too arduous apart from a bit of mess but the house is future proofed for many years now.
I'd say,if you love the house, can afford the work and are fit enough to cope with the mess then get the work done and enjoy your home x

There is another problem to consider. Often, well - at least where we have been looking for a bungalow - people don't sell up until they die or go into a home. The bungalow they lived in hasn't been updated or decorated for years and years (either for financial reasons, or poor health), and needs almost total renovation. It's is very hard to find a bungalow that needs no (or very little) work doing to it. And if you do, boy, are they overpriced!

I would say definitely move. We found ourselves in a similar position some years ago after 30 years, and once the decision was made I found it easy and left it for a new build without a backward glance. We pass is sometimes and it’s interesting to see the work being done but we feel no connection. We couldn’t consider the upheaval of it now so if you are going to do it, don’t hesitate! We have since moved again to a lovely bungalow where I hope we will stay until carted off.

Before you make any decisions, I think you should get a couple of estate agents round to give you an idea of what you could get for hour house. Also get a professional quote or two from companies who could do the lot. We tried using one plumber, one electrician and one tiler - nightmare both money and disruption.
If you love the neighbourhood, aren't there smaller more suitable properties nearby?
Thinking ahead, however fit you are right now, you never know what lays ahead, If you would have enough space on the ground floor for the 2 of you, you could just forget about doing the upstairs especially if it's only for kids occasionally. We have gone from 6 bed with an acre to 3 bed bungalow with a postage stamp lawn. I am 65, hubby 75. He is as nimble as a 20 year old - me opposite. Even understand why my Mum had a Jerry!

I have the same issues - getting too tired to do all the household tasks/garden etc and have a husband who is physically disabled with early dementia.
We are turning our downstairs into a flat and mothballing the upper floor. Lucky it fits with our needs and less work for poor old me🙂

Free up some money and enjoy the rest of your lives while you can - now or never? I am in the process - I intend to enjoy my life while I can! It’s going to be tough but that’s the only way to free up some money- equity release is a no no for me - I am chucking stuff out/ selling what I can / bit by bit

I am constantly considering downsizing from 4bed with large garden. What I find though is that, say a 2 bed detached in an area I'd like is more costly than what my hoyse would sell for. Just such a huge demand for smaller properties from us oldies. Housebuilders don't seem obliged to include such properties in their building projects. Sorry, but can't give an opinion one way or another.

Get the work done and stay in the place you love.

Unless you move I to a new build a y new property is more than likely to need work doing on it.
It doesn't sound as if your house is neglected, house things are just coming to the ends of their lives. Carpets need replacing every so often, wood weathers and gates sag and fall off. It doesn't sound as if it is like a house lived in by someone in their late 80s who has suffered I'll health for some time which really needs extensive renovation. That sort of house is often bought by someone who guts it and sells it later for a handsome profit
A good location is a blessing.
Only you know what will be best, good idea to get valuations from the unpushiest of your local estate agents
I recently had.my house extensively renovated, including rewiring, a smaller house than yours but ideally you'd want to get someone to look at it and let you know what needs doing and what it will cost including making good afterwards ready to decorate my personal decision process is below
A bungalow in my area would cost a lot more than my house would sell for. Every house has its niggles. Where I live has all the basic amenities, including a library within walking distance some buses, a railway, it's quiet, nice neighbours.
I can fit a simple.stairlift in future if I need one. My situation is to do with a divorce settlement, so I did consider moving. I have new windows and doors, a new boiler, a remodeled bathroom and kitchen, complete rewiring, complete redecoration and flooring. I have no carpet downstairs any more but good quality laminate, and rugs which I do realize will need removing to stop falls if necessary. I still have some external work to do which will get done eventually.
As much as possible I think I am fairly age futureproof, based on the difficulties I had to help with with my parents. They never moved, and kept on top. Of things like cleaning, upkeep and carpeting
This work necessitated a good deal.of decluttering too
Whether you go or renovate it is quite possible that decluttering will be a good idea. And that for sure is something that is easier before you get older, so along with other things suggested maybe you could make a start on doing that and critically look at your furniture while you are doing that.
With not so much stuff you might be able to do with less furniture or maybe smaller furniture. It might be a good time to get some good quality well fitting riser recliner chairs and might a small sofa be a good idea.
I did a course on preventing falls and it said that often people have problems as they age as there is too much furniture in their downsized home, even in a bigger house you may need to clear space for a wheelchair or zimmer.

I wish I could just snap my fingers and find myself in a smaller property: all I really need is a little garden for my dog. There are some small bungalows in my daughters village but they have a communal garden. I do spend a lot of time at my partners house but when I’m at home all of my time is spent maintaining the house and when I’m not there thinking about what needs to be done. My house isn’t really in a price band that would release a lot of money if I downsized and I don’t really have enough in savings to renovate another property.

My mil downsized from a 7 bedroom house much loved, she had lived in for 50+ years to a modern detached. She hasn’t regretted it for a second.