As someone who has rented my entire adult life, I’m feeling pretty lost and could really use some advice from those who have been through the wringer when it comes to property decisions. Last year, my mom passed away, and my family and I have been going through the emotional rollercoaster of clearing out her house and considering moving in. However, the more we think about it, the more we realize that the house is in a pretty dire state. My mom was a level 4 hoarder and didn’t allow anyone to touch the place for 25 years – yikes, that’s a long time! The 1100sqft, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house in Daytona Beach is in bad shape, to say the least.
Let’s start with the bad stuff: The house is in a very high-cost area, right by the beach. There are massive mold and cat urine stains in the living room that have probably wrecked the wood flooring underneath the carpet. The house is completely original from 1962, with no upgrades whatsoever. The kitchen and back rooms have asbestos flooring, and the kitchen cabinets are falling apart. The roof had a major leak that stained the ceiling, and there are critters that got in and messed up the AC system. The attic insulation is ruined, and there’s a whole lot of rat waste that needs to be dealt with. The lawn is basically dead, and the property has drainage issues. Plus, I’m 61 and dealing with some serious health problems that could potentially put me in a wheelchair in the near future.
On the bright side, the house is a solid concrete block structure and is fully paid off. It sits on a big lot, just a few houses away from the beach. There’s also a nice workshop and shed on the property, which is a bonus. However, the property taxes are quite high, and there are ongoing issues like mold in the attic and water drainage problems.
Given our current financial situation – with my wife recently losing her high-paying job and me having no income due to my health issues – it’s becoming increasingly clear that it might not be feasible for us to take on the challenges of fixing up this house. Renting another place is also proving to be a challenge due to income requirements and the fact that we have pet parrots.
After much consideration and thanks to the input from others, we’ve decided that selling the house is the best course of action for us.