Going Hunting for a House.

A change in mindset has come over me in the last few months.  Being at home every day, spending time cleaning and purging has made me see that this house is not where I want to be for the next 20 years.

Other than my location (which is perfect low traffic cul-de-sac close to schools and parks) there isn't much else going for this place!  The house will be 29 years old this summer.  It needs a new furnace, flooring, paint, bathrooms, and really a kitchen refresh.  I am not the one that wants to do that.  $75000 plus.

We don't have nice neighbours anymore. The lovely couple beside us moved out last spring. In moved a very snooty pair and their teenage kids. They are snooty in that they both roll their eyes when talking about yard stuff (we share a bit of flower bed). Neither of them touch a blade of grass, pull a weed, water, trim a tree. All of it is done by her elderly parents. The first thing they did was to hire a company to cut down 4 big trees, 2 mid sized fruit trees in the backyard, ripped out all of the shrubs, then they paved over the garden to make it a sport court. They also don't shovel snow in the winter (just drive over it).  There were lots of birds that went to the many bird feeders that the previous couple had. The lady complained that they had too many birds in the backyard. I had said "Well there used to be a couple of big bird feeders"  She gave a humph and eye roll "That won't be happening".  Last summer while her Mom worked in the front yard with me she drove overtop of very noticeable pile of small branches that were on the driveway we made for the compost. Rolled down her window without saying hello, informed her mom she would be back by 6, she was her way to the golf course!  

Behind us new people moved in with 2 kids that fight and scream/cry every day. My kids used to play outside all of the time, yes there were some fights, but not daily and certainly not crying all of the time. The girls behind us are unable to get along for more than 30 minutes. The little one is bawling and tattling every day. They are almost 13 and 11 years old. I would think that they are well past the fighting and screaming stage, but no. (when we hear them come out in the yard the dh and I take bets on the time until crying. Under 45 minutes always wins. Loser has to get drink/snack refills)  Then add their 2 very large dogs that are let out to bark at 5:45 am. 

I'm not looking for friends, just people that don't make a lot of noise and keep their yard decent.  

I have 2 houses lined up with the real estate lady to see tomorrow.  I'm excited and also sad.  Its a big change for me. The prices aren't terrible high. I'm not looking at anything we can't have paid off within 5 years.

I'm not even dreaming about putting this house up for sale until we have bought and moved in first.  Then my plan is to empty it out. Clean, top to bottom and maybe paint a bit as I have some very dark colours in some rooms that would not be to everyone's taste and let her fly.  The market is very favourable for buyers.  I think it will sell in less than a week.  BUT that is the cart way before the horse!

Daunting tasks ahead!

I started blogging to keep track of my mortgage payoff.  I worked my tail off and did it by myself in 3 years.  This time the man is helping, in fact he will be doing the "heavy lifting".  But the time has come and I'm preparing.  I will start with having a garage sale in 2 weeks. SO MUCH STUFF!!

Wish me luck!

Happy Easter !!