Saturday, September 26, 2009

Decisions, decisions...

I stink at making decisions. I really do. When someone asks me what I'd like to eat, drink or whatever, I generally give some nonspecific answer because, usually, I really just don't care. Wine or beer, Coke or Sprite, La Croix or an Izze; I never have much of a strong preference.

This problem gets worse when we're talking about big ticket items. Like houses. Today, specifically, we're talking about houses.

I love our house. It's small, there's nothing particularly special about it, it seems like it's always a mess with five-- and soon to be six-- of us dropping a coat here or a book there but for whatever reason, I love it. It's home. And in a lot of ways I don't want to move anywhere; it's a lot of work, it's expensive and, besides, we're already home.

But then I think about our situation pragmatically and I know we'd be much more comfortable with another bedroom. And a family room. And maybe even an eat-in kitchen. So, we go house hunting and, invariably, we see a house we like yet Joe and I dawdle and ponder and, ultimately, never make a decision and see the house get sold to someone more capable of saying, "Yes, I want this house."

Today we saw a house. It's not a perfect house, but the soul of a really great house is there, it just needs some love and attention. It's in one of my favorite neighborhoods in our town. It's being sold well below market value. It has all the space we need. Yet again, we waver. It needs a LOT of work Joe and I say to each other. And it's true, it does. But look at this gorgeous red brick, Joe, and look-- real shutters! I say back. And Joe agrees, those things are lovely. But do we want to spend the next two or three years pulling up carpeting, patching ceilings and walls, ripping down outdated wallpaper and updating kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures? Maybe.

We have to be decisive now. There is already one offer in on this house. There's a deal to be had, a bigger house out there for us and, unfortunately for us, a major decision to be made.

7 comments:

AlexanderTheGreat said...

I love brick myself, very sturdy and energy efficient.

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. If you can afford it, the timing is right (buyers market now), and it feels right, then just do it.

AlexanderTheGreat said...

PS By afford I include contractors to do all the "fixing" and "upping", as neither of you have the time to do that yourselves.

Cloence said...

I am good at painting and stripping wallpaper! If you need an extra set of hands.... Home improvements can be fun, although I imagine not as fun with four kids.

Bob said...

Could you send me the link for this house?

I would like to see it-- if you folks remain interested in this property.

CJ said...

It sounds like it could be worth it in the long run. Don't pass up a good deal. Trust your gut. Also think about how your house will sell and time too.

terri said...

buy! buy! buy!

(it is so much easier to make decisions for someone else, on someone else's paycheck...)

i'd love to see it.

terri said...

oh, and to help you next time: diet coke, wine (specifically Casillero del Diablo Carmenere 2007), and san pelligrino.

those are really the only options.