Bren Rose Neighborhood
Today is Halloween and in our neighborhood, it is the day of the annual costume parade and party. I think this is the 40th annual parade. What a great tradition. The kids are excited, the adults are excited, what more could you want? Oh, it's also 39 deg outside with a brisk wind out of the west. Brrrrrr
FIL has been pricing out the cost of the 1600 sf addition to our house. The permit is in hand. We need to nail down the costs before going to the bank for the construction loan. However, the cost is coming in at $250/sf. You read that right. $250/sf. The contractors are including a significant unknown factor due to the age of the house, the condition of the electrical, plumbing, etc.
For an additional $100k, we can tear down the house and build new 4,000 sf home. The minor inconvenience of not living at our own house for a while, but Hubby has suggested we move in with my IL's. Uh huh. That's right. Live with them. They are wonderful people - truly generous and giving and willing to do anything for us. But I am 37 yo. Hubby is 33 yo. Is that situation even one I want to contemplate? But it would save the cost of having to move into an apartment or another house for 9 -12 mo. I would have babysitters available at any time. But I would have no privacy. None. For a long time.
Why are we wrestling with this decision so much? Why not just move into an already built new or newly renovated home? The answer is that we adore our neighborhood. After five years, we are starting to become good friends with a couple of the neighbors, where the kids have playdates and we actually truly enjoy the parents and vice versa. We also want to do a house ourselves the way we want it.
This morning, I dropped off beer and fritos to the host house of the party this afternoon. They had renovated their house recently and had moved out for 6-9 months. The house is gorgeous. Simply stunning. I have house envy in a big bad way.
However, I am afraid of the commitment - the monetary side, yes, but even more of the decorating / adult side. I am afraid of having my tastes so clearly on display. I am afraid of working with someone to define what my style really is. If we renovate, we want to keep the furnishings / style of the house somewhat in keeping with the era of the house. But if we build new, would there be a bit more license? On top of that is the fact that Hubby has clear ideas of what he likes. Usually we are of similar mind, but sometimes we are not.
UGH. My mind is spinning. I need to go home and mull some wine while I mull our options.
FIL has been pricing out the cost of the 1600 sf addition to our house. The permit is in hand. We need to nail down the costs before going to the bank for the construction loan. However, the cost is coming in at $250/sf. You read that right. $250/sf. The contractors are including a significant unknown factor due to the age of the house, the condition of the electrical, plumbing, etc.
For an additional $100k, we can tear down the house and build new 4,000 sf home. The minor inconvenience of not living at our own house for a while, but Hubby has suggested we move in with my IL's. Uh huh. That's right. Live with them. They are wonderful people - truly generous and giving and willing to do anything for us. But I am 37 yo. Hubby is 33 yo. Is that situation even one I want to contemplate? But it would save the cost of having to move into an apartment or another house for 9 -12 mo. I would have babysitters available at any time. But I would have no privacy. None. For a long time.
Why are we wrestling with this decision so much? Why not just move into an already built new or newly renovated home? The answer is that we adore our neighborhood. After five years, we are starting to become good friends with a couple of the neighbors, where the kids have playdates and we actually truly enjoy the parents and vice versa. We also want to do a house ourselves the way we want it.
This morning, I dropped off beer and fritos to the host house of the party this afternoon. They had renovated their house recently and had moved out for 6-9 months. The house is gorgeous. Simply stunning. I have house envy in a big bad way.
However, I am afraid of the commitment - the monetary side, yes, but even more of the decorating / adult side. I am afraid of having my tastes so clearly on display. I am afraid of working with someone to define what my style really is. If we renovate, we want to keep the furnishings / style of the house somewhat in keeping with the era of the house. But if we build new, would there be a bit more license? On top of that is the fact that Hubby has clear ideas of what he likes. Usually we are of similar mind, but sometimes we are not.
UGH. My mind is spinning. I need to go home and mull some wine while I mull our options.
2 Comments:
Decisions, decisions...
From personal experience, I'd lean toward the "tear the beeyotch down and start new". We've done the old house renovations on two homes now and it was NOT worth it - mostly because we never got things the way we wanted it, and the neighborhood wasn't great either.
You are lucky to have such a great neighborhood, and if you have intentions on staying there for longer than say 7 years, I'd definitely be a lot more into building new. That way you get what you want versus having to work around things you're not crazy about in the first place.
Feel your pain on the whole public display of your personal taste issue. That was my biggest fear with the house we have now, and I'm still working through that!
My head was spionning just reading that. Big decisions, babe. I hope you find some answers soon.
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