Quote:
Originally Posted by psjordan
I usually just lurk here, but wanted to chime in on this one. We bought 18 months ago, and like (I'd guess) 99% of TV buyers after staying here and researching we had a list of what we wanted, including location, style/age of house, upgrades already done, amount of bond paid, etc.
I am not sure why posters here tend to question whether any OP went through the above thought process before buying? Do people really have dozens of new neighbors who say "darn, I wish I had thought of where the stores/power lines/noise/etc. were before I bought this house"? Or "holy cow, I did not realize the outstanding bond was THAT much"? Or for that matter - when doing upgrades - do people have neighbors who dislike their "setup" but decide to do a dozen upgrades anyways? Of COURSE you've thought this through and are happy enough to tackle your list with your current house.
Anyways, it's clear you have a home you love and wish to make it your own. After looking at dozens of houses, we were lucky to find pre-owned with the vast majority of what we wanted - but of course the remaining wish-list items we have since addressed added up to big bucks. But we knew that before we purchased.
If our neighborhood "vibe" did not match our desires, we would have been happy enough but would not have done further upgrades. But our neighborhood is great. Do we expect to "get our money back" on our upgrades should we decide to sell? Likely not, at least not a huge percent if we sell in the next five years. We DO however get enjoyment and use out of the improvements in the meantime, which is why we spent the money.
Your published experiences will help more than one reader. So thanks for posting.
Go for it, enjoy it, seems you enjoy the upgrade process and I hope you can sit back and enjoy the end results even more.
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Thank you for better articulating where I am coming from - you are spot on! I did a ton of homework and research prior to buying where I did. If I was unhappy with my home or location, I would not be doing the upgrades on my house. Sure, there are things I’d change (like maybe having less short-term rentals in my neighborhood), but I absolutely love where I live, and have begun to get close with many of my neighbors, who are now good friends. Honestly, thinking about resale and getting my money back on my upgrades is NOT my primary consideration. This is my retirement home. I worked long and hard (like most TV retirees) for many, many years, and I am now in the position where I can customize my home to my liking. I plan to stay put as long as I can where I’m at (I Know, I’ve heard the average villager moves three times). I just got through with a major down-size when I moved here, and I find having less “things” to be liberating and refreshing. The size of my villa is perfect for me - I can’t see myself wanting “more” house, and wanting to move in the future.
I’m just sharing my journey here, realizing everyone is different, and respecting and celebrating different decisions that others make. Hey, we’re all retired, so let’s enjoy ourselves and create homes where we will be happy.