I have been kept away from blogging with making a life changing decision and its consequences. Sorry for the absence and there will probably be more. I must also add here that my Facebook account was hacked and almost my iPhone, so I have deactivated my Facebook account.
Anyway back to the scary decision we have made. We have decided after months of indecision to sell our family home and move into a retirement village. It wasn't easy. We love living here, we love our house but it was getting too much for us to look after. Hiring help was getting expensive so we are moving on to an easier place to manage, that is if we can sell our house for the right price.
Here are the photos taken by the real estate people:
The house is surrounded by gardens with wildlife visitors: (my photos)
Does anyone want to buy it?
Anyway back to the scary decision we have made. We have decided after months of indecision to sell our family home and move into a retirement village. It wasn't easy. We love living here, we love our house but it was getting too much for us to look after. Hiring help was getting expensive so we are moving on to an easier place to manage, that is if we can sell our house for the right price.
Here are the photos taken by the real estate people:
The house is surrounded by gardens with wildlife visitors: (my photos)
Your house and garden are beautiful, I don't think you will have any trouble selling.
ReplyDeleteWe too are working our way through life changing decisions because we recognise that our mountain home is going to become too hard and too expensive to manage in the long term. We will buy a smaller more easily managed home further west out near our bush block but will take a few years in transition.
Sad to hear, but understandable decision. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteLife's changes. You are wise to do them before you are forced to do them. That is one lovely home!!
ReplyDeleteYour house looks very large, and very suitable for a family. While we quite early bought into something appropriate for our old age, the social interaction is not really here, aside from one minute lift conversations. Our friend, the Brighton Antique Dealer, sold up and bought into a retirement place and after some initial regrets, she now loves it and the social connection it gives her. As I am sure you have thought about, one day one of you will be no longer around and it is a mutual responsibility to set each other up for the future. There is no rush for you. Hold out for a very high price and choose where you will live with a lot of consideration. You like a good walk....make sure there will be somewhere interesting to walk. Make sure you have a good internet connection. Of course you are disappointing your children who always thought your home would be there for them. Tough titties for them.
ReplyDeleteWe are only moving a few kilometres down the road right next to my favourite forest. So we don't have to learn a new district. Same doctor, dentist and malls. Our kids are supportive, understandably a little sad but they want us to do what is best for our lifestyle not theirs, So that is nice.
DeleteI should have known you were well advanced with your planning.
DeleteHello, I know that is a hard decision. We have both right now, a 55+ Florida home and our older home. So, I understand the need to downsize. Your home is beautiful, I would think it will sell quickly.
ReplyDeleteI wish you good fortune. I don't know of my New Zealand friends who have done it who have regretted it.
ReplyDeleteso beautiful and it would break my heart to leave your wonderful home. that said, there comes a time in life when we have to change and you have hit yours. I know what you mean about the care, the gardens and all the housework. it gets to be hard to keep up. I said to bob as we worked on the floors together, what will happen when we can't do this anymore.. it gets harder by the day to maintain. as much as you like to travel. it will be easier leaving the village than your home. I wish you much luck in the sale and move.
ReplyDeleteDiane your house is great. But you are right as we get older we must change our life. Good luck in a new place
ReplyDeleteAll the best in selling your lovely home at the price you hope for. You are making a wise decision and one we all have to face eventually. It's so good you will be able to stay in the same area that you have come to love. Seems you will be very happy in your new place once all is said and done.
ReplyDeleteYour home is beautiful. Diane. Sad to have to leave it, but ultimately the right decision if, as Andrew says, you have all your preferences nearby. Our retirement village in Marquard (where we lived for many years) is ideal for this type of move and I don't know if any of our friends, who've done it regretting it. As Andrew says [again], the social aspect is what draws people. Grant and I live quite far out of town but have become very involved in outdoor pursuits (which has been so good for his health) in the community and have settled in very well. You are both happy and well-adjusted, loving people, so you will make your next home just as happy and beautiful as this one. I wish you and Bill all the best.Blessings. xx
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a difficult decision to make. Your home is so beautiful it will be easy to sell. Now that the decision has been made you will probably be able to sleep better and begin to plan the next exciting chapter of your life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful home and gardens. I am sure it is hard to leave such a nice home but it does look like a lot to keep up. Sometimes I think the same thing -- I would like to spend less time cleaning, weeding, etc and more time reading.
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, yes, that's a biggie, but inevitable. You're both very wise to know when the time is right to make that change. It's great that you can be in the same area, facilities etc. We've already talked about it and agreed on a plan.
ReplyDeleteYou've a most beautiful home and garden and will have no problems in selling. It's the type of home a family could move into and start enjoying their lives immediately - no work to do other than normal upkeep.
All the very best to you both as you move towards another adventure! Hugs xx
hi Diane, i'm sure you will have no trouble selling such a lovely home and i hope that your move will be a good one. i think you are wise to consider this step whilst you are able instead of when you have to. good luck with it. i missed you on fb
ReplyDeletePlanning to move into a retirement village within the same area is a brilliant option. It often seems easier to make these changes while you are well enough to sort, pack, move and settle in to your new surrounds and routine. your place photographs beautifully! Did you employ someone to stage your home or did you reach this beautiful clean and fresh presentation yourselves? You live in a wonderful area so I imagine you will have no trouble attracting prospective buyers.
