Options

I spent 2 days this week putting ceilings and lights in the basement of the house we have been working on. I did not want to put up sheet rock as it makes it difficult to get at any electric or plumbing lines running between the joists. I am trying something different. I know any builder would tell me I am crazy as these tile are not meant to be installed this way. It looks pretty good for a basement ceiling. Now we'll see if it lasts.

I am over joyed to be finished with it. I hate working over my head. Leaves me with a sore neck by evening. I know some people may think I am a pain in the neck, but this time it was my neck that had the pain.

What does one put on a basement floor. There was carpeting on the it until it flooded last spring. A tile backed up that the drains are connected to. There will be a different drainage system not connected to any field tile put in this year. I did not want to put laminate flooring down there because of the possibility of moisture. I bought a special paint to paint the floor. I bought enough to cover 300 square feet. The directions say you have to put 2 coats of paint on. The room is 143 square feet so I had plenty, right? The directions also said to apply is smoothly with a short nap roller. When I opened the first can of paint and stuck in the stirring stick I had to press it into the paint. This stuff was not a liquid. I got some to sort of pour into a roller pan. When I tried to get paint on the roller, the roller just rolled over the top. It would not sink into the paint and the paint would not adhere to the roller.

I checked the directions, "do not dilute, if you are a professional painter it can be applied with an airless sprayer" Yea, I bet that works well. The sprayer would be permanently plugged. I used a brush to edge the paint out of the bucket and then smear it over the floor. I was about a quarter over the floor when I started to think, I do not have enough paint to cover 143 feet let alone 2 coats.

I was much relieved to get the entire floor painted, because, of course, I bought this color cheap, as it is discontinued.

I had a tenant text me this week that their dryer would not start. The dryer was in the house when we purchased it and I had told the tenant they could use it as long as it worked, but don't call me if it stops working (I did assume it would work longer than 2 weeks but you get what you pay for, right?). I did remember that Zach had told me when they moved in he had to throw a switch on the fuse box by the dryer to get the dryer to start. I texted back not to do anything about the dryer until I had checked to see that they had current. I took this picture by mistake when I was turning on the light on my phone to look at the outlet behind the dryer. No current there. There was a fuse box between the dryer and the new breaker box. A fuse had blown for some reason. I do not keep fuses because we remove all fuse boxes except the ones on the side of a furnace with one fuse in them. I thought there is another option here beside a fuse I made the fuse box into a junction box. No fuses needed if there is a breaker. Now the wires are wire nutted together and the dryer works.

We made an offer on a house last week Monday and it was accepted Tuesday evening. Friday we closed the deal and took possession of the house. The only parking was between the street and the sidewalk. That was not a good option. the city code does not allow that unless you have a permit and 6 inch deep concrete. That was not going to happen. This morning Jerry's men brought gravel. 

They put in a driveway beside the house. Off street parking is important to tenants. The house actually looks better as well with a driveway.

Sharon helped (OK, she did most of it) pick up the branches and sticks in the back yard. We had a pickup full.

One pile of branches had been there long enough there is a good crop of trees started. Those will need to be cut off and the stumps treated to kill them.

The yard falls off dramatically in the back. This is an older house and although I think it has a long life left yet (part of the basement walls have been rebuilt and the house stands straight and true). If we ever tear the house down and rebuild, this lot is a good candidate for a walkout basement.

I have several small things that need to be done before tenants move in. I think the previous owners were thinking they were going to sell to an owner occupant. Maybe, but it was offered to us and another investor couple (yea, I am looking at you, Matt) before it was even put on the market. To be a rental it needs smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher, Window blinds, washer dryer hookup, back exterior door knob and a few more things to be installed.

I got a good start on it today. I need to have it ready this week. The house has a signed lease on it today for a move-in date sometime before March first. From first walk through to look at a house that is for sale to rented in 12 days. That's a new record. 

My week had a lot of choices to be made. There were different options. That is the way of life. You make choices. Choose between different options. What is the best choice and the best way to live. Sharon and I ate at a restaurant tonight. the waitress told us what the specials were. She quoted them from memory and she told us she was telling us from memory. Problem was she was wrong. We chose a meal we would not have chosen if it was not a third off the normal price. Well, she had the wrong week's specials, the meal was regular price. I could have argued with the cashier that we were given a different price when we ordered. the waitress appeared to be in her late 50s or over 60 and I wondered why she was working as a waitress evenings. I chose the option to say nothing and leave her a tip. Why would I make her life difficult, especially if she needs this job. I have never regretted the times I was kind or generous. I deeply regret the times when I was not, which has been way to often, but I am trying not to be that way anymore. 

We all have options. What will you choose? Jesus chose to die for sinners although we did not deserve salvation. Jesus chose to give to those who were in need. I am one of those who needs Jesus' selfless choice. I need to always remember to choose the option of being a servant to others out of thankfulness for what Jesus has done for me.

A week's difference

Saturday night and I find it hard to believe everything that got done this week.

On Monday morning I went down to Menards and bought flooring for the house we are working on.

