I kind of can't believe it myself, but next month we'll have lived in our home for twenty-two years. Twenty-two years! It's the only home we've ever owned as adults, and the only home that our three children have even known.
Our home was built in 1974, which is not old old, but old enough. In the metro Atlanta area where we live, it's very old compared to most of the other homes.
After twenty-two years of residence, here are my thoughts on living in an older home.
What We Like:
1. The sturdiness.
Our house is all brick, which would be almost impossible to find (or afford) if we were to buy a new house. A steel beam runs across the entire length of the house inside the ceiling. I don't know much about carpentry, but that seems like a good, sturdy combo. (After all, I've read The Three Little Pigs.) After the years, when we've had contract workers come to the house to repair this or that, they've often commented on how well-made the older homes are.
2. Our yard.
Most everyone I know has a newer, more expensive home than we do, but sorry, their front yard can't compete with ours. With our much bigger yard and longer driveway, we have something they don't have, and that's called "privacy." We can sit on the front porch and have coffee in our pajamas without feeling like we're practically sitting out on the curb. Oh, and our huge trees are beautiful, especially in the spring.
3. The price.
I often joke that we live in the ghetto, because most of the neighborhoods surrounding ours are so much more expensive than ours. There are plenty of neighborhoods where the homes are between $600,000 -- $800,000. According to Zillow, our home is currently worth $275,000.
And yeah, those homes are bigger than ours, but still ... that is a big price difference for the same school district.
And the best part? As of last year, our house is now completely paid for.
What We Don't Like:
1. The work.
Our home had been a rental for seventee years before we bought it, and it showed. There was dated wallpaper we had to replace, outdoor wooden paneling in our living room that we had to tear down, and bright green carpeting (in the dining room!) that we had to replace.
Oh yeah, and also an unfinished basement that we eventually finished ourselves
Or course, this can also be considered a plus in some ways, especially if you like the idea of making the house your own. But it was a LOT of work, and of course a lot of expense as well.
2. The repairs
We've had so many plumbing problems over the years that it felt like the plumber was part of the family and should be staying to have dinner with us. Many of these problems were caused by having cast-iron pipes and things that were not built up to current code. It's been an expensive pain to deal with them, and I don't think we're finished even now.
3. The closets
My oldest daughter hates the fact that everyone else has high ceilings and we don't. I don't care about that too much, but it does make me downright jealous when someone else gives me a tour of their home and I see how HUGE their closets are. Honestly, their closets are as big as our bathroom! I would love to have a bigger closet.
So that's been our experience of the decades we've lived in an older home.
If I had to go back in time, would I make the same choice and buy this home again?
Yes. Yes, I think I would.
Jen Blaske
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