Homeowner Interview: “I Paid Off My Mortgage at 70. I Chose Inoue Koumuten So I Could Live Out My Life in This Home With Peace of Mind.”
Our interviewee this time is Mr. M, a homeowner in Kyoto Prefecture in his 70s. He built his home when he was 40.
After completing his 30-year mortgage, he asked Inoue Koumuten to repair his walls and ceiling, and to renovate his work space.
Wondering how he had been doing, we visited him together with our master carpenter.
He praised both our work and our character, and kindly agreed to let us publish this interview.
Homeowner Interview (Mr. M, 70s)
Here is the full story, exactly as told to us, about what Mr. M felt after finishing his mortgage, why he chose Inoue Koumuten, and what the renovation meant to him.
Q. After paying off your 30-year mortgage at age 70, what made you consider renovating your home?
When the mortgage was finally over, I felt relieved.
But honestly, even before it was paid off, I already knew there were things here and there that needed fixing. I just didn’t want to face it.
To be honest… I was afraid of renovating.
Q. Afraid? What do you mean?
When you’re older, getting involved with the wrong contractor can change the rest of your life.
Contractors know we don’t understand construction. They push you with lines like:
This is how it has to be.
And before you know it, you’ve spent a huge amount of money on work you didn’t even need. I’ve heard countless stories like that.
People pay hundreds of thousands of yen because the contractor told them to, yet the parts that really needed fixing are left untouched.
Then the roof leaks, the floor collapses, and even though they know it must be repaired, they’ve already spent too much and can’t afford to fix anything anymore.
Hearing so many stories like that… It makes it really hard to even contact a contractor.
We live by calculating how to “survive” the rest of our lives with our savings and pension. If someone forces unnecessary work on us and drains our savings, our quality of life drops. And once that happens, you lose the will to live.
Because of that fear, I avoided looking at the parts that needed repair. I just didn’t want to see them.
Q. Many people your age feel the same way. I heard you even considered selling your home?
Yes, I did. If I sold it, I’d get some money in hand. But then I’d have to find a place to live.
If I rented somewhere decent and assumed I’d live another 15 years, the money from selling the house would run out faster than that.
And if I lived more than 15 years… what then? (laughs)
In the end, the cheapest way to “survive” was to stay in this house.
So while I was still able to work and earn a little income, I decided to go ahead and renovate.
Q. What made you choose Inoue Koumuten?
Out of all the contractors out there, the fact that I contacted Inoue Koumuten first… Honestly, I think I was just lucky. (laughs)
I had heard rumors from acquaintances, but at the time I still had mortgage payments left. I told myself I’d contact them once the loan was paid off.
So after the mortgage ended, I asked for an estimate.
I’m a craftsman myself, though in a different field. When I saw him give me the estimate on the spot, instantly, I thought:
This is something you can only do if you truly understand your work. This person is the real deal.
And what surprised me even more was the estimate amount.
Before he came, I had already thought, “If the estimate is around this amount, that would be a fair contractor.”
And the number he gave me was exactly the same as the number I had in mind.
At that moment, I knew: “I’m hiring this person.”
The sense of relief was incredible.
And the person who came to give the estimate was the same person who would actually do the work. No stress, no miscommunication between sales and the field.
The timing was perfect. I’m truly glad I chose them.
Q. What was your impression of the craftsman who worked on your home?
I know there are several craftsmen at the company, but the one who came to my house was the second son.
The first thing that impressed me was the speed. He worked so efficiently that the renovation finished much sooner than I expected.
The parts that had bothered me for so long were finally fixed, and I could return to my normal life quickly. That meant a lot.
Of course, his skills were excellent. But more than that, his character was wonderful.
He seriously thought about “what would be best for this house” from my perspective. He explained what should be done, but never pushed anything on me. He never tried to raise the price.
If something else needs fixing in the future, I feel safe because he’s here.
As long as he doesn’t get injured or sick, I feel like I can “survive” in this house just fine.
And this is unrelated, but… He’s a lucky charm for me. (laughs)
Q. Lastly, do you have a message for others your age considering renovation?
Yesterday, when you called me and said, “Inoue Koumuten has launched a website,” I checked it right away.
And it said exactly what I’ve always believed.
I’ve always thought carpenters are like doctors for houses. Meeting a trustworthy “house doctor” brings incredible peace of mind.
I think many people feel the same fears I did. I truly recommend consulting this craftsman at least once. I’m sure you’ll feel reassured.
A Surprise Pizza
After the interview, Mr. M said, “Wait here a moment,” and went to the kitchen.
I thought he was going to make tea.
But then— he baked us a pizza!
Because I had called the day before to ask if we could visit, he had prepared the dough from scratch in his bread machine.
It was unbelievably delicious. My husband and I both shouted, “This is amazing!”
Mr. M, thank you so much for the long interview. As a craftsman yourself, the fact that you instantly trusted our craftsman at the estimate stage, and the way you praised the second son’s work— as the “Okami” of Inoue Koumuten and as his wife, I am deeply grateful.
And above all, the handmade pizza you served us at the end… The taste of that carefully prepared dough was unforgettable.
Thank you, truly.
Mr. M, please continue to take care of yourself and enjoy peaceful, happy days in your home. We’d love to visit again. (laughs)
To those considering end-of-life renovation
Just like Mr. M before he contacted us, many people carry the same fears.
We will continue to work sincerely so that people can smile and say, “I can live out my life safely in this home.”
If Mr. M’s story eases even a little of the anxiety felt by others considering renovation, we would be delighted.
(Photography & Interview: Always Ninja Okami)
Contact us anytime for a “Life Survival Strategy” consultation.
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