When I got it back to the house I saw where the county had cut some branches off  a tree. they must have been hanging over the road. I am told they are now my problem to get rid of. Thanks.

I did get started laying the floor in the master bedroom. We are now using commercial grade laminate flooring. It is 12 MM thick, residential flooring is 7 to 8 MM thick. It costs more but we are hoping it will stand up better to the abuse it gets from some tenants.

Monday afternoon we looked at a house that was going to be sold. (Not real fond of the color. The siding is metal so it will last forever. Might have to think abut painting it a other color sometime.)

Look at that, new central air already installed. Usually that is a $2750 line item on the budget.

All new laminate floors. No carpet. It is the residential 8 mm flooring from Monroe Park floors but we already have a lot of those, so it should be fine.

all new Kitchen with dish washer.

Bedrooms also have new floors and painted walls.

Bathroom had total redo.

New toilet already installed.

Shower and tub still have the stickers on them.

Older breaker box but it has room for a breaker for a dryer and its not a fuse box! We put an offer on the house and it was accepted.

We had purchased a used range and fridge for the house we are working on. It was a stainless steel pair. I went to pick up the range and was told they had sold the one we purchased by mistake. They had replaced it with a newer better model. OK, I can live with that.

I got the floor in one of the other bedrooms.

And I put new flooring in the hallway.

Went to remove the old toilet so I could put down the new flooring in the bathroom.. The toilet had been fastened down with lag bolts instead of the normal toilet bolts. That was something different. You see something new every time you remodel a house.

got the bathroom floor in, and the new toilet.

Then I started putting in lights.

and another one

 

and another one. I put up 4 lights and still have to put 4 more in the basement and a couple in the garage.

I started cleaning up the tub and shower and found that the tub drain leaked. After I fixed it under the tub (I hate replacing the drain in a tub, you have to have it lined up in  the basement and then turn it together in the tub. Yea, that works well.) I found that the line was plugged and leaking further down.. Saws-all is a wonderful tool. Life is so much easier than when all this would have to be cut out with a hacksaw.

Yesterday I repaired the walls in the basement bedroom and today I painted.

  

I also painted the family room in the basement. Cement block wall. Painted it first with a roller and then had to go around with a brush for all the mortar joints. That was fun. As you can see I still have to put in the ceiling and do something with the floors. But after this week the time frame on finishing the house has moved from months to weeks.

 Its amazing what a difference a week makes. Looking back to Monday morning I find it difficult to believe how far we have moved ahead and all that was accomplished.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the differences that the passage of time makes. Friday night I was talking to Steve. We agreed that we need to be careful not to judge those who are younger than us. I remember how I thought and acted when I was 35 years old and to be honest I am ashamed of some of what I did and said. I do hope age and the passage of time has given me the wisdom to not make the same mistakes I made then, now.

When I was 35 I did not understand that I needed to put all my trust in God. I still thought I needed to be in control. God had given me talents and abilities to take care of myself, hadn't He? Now I am older and I know that on my own I can do nothing. I just let God be in control and it is working out great.

On Monday if you had told me how productive this week would be, I would have said, no way. Now looking at what got finished in the house we are working on and we purchased a house ready to rent, I can say, there was quite a change.

The passage of time should bring change to us as well. As we age we should grow in faith. Friday Steve reminded me of a sermon I gave a few years back. I asked the question: Are you a better servant of God at the end of the year than you were when it began? 

If you aren't, why not? The passage of time should bring growth and change. I used to tell people you either grow or die, you can not stay the same. Which are you doing?

What a week

I was talking to Jim this afternoon. Jim is 24 years older than me. We could share some stories of the things we have seen. Even with all the stories that might seem horrible to others we agreed we were blessed because we have had the pleasure of showing the love of God to some who are living without the knowledge of God's saving grace. 

 

Even though I treasure every week that I can interact with people who need to know the gospel it doesn't make each week pleasurable in every way. On Monday Daniel told me the water pressure was so bad in their shower that the water just dribbled down about 3 inches from the wall. When we bought the house we put all new water lines in. The plumber who did the work told me there was a piece a galvanized pipe that was going to need to be replaced at some time. I thought that day had come and I called Irv and told him we needed to replace an underground water line. Irv called the water department  and set up a time to pull the water meter that afternoon. I talked to Daniel again to tell him when everyone would be there to fix the water pressure and he said "it's just the shower, everywhere else the pressure is fine." Uh Oh, put the truck in reverse and start cancelling that new underground pipe and the water department pulling the meter.

Yea, the shower valve was plugged. It was a more expensive shower so it had a turn out valve. Yea, that wasn't going to turn out. I am looking at this one piece tub and shower thinking, I am going to be cutting this tub out of here with a saws-all and spending a couple of days getting this fixed. I had a busy week and this was not going to fit my schedule. Then I thought, if I cut the wall out of the laundry room could I get at this thing from the back side. usually you can not because the screws are driven in behind the shower surround wall. Nothing to lose so I cut the sheet rock and low and behold it could be removed and replaced from the back. Daniel was excited to see the water hit the other wall when the shower was turned on and I was excited to get the job done in under 2 hours.

