Sort of jumping off of this thread, where people were mentioning the ups and downs of their homes.
My current apartment that I share with the SO is a 1 bedroom 1 bath loft/two story place, at $650/month, bordering between the nicest area of the city and the university area. It’s an absolute steal - all utilities (except electric, roughly $40/month), heat and parking included. On the other hand, it lacks some amenities that my old apartment had. It doesn’t have a “real” freezer, but a 1960’s style ice box (that must be scraped…argh). The parking lot is gravel, not paved. There isn’t a dishwasher or a gas stove. The landlord “fixes” everything himself, so nothing truly gets fixed, just jimmied to last awhile. Since this was my year off between undergrad and grad school, I chose to live with the limitations and relish in my low rent check each month.
But my next place will most definitely have a dishwasher and a real freezer. That’s non-negotiable. Hopefully it will have a gas stove and be a bit newer than my current place, and have hardwood floors.
My parents are looking for their “retirement” condo in Florida next weekend. They’re looking to not have maintenance to worry about, a pool and an onsite or gym close by, with the beach in 10 minute walking distance or actually on the beach itself. Right now, they have a sprawling 5 acres and a large 100 year old (but gutted 15 years ago) home that’s taking up all their free time to maintain in cold PA.
So, what will your next home or apartment have that your current place does not? What features do you hope it will have, but will be willing to compromise on?
The only must have are modern high-efficiency HVAC (which I recently installed) and well insulated windows that do not have metal frames (which I wish I had the money for). All winter, huge areas of my current home are quite cold, regardless of where the thermostat is set, thanks to the 1970’s era aluminum framed heat suckers in the exterior walls. I call them yard radiators, because they do a better job of warming the air out there than keeping it warm in the part of the house where I live.
I’d like a gas stove, drip irrigation, and in-floor heating (oh, yes), but doubt I could afford them all.
The only must have are modern high-efficiency HVAC (which I recently installed) and well insulated windows that do not have metal frames (which I wish I had the money for). All winter, huge areas of my current home are quite cold, regardless of where the thermostat is set, thanks to the 1970’s era aluminum framed heat suckers in the exterior walls. I call them yard radiators, because they do a better job of warming the air out there than keeping it warm in the part of the house where I live.
I’d like a gas stove, drip irrigation, and in-floor heating (oh, yes), but doubt I could afford them all.
I do love my current house. But my next move will likely be either for relocating with my job, or for retirement. My current house is 4,700 square feet. After the kids grow up and move out, my wife and I will not need near as much space.
I really like the house we’re in now, but it’s getting a little small for us. We’re not in a hurry to move, so our next place will pretty much have to be perfect to get us out of our current place. My must haves:
Hardwood floors throughout living areas and bedrooms
Large closet in master bedroom
Master ensuite with double sinks, tub and separate shower
Oversized refrigerator, gas cooktop, lots of cabinet space and granite or solid surface counters in the kitchen
Mud room. I never realized gear storage would be such an issue before I had kids.
Finished basement with room for a big screen TV and play area for the kids
Nothing. My home is perfect for me as it is. The only things I want to replace are a new heater. This one is fine, but totally ancient, from the 1970’s. And I want a door instead of a window in our bedroom, which is level with the garden.
Other then that, nothing. I love the location of our home (both of our commutes are less then 30 minutes). I love the safe big backyard with old ivy covered walls. I love that we have good soundproofing, and no noise problems with our neighbours. I love that we have good neighbours, all around.
I love the kitchen we installed three years ago. I love that we look out on the traintracks. My toddler son is wildly enthusiastic about the trains we see passing from the kitchen window. I even don’t mind the occasional flooding of the basement when we have a rain torrent.
I can buy this. I don’t even use my ensuite - my husband has taken it over. He’s a bit…messy, shall we say. So much so, in fact, that right now I prefer sharing a bathroom with my two kids to sharing with him.
This is the third home I’ve owned. I’ve gone through the starter home phase, the fixer-upper phase, the historic home phase. Now, I just want to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
I want a tightly wrapped, well-insulated, efficiently heated/cooled house. I don’t care if it’s a soulless McBungalow. I’m done with wearing a hat to bed.
So what’s up with this love of hardwood floors everyone has?
You don’t like to sit on your floors? Lie on your floors? Walk barefoot on soft cushy carpet?
I’ve got hardwood floors in my kitchen and dining area but there’s no way I’d want them anywhere else.
No, no and no. Even so, god invented rugs which provide padding for this type of thing. Don’t you ever spill things? I do, and cleaning carpet is a righteous pain in my backside.
