ᐅ Dissatisfied with new construction due to other options now available
Created on: 27 Sep 2021 12:51
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Crossy
I was just about to create a second account for this thread, but in the end, I decided against it. I’m not even sure if this thread belongs in the financing section. The purpose of this thread is not to show off; I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and my dissatisfaction is growing. Maybe some of you have had similar experiences, and I would be interested to know what you did.
I’m unhappy with our house. Not because it has any serious defects. It suits our current life situation, we have enough space, and next spring the garden will finally be finished and look great. Like many others, during the planning and construction phase, we set priorities because of our budget and gave up on some nice extras. Now, nearly 2 years after the financing was completed, our financial situation has changed significantly.
When we arranged the financing, I was just returning to work after my second parental leave, filling in as a temporary replacement during another parental leave. I knew the job was poorly paid (considering the required qualifications), but the overall package worked well, and I was confident I could manage it alongside the children. I always believed I would earn more in the long term and that this was only a transition back to work. Nevertheless, we based our financing on our income at the time because the financial future, even with good prospects, was uncertain. Therefore, we chose a more conservative approach and did not rely on future salary increases or push our budget to the limit.
Now, almost 2 years later, our financial situation looks completely different. I’m still with the same company but no longer in a temporary replacement role—I’m now a department head, and I have increased my working hours to fulfill this leadership position. Meanwhile, my husband has changed employers and was promoted. All in all, our combined income is about $4,000 more per month. And now I am annoyed by all the little things in the house that, in hindsight, wouldn’t have been a problem for us. With an additional $100,000–150,000, our house would be my dream home.
Many things cannot be retrofitted easily or without significant effort. I wish my dissatisfaction would fade over time so I could enjoy our very nice house and our financial freedom, but mentally I am thinking about selling and looking at plots nearby. My husband is bothered by a few things in the house as well but is generally more content and mainly wary of the hassle involved in building a new house.
I’m unhappy with our house. Not because it has any serious defects. It suits our current life situation, we have enough space, and next spring the garden will finally be finished and look great. Like many others, during the planning and construction phase, we set priorities because of our budget and gave up on some nice extras. Now, nearly 2 years after the financing was completed, our financial situation has changed significantly.
When we arranged the financing, I was just returning to work after my second parental leave, filling in as a temporary replacement during another parental leave. I knew the job was poorly paid (considering the required qualifications), but the overall package worked well, and I was confident I could manage it alongside the children. I always believed I would earn more in the long term and that this was only a transition back to work. Nevertheless, we based our financing on our income at the time because the financial future, even with good prospects, was uncertain. Therefore, we chose a more conservative approach and did not rely on future salary increases or push our budget to the limit.
Now, almost 2 years later, our financial situation looks completely different. I’m still with the same company but no longer in a temporary replacement role—I’m now a department head, and I have increased my working hours to fulfill this leadership position. Meanwhile, my husband has changed employers and was promoted. All in all, our combined income is about $4,000 more per month. And now I am annoyed by all the little things in the house that, in hindsight, wouldn’t have been a problem for us. With an additional $100,000–150,000, our house would be my dream home.
Many things cannot be retrofitted easily or without significant effort. I wish my dissatisfaction would fade over time so I could enjoy our very nice house and our financial freedom, but mentally I am thinking about selling and looking at plots nearby. My husband is bothered by a few things in the house as well but is generally more content and mainly wary of the hassle involved in building a new house.
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GeradeSchräg28 Sep 2021 10:56If I were you, I would contact the architect or the provider of your house. Explain your issue and that you are not completely satisfied with your house. Then see what can be done and at what cost, and after that, you can make your decision.
If I were you, I would invest your surplus in other things.
Pay off the house as quickly as possible.
Buy land for the children if an opportunity arises.
Personally, I would prefer the option of a full bank account without extravagance!
If I were you, I would invest your surplus in other things.
Pay off the house as quickly as possible.
Buy land for the children if an opportunity arises.
Personally, I would prefer the option of a full bank account without extravagance!
