We started building in 2013. Most of the house was completed by move-in time November 2013. But there was still a lot to be done. Little by little things got completed- sidewalks/other concrete projects poured, a shed built for woodworking/garden stuff, landscaping, inside house projects, etc. The list went on and on. Last summer it was finally feeling like it had all come together and the project list was dwindling. We could finally ENJOY our home and feel like we were settled into the home we built to live in for many years.
Then Caterpillar started slowing down on projects they allowed to get done. Pretty soon a lot of Dave's projects were cancelled, and then late August they did some major layoffs. Fortunately, Dave made it through those safely. However, they put him on a project that was not engineering at all. It was a very frustrating and stressful time to try to figure out how to move forward from there. Do we try to find another job elsewhere? Do we hope he can just tough it out and hope he doesn't completely go crazy? When does it end? SUCH a hard thing we've never had to face before... which is fortunate that we've not dealt with permanent layoffs, losing jobs, etc. But here we are- only been in our "long(ish) term" home for only 3 years. Do we uproot our family from what's familiar and put ourselves in something else that might work out the exact same??
Dave and I had long, deliberate talks about what to do and our ultimate decision was that until we sell our house, we aren't going to be able to make any changes. (Besides Cat offering Dave another local job... which who knows how long that could be.) We knew some friends that got laid off, found another job in another location, but then the wife and kids are still living in their home until their house sells. Hours away from each other until the weekend. That stinks. I'm sure people can do that and survive as a couple, but it didn't sound like a good idea for us. So I asked the realtor lady I babysit for lots of questions about selling a house, what we should do to get it ready for selling, etc. We couldn't quite pull the trigger getting the house listed with her. It seemed too permanent, definite, so CRAZY!
We talked it over and over and over- what do we do? Dave talked with a neighbor that had sold several homes on his own. That sounded a lot easier. And more on our own terms than with a realtor. And less likely that it would really get sold. So we started looking into fsbo.com, forsalebyowner.com, and others. It took even more to talk ourselves into this action... more deliberating, more tearful discussions. One night we thought we were going to just get it over with. And that night we said "Maybe just one more night." So we prayed and thought it over some more and pushed the button the next night. I won't go into the frustrating details about what all happened with getting it listed in the "local" MLS, but DON'T EVER USE FORSALEBYOWNER.COM!!!!! If you need details or are contemplating selling a home on your own, I can tell you why to find another website to use!
Luckily (I think!) we are not getting this house sold. We have had several people come through, many more at our open houses, but no one has made any offers. Yet. Thankfully. If someone really wants to buy it, there will be a lot of tears shed. This was our home we built for our family. We worked countless hours on everything inside and out. It's hard to just let that go. However, if we do end up selling it, we know for the next house(s) that you can't count on being in it forever. Life is a temporary thing, and everything about it is temporary, too. It could all be gone in an instant... who knows what tomorrow will bring.
But for now- we're going to live in our home sweet home! And try not to spazz out if someone wants to come again for a showing!!😝 And as far as a job for Dave, he's still looking... Anyone know of a good company to work for and do mechanical engineering/design?? There are more jobs becoming available within Caterpillar, so we're hoping for a local one that is appealing soon!! Before someone snatches our house!
"A house is made of wood and stone, but only love can make a home"
Your home is beautiful, and I hope you get to stay in it! There were several people near E just last week that left for other jobs, so fingers crossed for you guys. :)
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