If you’ve been curious about the financial side of selling three houses and downsizing into a single, smaller home, this post answers the most common questions we’ve received. We also share the unexpected renovation setbacks that delayed our move-in date (including a string of bizarre toilet-related issues we never anticipated), our surprise at the reaction to our house tour video, and why one part of homeownership made everyone cry.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
If you prefer to read, here’s a transcript of this episode.
What’s New
- We had our Florida hardwood floors sanded and discovered a large, contrasting stripe in the middle where different wood had been patched in previously. It was more visible after sanding than we expected.
- In hindsight the patching showed up in the before photos, but during the initial work we were focused on damage and missing boards and didn’t realize sanding wouldn’t fully blend the repair. Even the floor pro was surprised.
- We also ran into unexpected toilet drama. We ordered our usual model, but three pieces arrived that didn’t match: the seat didn’t fit the elongated bowl and the bowl color was slightly off-white. The mismatch wasn’t obvious from photos, and our contractor only noticed when the lighter seat was added. Fortunately we removed the incorrect unit and installed the correct toilet quickly—now it flushes, and the house finally has running water again.
- If you missed last week’s post with our video house tours, check it out to see how the final “after” tour looks so much fuller than the current, packed-up version.
Crying During Homeselling
- According to a Zillow survey, more than one-third of Americans say they cried while selling their home—emotion plays a big role in the process.
- If you want to learn more about selling our first house by owner, we’ve written a detailed post about that experience and have an archive of posts about moving, selling, and buying.
- We’ve also covered our biggest selling mistake in an earlier podcast episode that digs into lessons learned from selling by owner.
The Money Question
- Many readers have asked how selling three Virginia properties funded the purchase of one smaller Florida home. We addressed the most common money questions in the episode; a full transcript is available if you’d rather read than listen.
- For background on paying off a mortgage and reaching big financial goals, see our earlier podcast episodes where we go into detail about strategies and timelines.
We’re Digging
- Sherry started using a vitamin organizer that’s improved her morning routine and made me more consistent about taking vitamins. Small conveniences can make a big difference.
- We also highlighted John Krasinski’s Some Good News series. One memorable episode featured a virtual prom for high schoolers who missed theirs this year—uplifting content we enjoyed sharing.
If you want to revisit topics we’ve covered in past episodes, we maintain a master list of everything we’ve highlighted. We also list all the books we’ve recommended on our Book Club page.
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