House repairs

Thank you for that.

My other thought in all this is, my DH has adapted and modified certain systems in the house.
All far too complicated for me to understand.

If we are to stay for any length of time, I need to find out how much of it works.
I never was great on that sort of thing.

But then I think, well if anything happens to him before me, if I move elsewhere, whereever, I wont know how those systems work much either!
Though they are almost bound to be less complicated.

As a for instance, our heating in this house can be sourced from three different sources in the house.
He somewhat alternates them depending on costs.
We now have solar, to add to all the mix of the house.

I think, in both our heads, we "plan" to live here for 10 years or more. I think!

Househunting requires a degree of physical mobility to view houses , working eyesight, and for most people it still requires a driving license and car to get to the properties you want to view. Or at least, to the office of the estate agent who might take you to viewings.

Moving home also requires a level of mental capacity and
resilience to negotiate, make decisions; sell one home, find and buy another, organise the removal.

I've seen many older friends pass from total independence ( ticking all the above boxes) to losing those abilities in a very short space of time; having to stop driving after accident or medical reasons; a disabling stroke, mental decline after widowhood. Trapped in a rural /isolated home with no paid or family help within reach.

Don't leave it too late, like they did.

Downsize, adapt your home, or move closer to support and help, while you still have the capacity to make it happen.

We love our house of 26 years which is in good shape, have a cleaner and gardener so no real reason to move. However, we've decided to have a survey of the structure, find out any hidden problems and put in place a two year plan, when we'll be in early eighties then make a decision. Physio, podiatrist, excellent doctor, dentist, hospital all very close by, family not, but previous social contacts mainly moved or died. It's a difficult decision but Grand net has helped.

That's so true Wollywoman - but if you can afford to pay people do the work - and can survive camping out for a while - you can end up with something you truly love from where you can more easily "live life to the full".

I think ‘age/ageing’ is the whole point, and something at the heart of the OP’s questions…

Just because you might be the sort of person/people who doesn’t/don’t want to be concerning yourself/yourselves with house restoration and expensive repairs as you get older, doesn’t mean you don’t want to live life to the full.

My mother-in-law moved at age 95/96. She camped out in her "new house" whilst it was rewired and all the light fittings moved.

She had a new kitchen, a new bathroom, new laundry (off the garage). She had the whole place "upgraded" a new boiler, moved radiators, painted everywhere too. She had the parquet polished and the rest of the house carpeted.

She had the front garden totally remodeled and the back garden terraced, she had the garden shed renovated and painted, gutters and drains improved.

I think if she can do it, you can too.
Don't be afraid. Obviously she didn't do the work herself - but she really made me feel that I could take on more than I thought.

Good luck to anyone thinking of undertaking a new adventure.

Don't be put off by just age.

Hi MOnica, do you think you might be the exception who proves the rule?!? (Sorry about my grammar…)

I don’t know of any people my age or above who would want to move to a ‘project’…

Woollywoman

Methinks it’s time to do something very practical and ‘future-proof’ yourselves… but I guess it really depends though on how much you like your current home?

You’re at the age estate agents recommend moving so that you’re in the right property for your later years… we were told far too many people leave it until it’s too late.

Good luck making your decisions…

But what is too late? We have just 'downsized' to a project Listed property at the age of 82.

However, the optician and podiatrist are in the same street, the doctor, walk-in centre, dentist, 3 food shops and the town centre are all within 2-300 yards and we are serial house improvers.

It is a question of horses for courses. One of our closest friends, some years our junior has just moved into a Mcarthy and Stone flat.

The 'Help me, calm me' thread was started early in 2019 and went on for a long time. There were half a dozen of regular at that time, all of us in the process of selling and moving. (I was one of them). Shandy's story was sad, and although she finally managed to sell that old railway place at auction, she had lots of problems with the place that she purchased.

It was not resolved when, for personal reasons, she decided to take a total break from Gransnet. So we have no idea if she has sorted out her housing. It would be so lovely to hear from her again and find out. The rest of us all had highly successful moves and have all been settled in our 'new' homes now for nearly six years. Doesn't time fly!!!!

