Switching horses mid-stream

I have never seen a more confused approach to a house. We were trying to sell it, then we were going to live it in, then we were going to rent it, and now I guess we’re going to live in it after all.

John lived there happily for 10 years, from 1997-2007. No confusion there. But ever since then, its been a random mess. Sometimes it’s been rented, sometimes it’s sat empty. It’s spent many, many months on the market, not selling. Meanwhile it’s needed expensive repairs, including a new well. So it’s been a financial liability more than an asset, as well as a source of worry and uncertainty, for the last decade.

But the views! (everyone says), the views!

Yes, the views are unparalleled.

Incredible views.

Astounding, awesome views!

Peaceful, expansive views.

Unbelievable views.

Last summer we decided we’d move into it (because of the views). But in addition to being very dated inside, the layout is regrettable. We spent months designing a big remodel with a large addition.

John built this scale model (there’s a second story too, that’s not pictured). I collected hundreds of idea pictures and put together multiple powerpoint presentations. My folder for the remodel takes up 1.63 GB on my computer, and consists of 243 files.

But our remodel designs turned out to be too expensive to build.

So we recently went ahead and started a low-end remodel intended for tenants, with the idea that we’d rent it for a couple years until the market finally improves, and then sell it. The kitchen and baths had not been updated in the 30 years since it was built. The basic remodel would help it rent, and later sell.

Except now we’re going to move into it after all.  So we’re in middle of remodeling for tenants, but oops! I guess it’s for us!

I know that eventually I will be very happy and grateful to live in such a stunning location. And with some courtyards built, I think it will look and feel less like an aging box stuck on top of a hill.

But right now, it’s difficult. The confusion and direction changing has been a bit whip-lash-y.

As recently as a couple of weeks ago we were sticking to budget-conscious decisions with the remodel. We chose simple, neutral colors and styling that would appeal to almost anyone because, as we kept telling ourselves, “It’s a rental!”

But now all of a sudden we wish we had done custom this-or-that, because it’s going to be our house now. And we’re halfway through the remodel!

I guess remodeling it “as a rental” will save us money. But if I had realized we were going to live there, I would have liked to have at least spent a little more time paying attention to the details. Instead, I wasted months last fall designing an unrealistic remodel, only to be paying very scant attention to the actual remodel now, as I frantically and distractedly try to buy 3 rentals to fulfill our 1031 exchange.

And it turns out our contractor isn’t any good. He’s nice enough, but his subcontractors keep doing really boneheaded things. His plumber flooded the bathroom and ruined the cabinets (that we weren’t planning on replacing). There’s also been unnecessary holes and patching in the drywall. And just lots of things getting broken. The irrigation system was broken and flooding all over the ground. They tried to start the evaporative cooler, but didn’t hook the pump up right and it was flooding all over the ground. And they just left it like that, for us to discover a day or two later.

Plus, of course they are behind schedule. I had planned to move in July and go on vacation in August. Now, it doesn’t look like moving in July will be possible after all.

And they’ve damaged my red hide-a-bed couch, which I was quite fond of. Now it’s got white bare spots that cannot be fixed, in addition to being filthy dirty.

I know not everyone would be into a bright red couch, but I loved my couch. It made the guest room cheery.

I feel really guilty and shallow because Stephanie is dealing with life and death in Africa, and I’m crying over an old red couch. But that’s what it is.