House stuff

Well, it's that time of year.
Home improvements and big projects abound.
I've been sewing all day every day for the past two days. But more on that later.

At any rate, there have been some small changes in the house.

We used to have this clothesline hanging in the hallway, to display artwork and pictures.

It now looks like this!
I replaced the clothesline with 4 frames I found at Goodwill. I painted them all the same color, placed matting in the back and attached wires in the front.

I like how we have the same display area, but its now more grown up. Also, it will be easier to cut down on all the Lion King and Frozen pictures.
Sorry! Only room for 4!

Patching up the walls and painting them brought the suddenly urgent (to me) need to give the downstairs a fresh coat of paint. The paint can the old owners left for us is from 2007. I think it might be time. I'm hoping to get that done before the semester starts.

However, of more immediate concern is that some of the siding on our house is rotting.

We've had four companies come out and do estimates. From these visits we've learned that the siding used on our house is the cheapest you can use, low quality (surprise, surprise), and is reaching the end of its life. There are about six spots that were repaired before we owned the house.

So, we're looking at close to $8,000-$10,000 if we do the front of the house, spots in the back, and paint the whole house (which it needs) or $20,000-$30,000 if we do the entire house and get it painted.

The thing is, we won't get our money back when we sell the house. It's not like redoing a bathroom or kitchen. But if we don't do the work, it will continue to deteriorate and cost us money when we try to sell it.

I can think of at least 20 other things I'd like to spend that much money on.

Several of the guys who came to give estimates said if we're planning on being in the house for the next 15 years, we should consider doing the whole thing or a larger part of it. However, if we're only going to be here for 4 or 5 more years, then it would make sense to just fix the spots that need it.

Bottom line, we don't have that kind of money. And I really don't want to pay it back longer than is absolutely necessary.

All the decisions we've made about our lives up to this point include being here in Wichita for the long term. There are lots of wonderful things about this place and we're happy to be here despite my longing for the Bay Area and disdain for Kansas weather. However, you never know what crazy, unexpected turns life can take.

In 15 years Ruby will have graduated high school. We certainly won't need this size house once our birdies have left the nest. We could downsize and move to a more "hip" part of town, even if it's in a terrible school district.

What would y'all do?

We're leaning toward new siding on the entire front, the few spots in the back, and getting the house repainted.

Any thoughts and/or advice?