topic Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......" in Home

The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Abrowneyegirl — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:45:59 GMT

The gals and I were out for fun evening and many asked about our recent move. (We moved down the street earlier this year.)

Some were surprised that I spent 5 months getting the new house ready to move into. The new house is new and beautiful, BUT I learned that the curse of, we'll do it later once we move in and get settled is usually measured on YEARS as life is a series of twists and turns.

Before we move into any new place now we do everything I even think I want because it is 100X easier to do before you are living in the house. You are also very motivated to get everything done on a timeline.

One of the ladies just moved 2 months ago and said the "we will do it later...." and the other ladies squealed with laughter as they told their tales of living with ugly wallpaper or flooring for decades as 'something else' always came up.

The older gals we learned our lessons, just pull the bandaid off and do it before you move in.

Anyone else here plagued with the curse?

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

wagirl — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:53:00 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl---yes I too have been afflicted with--oh I can do that syndrome BS for the last 33 years!! the hubs built our house in 1986 and to this very day---many things have not been done----small things too---, altho, we had a huge tree fall on our house so have been going thru reconstruction and things are getting done- due mostly to the contractor-----my biggest thrill is getting the pulls put on 2 pocket doors---I was so happy!!! We are moving back in now and still little things need to be done---we will see

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

judy0330 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:57:52 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl What great advice!! We had all the closets in our house painted before we moved in. In hindsight -- if we had it to over -- we would have replaced the carpeting. It didn't need it then -- but does now -- and the thought of everything having to be moved is overwhelming.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

jeanlake — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:04:01 GMT

Yes. We quickly moved into our patio home, maintenance provided, in 2016. The young couple who bought our home needed to move quickly so we moved quickly. I don't mind doing that, but replacing carpets and painting interior didn't happen right away. Life got busy and family member temporarily moved in. Gone now. Today's excuse is 'when hubs (like that term, thank you, earlier poster) retires. Well, he retires at the end of the year. I'll work a year longer while he gets projects done. Okay -- let's do this.... Yes, it is a trap we walk into.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

dex — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:06:04 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl wrote:
The gals and I were out for fun evening and many asked about our recent move. (We moved down the street earlier this year.)
Some were surprised that I spent 5 months getting the new house ready to move into. The new house is new and beautiful, BUT I learned that the curse of, we'll do it later once we move in and get settled is usually measured on YEARS as life is a series of twists and turns.

Before we move into any new place now we do everything I even think I want because it is 100X easier to do before you are living in the house. You are also very motivated to get everything done on a timeline.

One of the ladies just moved 2 months ago and said the "we will do it later...." and the other ladies squealed with laughter as they told their tales of living with ugly wallpaper or flooring for decades as 'something else' always came up.
The older gals we learned our lessons, just pull the bandaid off and do it before you move in.

Anyone else here plagued with the curse?

We seem to only get those things done before we sell.LOL wouldn’t want the next family to put up with those annoying little jobs.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

VaBelle35 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:09:04 GMT

I agree. I think it goes much faster that way, too.

I repainted my entire house a year ago and even something as simple as that is a pain to live through.

And if you can knock out what you want to do with your bathrooms first, they can do it all at once instead of having to work around you having one working bathroom at all times.

And being without a kitchen, even for 3-4 days while it's packed up for painting is not fun. I can't imagine an entire kitchen reno.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

queendiva — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:14:43 GMT

The woman who bought the unit across/ next door to me is of like mind to the OP.

It has been about 2 months. Contractor is there 6 days/ week. Just started to demo the master bath. I saw that the old washer & dryer were in the garage, likely on their way out. My W/D are ancient- from the original owner 20 years ago. They work and I am keeping them until one dies, then they will both go.

Cleaning the floors, kitchen and baths were done by pros on day one, with custom closets following the next week. The rest: painting, lighting, kitchen etc. etc. was done while living here in the first 6 months. As I did not make a local move it was necessary for me to research and hire contractors and order fixtures and some furniture. It did seem as if every time a project was completed another started, turning everything upside down and creating a mess each time. I did not have the luxury of working on one home while living in another. Very fortunate that my house sold a day after being listed.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Venezia — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:18:11 GMT

@judy0330 wrote:
@Abrowneyegirl What great advice!! We had all the closets in our house painted before we moved in. In hindsight -- if we had it to over -- we would have replaced the carpeting. It didn't need it then -- but does now -- and the thought of everything having to be moved is overwhelming.

@judy0330- I'm right there with you on the flooring. We built our home, but the carpets need to be replaced with hardwood or vinyl plank flooring. It's the thought of everything having to be moved and all the baseboards having to be removed that's held me back from getting it done. DH can't handle anything like that; I can, but it's the disruption that I balk at. I wish we'd had different flooring put in when we originally built it. Hindsight's 20/20. We were moving here from England and were in a temporary rental until the house was completed.

And, of course, there will be retouching all the paintwork to be done after (which I'll do). I know I have to bite the bullet and get some estimates; the workmen around here are booked up many months in advance.

My advice to everyone would be: get it done before you move in!

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

ECBG — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:23:15 GMT

I know that curse very well. I'll bet it's also the root of resentment and having to repeat requests (harping).

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Lucky Charm — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:33:39 GMT

You had the advantage of being so close! We've remodeled houses hundreds of miles away!

But like you, everything had to get done before we moved in.

Only outside and garage and landscaping projects remain (working on that this weekend!)

I'm lucky that my husband can do most everything himself and I am a stickler for not only attention to detail, but the cleanliness as it's being done.