Methinks it’s time to do something very practical and ‘future-proof’ yourselves… but I guess it really depends though on how much you like your current home?

You’re at the age estate agents recommend moving so that you’re in the right property for your later years… we were told far too many people leave it until it’s too late.

Good luck making your decisions…

For most people your house is your biggest investment. I would want to make sure that my investment didn't deteriorate. If you leave it for another five or ten years you may find yourself with a bigger bill than you have now

petra

From what you describe I would sell now.
Money spent on it is as good as tipping it down the drain.

I agree. You will be glad to be shot of the problems.

Definitely keep up on repairs or it will cost you more in the long run. As to moving, it's a decision for you and your husband alone, but don't rush the process of thinking it through. Get the repairs done and think about your final decision whilst the repairs are being done. Apparently a good spruce up of things like the garden and all painted surfaces will help it sell more easily. As does a removal of clutter and personal items.

Slightly odd post fancythat? But repairs should be done as they arise, your house is an investment and investments need maintaining! My neighbours wet room has a leak and it’s penetrating our party wall but refuse to ready the surveyors report or do anything about it 😡 so in effect, there’s not much I can do, I’ve not got the funds to go do em the legal route and my insurance company Admiral won’t help.

^I think if you are sure it will be demolished

I am realising I think, that that is the ultimate question.

I think if you are sure it will be demolished then I'd move without doing anything much.
You will be selling the position and land in my opinion.

A family member sold her huge house in a leafy London suburb once she'd got planning permission to build three (or four) homes in the garden. She sold if with planning permission this way in the hope that the original beautiful house would be restored.

If you have some land maybe this is a way to go.

My parents sold off their little orchard as a building plot to raise extra capital prior to their "retirement move".

We all wept when the trees went though.

I've been viewing houses for sale over the past year and it's true those in pristine condition sell very quickly.

I don't know how people know so soon that they make their offers!

I keep hoping that the perfect house will present itself when I'm in a position to buy, and I'll just know 🤣😂
I've not fallen in love with anything I've seen so far. I'd be a tricky customer for Kirsty and Phil (location location location)

We have always maintained our property, made sure it was in good order. Nothing expensive, just made one stitch to spare 9. I am fortunate that DH is knacky and has done most of it.

Houses in good order sell faster and for more than those that are run down. OK, I know someone will quote something to prove my previous comment isn't always true, but most of the time it is.

I decided I must downsize about a year ago. The continual maintenance costs have risen and some big repairs have been needed. Unexpectedly a tree fell down and clipped a neighbour's house which was awful but couldn't have been predicted.

I think once you begin to worry about the house so much it takes away from the pleasure you get from living there, it's time to move.

I have found a buyer for my house who knows its condition but loves it anyway. However he isn't in a position to buy it just yet!

Thanks again for posts.

Fancythat - all the things you list that need doing don't sound too disruptive - windows & fascia are done quickly & not too messy, garden things are outside.

If you can afford to have it done & you're happy with the location & size of your house, I think I would.
Mine was getting to the stage where I had "House shame" & didn't want to host anything or people coming round because I felt it look so dated & uncared for. I wouldn't just grin & bear it because you might at some point have to move and then it would've been a waste of effort. From your post, you might be there another 25 years?

Here is the thread.

www.gransnet.com/forums/house_and_home/1271200-Help-calm-me-house-buying-and-selling-stress-Part-3

I may come back to other posts when I have more time.

Casdon

fancythat

Thanks for the replies.

I do need to bear in mind, " In time minor repairs become major repairs".

Any builder would tell you that the most important repairs in terms of damage to the structure of the building, apart from wet rot, are to the exterior of your house, so I would make sure that your roof, drains, guttering and damp coursing are in good order, don’t neglect them.

All those 4 are ok.

Things like doors and windows, facia boards, patio, garden wall, are not great. Liveable with at present[probably not facia boards], but probably after 5 years will not be.

Aldom

*Fancythat*. If you are unable to locate the Help Calm me thread, just put the title, including Gransnet on Google. It will come up.

Thanks. Did do that, but found a thread that had reached 1000 replies in 2022.

I am short on time[as nearly always!], so will try to find a newer thread, if there is one, later.