Should we stay or should we go?

We’ve all watched HGTV - including the hit show - LOVE IT OR LIST IT! The gist of the show goes like this! “When a house no longer feels like home, homeowners are left with the big emotional question: renovate or sell it? Love It or List It helps fed-up homeowners decide. In each episode realtor David Visentin and designer Page Turner compete for the homeowners' final decision to stay or go. David's insider perspective on the real estate market helps target listings to prospective buyers, but Page is determined to show homeowners she can transform their worn-out house into something they can love.”

Last May, you may recall that Harv and I decided to list it! With the help of our fantastic realtor - Mo MacKenzie - we staged our home so that potential buyers would want to buy it. In the meantime, we found a lovely new build bungalow close to downtown Kincardine. It would be the home that Harv and I chose together - our “first” home in our 8 year marriage.

I had a 30 year plan - ten years in a bungalow - 10 years in a condo - 10 years in one of my kid’s basement!

When I married Harvey back in 2016, I moved to his lovely home in Kincardine. It’s on the lake. It’s spacious. We can fit our large family in for vacations and dinners. We added a fantastic patio and fire pit in the side yard a few years ago. We had the basement finished to accommodate sleepovers and parties. We bought a hot tub that gets used (almost) everyday - it has held at least 8 grandchildren once or twice. Our home is lovely.

Back to last May……..Mo did a fantastic job of promoting our home…….he worked so hard for us………..he held several Open Houses…….advertised in Cottage Life (that was cool to see)………online videos………and only 4 people requested private showings. No offers. Clear message! Not the time to sell. Not the time to move.

One comment that people made over and over again to our realtor was that there is “not sufficient natural light” in the living room, dining room and kitchen area of our home. I totally agree.

Shortly after we took our house off the market, Harv broached the idea to me of renovating those areas of the house where it could use some lightening up.

And so…….the loving it……begins next week. Renos!

Two great big windows - one in the living room and one in the dining room are going in to let the sunshine in. The kitchen cabinets and island will be carefully removed by our contractor Guy - (and are sold to be reused)…….the dark brown hardwood is being stripped and redone to a soft blond shade……….the dark brown table and chairs and massive hutch are sold to be loved by my niece……..the new kitchen is being built by Acacia Fine Cabinetry…..white…….the black countertop will be replaced with white and black appliances with stainless.

We want our house to be more comfortable - to be more welcoming - to be more child friendly - to be lighter - to be ours!

I can’t help but compare the house renovations to real life renovations……it’s my desire to keep moving ahead in my life…….not being content to living in the past - with all its hangups and nets - dragging me down…….recognizing the ugly things in my heart that need to be changed……listening more……..being more patient………not repaying nasty for nasty………..

Romans 12:9-21 is one of my favourite passages in the Bible!

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceable with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written - ‘Vengeeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We choose “love it”.

“I’ll post pictures when the redo is redone.