I’m torn. Do I do all the massive repairs I want to do on the house I currently have, or do I do the minimal essential repairs (the hot water heater and the shorting wire) and sell the house for a place where I can grow a bigger garden and have my mini Devon cows and chickens?
If I do minimal repairs and sell, I’ll have a very large amount of money – enough to buy 3 – 5 acres outright and put a small house on it that I can add to with cob and straw bales and such.
If I do maximum repairs to this house, I’ll spend between $15,000.00 and $20,000.00, but the repairs won’t appreciably add to the value of the house at all.
The advantage of staying is that I have a sturdy house with known neighbors and problems. I’m familiar with the area and the resources. I have access to a wide variety of amenities. I have good utilities (if expensive), and easy access to work.
The disadvantages are that it’s expensive to live where I do – the utilities, while good, are expensive, the taxes are high, and the vandalism rate is pretty high on game nights. There’s a lot of noise pollution. The city zoning ordinances are onerous and often unreasonable.
I f I sell and buy land for a small house to add to, the advantages are that I can have the 2 mini cows I want and a small flock of chickens, a larger garden and a small orchard. If I do it right, most of the utilities will be off the grid, and it will be cheaper in the long run, as well as being an excellent place to retire (a consideration at my age).
The disadvantages are that it might be farther from work, it might lack some of the amenities I currently really enjoy (the internet….), and I would be unfamiliar with the neighbors and the area.
The last 2 I can rectify easily enough.
I won’t all the plumber to fix the leaking hot water heater until I decide what I want to do, and ultimately, I will make a decision.
I just hope I make the right one.
Ebonypearl 
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