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Pinkiponk28 Sep 2021 12:03GeradeSchräg schrieb:
Personally, I would prefer the option of a full bank account without showing off! "Larger windows or corner glazing, fireplace, air conditioning, dining room extended by 1m (3 feet) to rotate the kitchen island and make it like an 'aircraft carrier,' resulting in a different kitchen layout, possibly a small additional room, KNX instead of FaH, flush doors, and other small details. I think all of this would total around 100k.
The most expensive part would, of course, be the extension. Our house is actually big enough, but this would allow us to make the kitchen truly amazing."
I don’t see any showing off here. Many others have similar features. In my opinion, it’s perfectly fine to build your first home a bit modestly and then modify or expand it later when you have the financial means and if it’s important to you.
My comment might not be entirely on topic, but I just wanted to offer a different perspective regarding the "showing off" aspect.
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Pinkiponk28 Sep 2021 12:13haydee schrieb:
@Pinkiponk
Consumption is not about advancement or striving for professional success, nor about standing still.
Consumption is often a substitute and a distraction.
Just ask the bankers. How many act like Count Coke while their bank account is empty, and how many wealthy and professionally successful people live relatively modestly? Except for the newly rich who feel the need to flaunt it.
This is about a different kind of kitchen—the current one is not from the bargain corner of the hardware store, nor about essentials like flush trims. That is about looks, not even function.
Do the children gain more social contact because of it? Does it bring you back to your old environment? In my opinion, improving living conditions cannot simply be reduced to the term "consumption." Of course, people may see this differently, and everyone probably has their own definition of where "consumption" begins and ends, and what they want to spend their money on. ;-) I wouldn't define investments in a home that satisfies me and where I feel comfortable as consumption, but others might, and that is perfectly fine. 🙂
I think the word "show-off" is being used a bit exaggeratedly here. Ultimately, everyone’s point is the same: build new if you want to go through with it, but your house is definitely not a dump; it’s new, nice, and you can be just as happy there.
There will always be someone with a cooler place, even as a billionaire. I can understand the mindset, but building another new house right away? For me personally, there would have to be very strong reasons, which I don’t see here… rather the opposite.
EDIT: When I myself have one of those "episodes" and want to exaggerate, I always try to think like children… no matter what. For kids, it doesn’t matter if you have a villa or a small apartment, or if you stay in a luxury hotel or a family hotel on vacation. The memorable moments are something else.
There will always be someone with a cooler place, even as a billionaire. I can understand the mindset, but building another new house right away? For me personally, there would have to be very strong reasons, which I don’t see here… rather the opposite.
EDIT: When I myself have one of those "episodes" and want to exaggerate, I always try to think like children… no matter what. For kids, it doesn’t matter if you have a villa or a small apartment, or if you stay in a luxury hotel or a family hotel on vacation. The memorable moments are something else.
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GeradeSchräg28 Sep 2021 12:30I didn’t say that the changes shouldn’t be addressed. However, considering building a new house right away when the “old” one only has minor issues here and there seems less appropriate to me. Especially since the children would have to move to a new environment again.
Personally, I find it somewhat extravagant to say, “The house isn’t 100% perfect, the money is available, so let’s build a new one.”
Would you still be unhappy with the situation without the promotion?
Personally, I find it somewhat extravagant to say, “The house isn’t 100% perfect, the money is available, so let’s build a new one.”
Would you still be unhappy with the situation without the promotion?
Pinkiponk schrieb:
In my opinion, improving living conditions cannot simply be reduced to the term “consumption.” But of course, others may see this differently, and everyone probably has their own definition of where “consumption” begins, ends, and what they want to spend their money on. ;-) I wouldn’t call investments in a home that satisfies me and where I feel comfortable “consumption,” but others might, which is perfectly fine. 🙂 Being dissatisfied with your home would imply that the new house was a last resort. The kitchen was already there and liked. Would an aircraft carrier satisfy you? We’re not talking about moving out of a too-small apartment here.
The new place is no longer good enough, so something newer is needed. To me, that is consumption, like buying a new TV even though the old one still works, or having 100 pairs of shoes.
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