ReplyDeleteYour home and garden look wonderful and it will be a very fortunate family who become the new owners...all the best for your move.
ReplyDeletelooks a lovely homely home. garden is lovely as always..
ReplyDeleteyes a big decision for sure. it's said most of us know when it's time to move. good luck to you both...look forward to know how you are getting on.
Such a big decision for you, but undoubtedly the right one. And you will still have the things you know around you. What a beautiful home...a bit far away for us, though :-)
ReplyDeleteYour house is very pretty ! I would buy it immediately if I was younger of course ! I think you have taken the right decision ! I would do that too in your case. Our house is very easy to entertain and so far I had no troubles to find people for help. It's a pity that we don't have these retirement villages here, at least I have never heard of it. What most of the couples do, is or they have to go into a home or they rent a flat.
ReplyDeleteYour house -- and gardens -- are beautiful. I hope you have no trouble getting the price you want. If we were younger (and lived in Australia) we would be tempted to buy it from you.
ReplyDeleteHa---I agree with George. BUT--we are NOT younger... ha... We will probably be doing the same thing in a few years. Our yard/gardens are truly getting the best of us ---at least they did this year, with our horrible drought... Very disheartening!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE your home and gardens/property... I know it will be hard to leave it --but the great memories are there and will always be there for you to share...
Good Luck with the house sale ---and the upcoming move.
About Facebook, changing your password should take care of your problems...
Hugs,
Betsy
I can't imagine how hard that decision was to make :( I pray things work out well for you and the house sells quickly. Hang in there--change is hard but it usually brings greater things!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would buy your home in a heartbeat if I could. It is beautiful! With a gorgeous garden! I know how hard it must have been to make such a decision, and I hope the move will turn out to be a good one. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure someone will love to buy it - and you will both enjoy a new and secure abode with less to maintain and less to worry about. My mum never looked back, though she was initially reluctant to move from the family home.
ReplyDeleteYour home is lovely! Hold out for your price! I understand how hard it must be to make the decision to move. I hope the move to a new place that will meet your needs will make life easier for you and give you more time to enjoy the things you love to do. Thank you for your comments, Diane. I love reading about you, your family and friends. And fantastic great adventures and photos!
ReplyDeleteYes it is a big home to look after, very beautiful. I wish you all the best to sell it quickly, once you have made the decision to move to a smaller place.
ReplyDeleteOh best wishes! It's quite tempting to think about living in any other country in the world besides here right now, but of course we are in the same position (age wise) so if I could move I'd more likely be next to you at the Retirement Villa. Right now both our homes are so tiny with no yard that it is still possible for us to keep them up. But our next move will definitely be the one you are making.
ReplyDeleteDo hold out for the price you want -- don't be railroaded into too quick a decision -- your home is absolutely beautiful.
What a lovely home, Diane and Bill, and the realtor did a great job with the showing photos. We have looked at a lot of realty ads and many photos are so bad that it's a wonder the home will ever sell. But not so for your home, which is lovely and the photos show it uncluttered, which is another good point. We wish you all the best on your life-changing decision and in selling your home. As you may know, we came to the same point a couple of years ago and moved quite a distance (10 hours) from VA to NH. Unfortunately, we have to yet sold our VA home and return 2-3X/yearly to check on it. We do have a contractor check it out during our absences and also a lawn maintenance contractor and we have bi-annual heating and ac servicing, so it's still a bit of work and expenses for us. However, a new hospital opens at the end of this month and it's within 5 minutes of our house so maybe this will be our year to sell. As far as downsizing, we have not regretted the move to a single-floor apt with no worries about yard work, repairs, etc. And, we have met many others here who have done the same and are much happier for the change. You have obviously done your "homework" in selecting a retirement setting suited to your needs and interests. Good luck to you both going forward.
ReplyDeleteYour house is gorgeous Diane I really don't think you'll have a problem getting the price you want. It's a good idea, just think how much easier it'll be when you go off on your travels, as you love to do 😊 Much easier to just lock up there and not worry about the garden etc. My older sister has just done the same thing, she can't get over all the time she has now to persue other interests. Sometimes when I'm exhausted after a day in the garden I'm tempted myself ☺
ReplyDeleteYour home is gorgeous Diane, you should have no trouble selling it. I know it was a difficult decision to make but I think you were very wise to look further on down the road. We have had friends who have done the same thing and there have never been any regrets. In fact it opened up whole new adventures.
ReplyDeleteYour home and grounds look like Paradise, Diane! It will be hard to leave. However, when Bob and I sold our second home in Denver a couple years ago, we were so relieved. As we get older, the amount of work necessary to upkeep property is prohibative. I wish you good luck as you move forward with a new pan.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely home and I think it will be snatched up in no time. If the pictures in the next post are an indication I think you will LOVE it in your new location. Think of how nice it will be to go travel to see grands and kids and not have to worry about the home place!
ReplyDeleteI imagine your home will sell easily, it is pretty enough to sell itself. Now I will look for a post with photos of your new home in it. Congrats for daring to make the big change.
ReplyDelete