From a McMansion to 2B/2B

For Sale: 2B/2B Villa - 
No Basement 

Most Boomers looking for a new home would ignore that ad even though they want to downsize.  It just makes sense for them to move to a much smaller home because they no longer need that McMansion that they raised their kids in especially with increasing utility costs and rapidly shrinking pension benefits. Really, they should just move to that 2 bedroom/2 bathroom (2B/2B) villa just like the one I tried to sell last summer,  but some just can't get rid of their stuff.  

I got so tired of showing my home to potential buyers and then having them ask "But, honey, where's the basement?"    

 

To which I'd reply "no basement"; then I'd get that very perplexed, shocked look with the same comment:   "Well, were do you put all your stuff?"   

 

I really wanted to shout back "Just how much "stuff" do we really need at this age?"

 

Don't get me wrong, I have some valuables that I just can't part with, like the dishes that I bought in Italy.  They are so precious to me because my late friend John and I spent hours going through the pottery factory near Abano, Italy searching for the perfect pieces among the pile of seconds.   I could never part with them!

 

But if you've reached that point in your life where your tired of spending all your time and money on a big house and are ready to downsize,then consider:

.....Gifting precious possessions -- give grandma's china to your daughter now.

.....Keep part of it -  reduce your favorite china to 6 place settings rather than 12.

.....BUT always Respect your spouse  --  don't throw away something your spouse loves and hope that he or she won't notice.

 

 .....and for a good laugh about the misplaced importance we all put on "stuff", check out the George Carlin's humorous take on how we so ridiculously revere our stuff, while dissing other's stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac       

 

Snow Birds Wanted!!

I've had my home on the market for 6 weeks now and feel like I'm living in a museum as I've got to constantly keep it "show ready"!

I could have sold it at least 3 times but then usually the husband asks "Honey, where's the steps to the basement?"

I don't have a basement and never realized it was such a big deal as I get along fine without one.

I keep hearing things like - "I can't give up that antique bed as my mother was born in it." or "Where will I put the boxes of my kid's schoolwork?" And it doesn't even matter that those kids are now in their 40s!

It's been extremely frustrating as I can fix or offer a discount for almost any other problem area, but I can't dig a basement so I need your help!

At 1240 sq ft, my home is considered small nowadays, which to me is ridiculous as the first home we bought when I got married was only 1100 st ft and that was plenty of room for 2 people. BUT, we've all gotten accustomed to McMansions that would house 8 people (even though there's just 2 or 3 in the family) and most people don't want to downsize even in retirement.

So, if you live in Florida, Arizona or anywhere else that's just too damn hot in the summer or have a friend who'd like to live in a beautiful, Active Adult Community in Colorado, please check out my listing! (I'd even sell it fully furnished!) It's a HOA maintained villa in Heritage Todd Creek with gorgeous views of the golf course and mountains! It's the perfect home for a single person or snow bird couple!http://www.cohomefinder.com/p/80602/1050701.htm