 

On Tuesday we evicted Austin and Scott, Ok, I would call them tenants except they never rented the house from us. They just moved in. I had to have them served by the sheriff wait 10 days then go to court to get them evicted. Living in the house, using my utilities except for the water which they had put in their name. Water bill in their name gives them tenancy. Had a discussion with the water department about putting the water bill in the name of someone I had not rented the house to. The water department was not sympathetic and would not turn the water off even though they are going to bill me because, guess what, Austin and Scott are not going to pay that bill so it becomes the owners liability. I told the water department they were helping these guys steal from me. Yea, that's the policy.

My attorney told me the judge would most likely give them 3 days to move their stuff out. The judge was not amused and gave me immediate possession and ordered their removal and all removal costs to be paid by them.  On Monday Scott called to ask what time the sheriff would be coming to remove them. I told him I had to give the sheriff's department 24 hours notice so we would be coming on Tuesday at 10 am.

I stopped by the house 8:30 Tuesday morning and Scott told me they were going to start moving their stuff out. When I drove up at 10 am the deputy was already there and the doors were open. The deputy said they had requested an hour to remove their belongings. I had hired 4 people to help me carry the house empty. I was not about to pay 4 people for an hour to sit and wait.  I told the deputy. "they knew yesterday that the jig was up. at 8:30 they told me they were going to move out. That was an hour and a half ago. I want them out NOW!" 

We carried all their stuff out and put it by the curb. Someone hired a U-haul and loaded it up and took it away. It is said that the law favors the tenant over the owner. I don't see it that way. I know I had to go to court to throw out what were basically trespassers, but there does need to be some legal protection against unscrupulous landlords. At the end of the day, if you abide by the law the owner always wins. That night I slept in my house, those guys were homeless.

I feel no guilt about that, because neither of them has a job. Both able bodied young men who do not seem to want to work. I had the opportunity to share the gospel with them and tried to help them figure out how to find housing. They were not interested in what I had to say or any help from me. They just wanted to stay in my house. But don't live in my house when I did not rent it to you and you have not paid rent and do not plan to pay rent. Don't expect me to work while you do not even look for a job and steal from me, because at that point I will look for justice. 

Our houses are all nonsmoking houses. They were there for 2 weeks and this is what the furnace filter looked like. That filter is brown, not because of dust, it is smoke.

Had to patch this wall because, well evidently you pass the time by throwing knives at the wall to see if they will stick.

Put in a new bedroom door this morning. The one that was there had been kicked to pieces. The back door was kicked in as well. Frame broken out. I might know how they got access to the house. Scott stayed to load up their stuff but Austin was last seen running down the street. Run, buddy, run.

 

I went to look at a house that is for sale. It is at the very high end of our price range. It would have to be move in ready. When you drive up and see the spray foam insulation around the windows, you know it is not move in ready.

When the front door is splintered and cracked you know it is not move in ready.

When the cupboards, including the sink base have no doors or drawers, you know it is not move in ready.

When the ceiling light fixture has obviously been replaced, ceiling not repainted and the new fixture is only attached by the electrical wires, you know it is not move in ready.

When one of the the bathroom lights is missing and the other does not meet the wall, you know it is not move in ready.

When the back of the shower has been painted dark blue, you know it is not move in ready.

 

That does not even include the need for a new furnace, central air, and roof. Yea, we are going to pass on this one.

  

Couple of months ago I broke a tooth. I was hoping it could be capped. I was still thinking it was going to be capped when I was sitting in the dentist chair. I was told it was not savable and it was pulled. About 10 years ago I had an infection in the tooth right behind this one and it was pulled as well.So Wednesday I had 2 implant bases put in. That is the toque ratchet that was used to turn the implants down into my jaw. I could feel the pressure as it was turned in. It almost felt like my jaw was starting to bend a little from the pressure. I am thinking don't strip the threads on those babies and don't break my jaw. 

I had a followup on Thursday. Eric and Tammy both said, "Oh, good your face isn't all swollen up." Hey, nobody told me that was a possibility. I am a little concerned because Eric keeps saying, "I think the implants will work. I am not going to bill you until we know it is not going to fail." I evidently have a weird jaw bone, which is causing an issue.

At least my week ended on a good note. the house we emptied Tuesday is cleaned and fixed and rented.

 I stopped by Steve today to replace a failed GFI outlet. He has pulled up the carpet in his living room to find hard wood underneath. Some glue is on the floor.

he is spraying it with water a patch at a time and scraping the glue off. Steve has a couple of dogs so non carpeted floors are best. I really appreciate that Steve took the initiative here and is doing the work instead of having me do it. It's tenants like Steve that make my day.

Jim was telling me today that life is like a bicycle built for 2. If you put Jesus in front to steer and you ride in back and just keep pedaling life will work out. This week I just kept pedaling. If I had tried to take the handlebars and steer, I think I'd be in the ditch.