Ever see contractors install brand new kitchen cabinets? Filthy tools, filthy hands, omgosh it's disgusting. These same tools have been used on other's kitchens and bathrooms and some homes they work at don't have water, much less hot water. So the tools are a walking petri dish to begin with.

And the homeowners will walk right in with their pretty new dishes and start stacking them on the shelves exclaiming the whole time how beautiful the kitchen looks.

I've never kept carpet in a house from the previous owner. We usually kept the carpet in place and painted the walls. No need for drop cloths!

I also don't want anyone else's toilet. Out they go! And that is a disgusting job. Think a plumber's tools are clean?---guess again!

I've been told I could write a book on what to look for, what to avoid. How to get an understanding and amicable dialogue with contractors. I've been general contractor several times. (But no one is as compliant as my husband....lol.)

So, yeah, some things do get put off. I'm sitting here looking at a beautiful MacKenzie-Childs butterfly on my dining room table that needs to be hung on the wall. All summer!!!

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Nonametoday — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:42:23 GMT

No, I actually do it. I start wtihin 5 days of moving in and complete my projects. I like to sell my house before buying another so I know how much I have to invest here and there and in what, but once I get into the house that I got for a bargain, the money I received in my previous sale dictates what I can spend and how.

So, my bottom line is get the most you can from the house in which you now reside, buy a house that you like that will not eat up your equity from the former house, but one that you will be able to take care of the updates/repairs before you have been in the house too long so that you don't become disinterested.

I am a person who loves updating, loved wallpapering in the day that it was popular, love painting, like putting flooring down (whether it is carpet or what). Well, that was a few years ago. I am not able to do all those things now but wish I had been paid for all the wallpaper I have hung for friends and neighbors, all the painting I assisted with and all the decorating advice I have given.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Abrowneyegirl — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 17:28:12 GMT

@Nonametoday For many people it is very hard to move all their stuff boxes, food, clothing, kitchen supplies, furniture, etc INTO the house then try to replace the floors, paint, remove wallpaper, etc.

I picture your home with all your belongs stacked to the ceilings in the middle of rooms while your paint, etc.

Where does everyone sleep on blow up mattresses?

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Nonametoday — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 18:02:17 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl wrote:
@Nonametoday For many people it is very hard to move all their stuff boxes, food, clothing, kitchen supplies, furniture, etc INTO the house then try to replace the floors, paint, remove wallpaper, etc.

I picture your home with all your belongs stacked to the ceilings in the middle of rooms while your paint, etc.

Where does everyone sleep on blow up mattresses?

@Abrowneyegirl Then you have no idea of what and/or how I did it. I am not a litter bug so I can work around what is in place. Most people I know actually have lived in their homes while painting and wallpapering or redoing their kitchens. I suppose a person lacking in organizational skills would be unable to do that. Are you describing how you live when you say things are stacked to the ceiling on one another? You probably need to attend classes on organization and planning.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

wilma — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 22:21:19 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl

Oh, my! Could I tell stories! It’s true what they say, “ You never know what you will run into when remodeling.”

We we were fairly happy with the house we bought, but after several years, it needed changes. We moved here in 1999. Twenty years later I am close to finishing what I wanted to do. The expense of remodeling & the fact we were both working full time meant we had to space out the projects.

We lived through a major kitchen remodel. Walls came down. It was like having a picnic inside every day! LOL!

We obviously moved out for a few weeks while the bathrooms were updated. I have removed wallpaper, spackled, sanded, & painted every room. We ripped up carpeting to reveal original hardwood.

I am in the process now of remodeling the basement. The last vestige of the former owners. It’s a huge job. Hope to have it finished by Christmas.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

ninjawife — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 22:50:52 GMT

We purchased our current house in May and did not move in until September. We had the hardwood floors refinished, house painted, kitchen backsplash and counters replaced as well as new kitchen appliances. We also had the basement refinished into an apartment for my father. That could have been done after my family moved in b/c my father did not move in with us until months later. However, I did not want to live in a construction zone.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

beautybee — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 10:52:13 GMT

I'm in the do it now camp. I will do what I can to make changes. I can't imagine living with wallpaper or a paint color that you don't care for. I think you are very smart in making all the changes before you move in.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

chrystaltree — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:52:48 GMT

No, I don't experience that with a new home because I don't expect or even want to get everything perfect immediately. For me, taking my time and treating the decorating like a work progress is fun. I'm always tweaking things so I'm never "done" and I like it that way. When we downsized to our first condo and then upsized to our curren condo; I absolutely could not wait to move in.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

CelticCrafter — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:08:42 GMT

We still haven't decided whether or not we want to stay here for the rest of our lives or retire someplace else.

If we do decide to go, it will have to be a move in ready or done before we move.

Do it later never comes.

Re: The curse of "we will do it later once we get......"

Mominohio — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:44:09 GMT

I have only purchased two houses in my lifetime. The first house was empty, and we took every last dime we could scrape up, and painted the whole interior (outside was brick) put new carpet where we could afford and papered some walls that were already papered, but very old and distressed, re screened all windows etc.. It was all we could afford at that time, and some things had to 'do it later' simply for finances.

Second home we negotiated the contract to have 60 days before we had to be out of the old one after closing, so we could work on the new to us house. It was filthy, so again. all walls and ceilings painted, all new carpet throughout (except living room which was almost new), fixed some plumbing, papered master bed and bath and kitchen and dining room, and guest bath. Again, we could have used doors, windows, a complete kitchen remodel etc. but there just weren't funds to do it all.

My plan of attack is always going to be to do everything I can possible do and afford to to before moving in because you are so right, it is so much harder to do once living in the home. But not everyone has unlimited finances, and much of the work on a home takes decades for those of us with limited funds, if you stay long enough.