It takes a LOT of work to maintain a single-family home - see CNBC article - work that I am not willing to do.
I am unhappy as it is with the amount of time I spend trying to keep the condo in order. I would much rather be free to do other things, or nothing at all.
To use my parents' home as an example -
Just in the last few times that I visited, the roof needed repair, the fence around the backyard needed to be replaced, half the house needed to be raised because the foundation was sinking on one side, and the exterior of the house needed to be repainted. Never mind the fact that my mom spends a LOT of time doing yard work to keep it looking presentable.
Simply having to be at home to wait for all the workers to show up is time that could be spent doing something way more fun.
Which leads me to my next point -
There are people in this world who really enjoy tending to their homes and yards and take great pride in their work - like my mom, and Tom, and Martha Stewart. But I am not one of those people and neither are you (talking to my husband here) - ye who would much rather be taking a nap, watching The Last Samurai for the 25th time, or going away on vacation.
Home repair and maintenance is no joke.
And to ignore it will only lead to even bigger problems with the property later on, as well as with your marriage. "If you don't get off that couch and call the plumber right NOW, I swear I am going to (fill in the blank)!"
To be clear:
I am very okay with a single-family home, as long as I am not the one taking care of it or managing the people who will.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteRight?? How much time do you guys spend on home repair and maintenance, and yard work? Do you see Joel doing all of that?
ReplyDeleteI don't see you doing any of it.... Is that the same thing? LOL!
ReplyDeleteJust the IDEA of having to source a plumber, call the plumber, schedule the plumber, be at HOME for the plumber, WAIT for the plumber, and then PAY the plumber makes my HEAD hurt.
ReplyDeleteCalling him isn't bad. It's the waiting for him to show up, making small talk while he is there, and paying him the 1 million dollars he will inevitably charge...
ReplyDeleteIt all depends. A newer home clearly needs less maintainece. In,addition, regular scheduled repairs keep major events from happening. In the many homes I,have had maintainece has been minimal. You just have to stay on top,of things. If either of you don't enjoy outdoor maintainece or small indoor projects you may be spending lots of time on the phone hoping to find reputable repairman man. However, decent landscapers and repairman will not break the bank.
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