We lived in our "starter house" for 53 years on a 1/2 acre plot. Over the years we built an 18' x 20' addition with a cathedral ceiling. carport, built on front porch, small sun room. 18 x 36 swimming pool, and of course upgraded the inside over the years. We paid $23, 500 in 1972. We hope to get around $310,000. We moved to Masonic Village 3+ months ago. Our new apartment is just under 1200 sq. ft.
In that time my wife and I have made maybe 140 trips to the house throwing stuff away, donating to Goodwill and bringing stuff to the apartment and the storage area we get. Today the basement, attic, and garage are 100% cleaned out and floor swept. there are only two rooms that still have some things in them. My wife is a Packrat and doesn't want to part with anything. Thats the way she was raised her parents taught her that. My mom on the other hand was a very neat tidy person. Naturally we had some "disagreements" in the course of this move. I mostly won out bc it had to be. Stuff needed to go. Can't tell you how much stuff I threw away. Three large garbage bags every week for 14 weeks ( 42 large bags) and 3 pickup loads to the local incinerator. Many dozen trips to Goodwill.
This has been a huge burden on me bc I did most of it. Except for the last 2 weeks I would wake up with dread in the mornings. After I had my coffee that greatly improved...lol. We are almost there and will be ready to list by the end of August...Four months of blood sweat and tears!!. Wish I had known years ago what I know now: Stuff needs to be gotten rid of.
The other thing is that we were not going to move til next year but at the end of last year we were told that if we comitted before the end of 2024 we would save $7000 off the purchase price. So we got ithe apartment for $225,000. So for all you packrats out there: BEWARE!! lol.
In that time my wife and I have made maybe 140 trips to the house throwing stuff away, donating to Goodwill and bringing stuff to the apartment and the storage area we get. Today the basement, attic, and garage are 100% cleaned out and floor swept. there are only two rooms that still have some things in them. My wife is a Packrat and doesn't want to part with anything. Thats the way she was raised her parents taught her that. My mom on the other hand was a very neat tidy person. Naturally we had some "disagreements" in the course of this move. I mostly won out bc it had to be. Stuff needed to go. Can't tell you how much stuff I threw away. Three large garbage bags every week for 14 weeks ( 42 large bags) and 3 pickup loads to the local incinerator. Many dozen trips to Goodwill.
This has been a huge burden on me bc I did most of it. Except for the last 2 weeks I would wake up with dread in the mornings. After I had my coffee that greatly improved...lol. We are almost there and will be ready to list by the end of August...Four months of blood sweat and tears!!. Wish I had known years ago what I know now: Stuff needs to be gotten rid of.
The other thing is that we were not going to move til next year but at the end of last year we were told that if we comitted before the end of 2024 we would save $7000 off the purchase price. So we got ithe apartment for $225,000. So for all you packrats out there: BEWARE!! lol.
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