Memo from JB: On The Move
When it comes to selling a house, it’s the little things that count.
Here we go again, getting our house ready for the next person. My wife and I have spent the last few weeks fixing every little imperfection in our home so some stranger can live a wonderful, carefree life. We have a tendency to do this, finally perfecting our home for the next family, but never for ourselves.
We have decided to downsize. For most people, that entails aging empty nesters looking for a smaller home and less to take care of. For us, and like many Austinites, it just means selling our expensive home and moving farther away from the city.
When we made the decision to sell our home, we agreed that we should fix everything needed, no matter how small, so a buyer can’t beat us up with a list of repairs, no matter how small. During this few weeks of fixing every little detail of the home, we have been laughing at the fact that we have just been living with it as is. Why did we not fix some of these things years ago, especially since we point them out on a nearly daily basis? Some items were laughable at how little time and effort they took to fix.
Here’s a list of our repairs, to give you an idea of some of the things we have been living with for years:
The light above the entryway door was replaced.
Years broken: two
Time to fix: five minutes
Cost: $15 extension pole light-bulb changer
We fixed the closet sock drawer that slides open and won’t remain closed.
Years broken: three
Time to fix: 10 minutes
Cost: $0
We fixed the office cabinet door, which was off its hinges.
Years broken: two
Time to fix: five minutes
Cost: $0
We fixed the damaged face of the garage door.
Years broken: two
Time to fix: five-minute call to the garage-repair guy
Cost: $400
Wine consumed while watching repair: one and a half glasses
We finally got the trees trimmed.
Years untrimmed: five
Time to fix: five-minute call to the landscape crew
Cost: $500
Wine consumed while watching repair: three glasses
There are many more examples, and an abundance of wine was consumed during the projects that were outsourced. Overall, none of these repairs were being ignored because of time or cost. Was it laziness? If so, you haven’t met my wife. So, purely, I was the one to blame, the consummate procrastinator. Why, then, were we content to live with leaks, creaks and broken hinges? We are literally kicking ourselves with embarrassment about this and laughing at the same time.
Well, it’s perfect now—for someone else. Maybe this weekend, when you make your “honey do list,” you can attach this article for your spouse.
A sock drawer that closes and stays closed: I never thought I’d see the day, at least for a few weeks until we move. It’s the little things.
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