Count the cost

This week it was time to get motivated on the house we are working on. It is rented for the first of February and that is closer than one would think.

I finally finished cleaning up that awful floor. All the stuck down pad is gone. That took a lot longer than just putting in new laminate flooring, but that old oak will last forever.

I don't have a full picture of what the bathroom looked like when we started. Let's just agree that it was truly awful and leave it there.

Got the tile set around the tub for the shower.

Grouted, sealed, and the shower installed.

Vanity in place. It needs the vanity top yet. we have 4 in storage and none of them were the right size. The mirror came out of storage. It is actually an antique. It is old enough that it weighs about 40 pounds. The new ones weigh less than 10 pounds.  Putting it up, I started thinking about just throwing it away and buying a new one. It was heavy trying to get the cable to catch the screw in the wall while leaning over the vanity. Yes it actually has a 3/8 inch cable on the back to hang it on.

Hung a cabinet in the corner because there were no drawers in the vanity. It helps to have some storage in a bathroom. All that is left to do is the vanity top in the house. 

The garage needs to have an electrical outlet replaced and a light installed. The garage door springs are broken as well. Once those items are fixed all that is left to do is carry out the trash and move the tools to the next house.

With ice and snow on the ground and the wind blowing last night was a good night for a fire. I might have been dozing off sitting close to the fire instead of reading the book I had in my hands. there is something about the radiant heat from a fire on a winter evening that induces sleep.

Went from behind schedule to ahead of schedule in a week. That's a good feeling.

Sharon and I visited with a young couple on Friday night. They want to get into the rental business. We warned them that it was a lot of work and it took a disciplined financial approach. They seemed to be ready for the sacrifices that will be needed to be successful. You will get calls for repairs that are needed evenings and weekends. I got a call 2:30 Saturday morning that a tree limb had crashed onto the roof of a house because of the ice load. You will have deadlines to meet if a new tenant needs a house. You have to count the cost before you start a rental business because it can consume your life.

Jesus said the same thing about following him.  Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still along way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

The couple we talked to were counting the cost before becoming landlords. I wonder how many today want to say I am a Christian but are not willing to count the cost. Jesus says you have to give up everything. All those sins and bad habits have to go. Putting yourself first has to go. Loving anything more than God as to go. The cost is high but the rewards are great.