boltonblue

yep, so far it has worked out ok. that and I like really big rooms.
of course I couldn't talk my wife into selling in 05-06 when prices were stupid high.

All told 13 rooms,3 floors, 5 bedrooms, 4 fireplaces, 4 baths, 5300 sq ft without counting the basement which could be finished for another 1500 feet or so.
It sits on 4.5 acres sitting a quarter mile off of the road in a quiet secluded setting.
Kitchen is 30 X13 into open eating area which is 17x14, kinda big L shape. The formal dining room is on the other side of the kitchen.
Deck is somewhere around 600-700 sq ft.
Great room over the garage is 23x30, so just under 700 sq ft. 14' cathedral ceiling
Master bedroom suite is 24 x 32, 16' cathedral ceiling with spiral staircase up to third floor loft.
My office is 17x24 but I have to share with the washer and dryer. On the upside it has a 14' cathedral too.
Barb's library is only 14x16, but she has the Palladian window tucked into her cathedral ceiling.
In general a lot of nice comfortable space. First floor ceilings are 9' too.
I am told by my boys that it will easily hold more than 200.... but that's another story.
I hosted a golf outing with 60 guys and they weren't in each others way by any stretch and we were just in the kitchen and on the deck.

Catherine if I could get away with 10k a year I think I'd be delighted. To many times those have started with ones or twos but 5 digits.
just painting it is around $15k. I think the roof was in the same ballpark. Rebuilding the septic was around 25K.

I wish I were a one percenter, I probably could tolerate that.

Tachus

The house sounds wonderful. Like you, we love large rooms. I think you should count on $20,000 a year by the sounds of things. How many cleaners do you have? Not just one I hope.

boltonblue

Barb does a great job.

We used to have a housekeeper come in and help.
She subbed it out to someone else.
They spilled a bottle of lemon grass oil on the bed and never said anything.
And that ended that.

Tachus

Sorry to hear that. You have a very good wife.

boltonblue

At this point she'd rather have the funds go towards retirement than the help.
( that's what i'm for) unfortunately I actually have a background in janitorial services.
I worked at a hospital for a year. I I hate to say I probably no more about the process sanitary procedures and cleaning than most folks on the forum.
and no not cars....

jukngene

dlq04

We've always shared cleaning. It's worked for 50 years, come next month.

robb

S2KRAY

This is why we downsized from a 4500 sf home to a single level 2000 sf home. The grandkids are growing up and don't come to the beach as much. Our previous 2nd level with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths were used sparingly. Our payment is less and with solar panels in the new home we save a ton on heat/cooling bills. The new home is only 3 years old and was used only in summer. All new systems with 5 year guarantees plus a 10 year structural warranty. More money in our pocket to have fun with. We also share the cleaning but it takes far less time. I even sprung for total lawn care, mulch, trimming and fertilizing. Sold the mower, edger, blower and spreader. And, the garage is very large, perfect for my detailing business. Life is good.

dlq04

To me lawn care is a love/hate relationship. I was out raking up small branches all over the yard yesterday. Did I enjoy the raking; not really. Did I enjoy having an excuse to be outside in 50° and burning some calories; you bet. And most importantly it was all done to my high standard of satisfaction.