Interesting week

Things seem to be starting to get interesting. I’ve almost finished the current start up webs sites I’ve been working on. The fun news of the week was that I think I finally landed a “whale”—a big client. I had a Wednesday phone call to talk about the project.

I wasn’t sure how well it went, but promised to send a proposal within a day or two. It’s always the debate on what to charge and I forgot to go back to my notes to remind me to ask for a percentage of the sales… but that’s okay. What was fun was that I wrote that I’d had a project put on hold (The one I was supposed to be available to do immediately and then…. No news) so I had an opening in September, but I also was awaiting two editors getting back to me (also true) so that spot might fill. But I had openings late toward the end of October. The editor got back to me THAT AFTERNOON asking if the September slot was still available, they’d like to take it. No comment on price or anything. I guess it’s true the busier you are, the less you have to dicker. So now I need to compose and send a contract.

The Creekside apartment job became more interesting as well. I wrote a press release, but the owner wanted to hold off until after the city council meeting. He had given a proposal to the mayor and the attorney and they agreed to put it on the agenda for the council meeting and I agreed to present it. It seemed like a win-win deal. My client would give the city $50,000 in installments to hold as security that he would perform the restoration according to the plan and time limits in the proposal. The city would have a security fence around it and flood lighting and security cameras and a night watchman, as well as mosquito abatement and yard mowing as it awaited renovation and through the renovation process. It was all at no cost to the city and they still got their $27,000/year in taxes. Or they could vote to condemn it and have to have it sit until all the appeals were exhausted and have no security during that time unless they paid for it and have to pay $50,000-$100,000 to tear it down.

It had sat for three years after going into foreclosure. It had vandals, squatters, and was an eye sore. Why not collect the security deposit and wait and see if the owner could fulfill his obligations. If he did, the city would get more income from the revenue of the people living there and from the construction taxes. If not, they had $30-$50,000 to help tear down the building. But no. The city was tired of having the building vacant for 3 years. My owner had only owned the building for 2 months, but he’d missed a deadline to get the fencing up. And, the mayor and attorney both claimed they thought the $50,000 was all up front, not in payments over a series of 4 months. And why should it take almost 5 months to start the physical part of the rehab.

So I was left explaining why it made sense to my owner to pay in payments so the city wouldn’t take the money, find an infraction, and condemn the building. (Oh, we wouldn’t do that…) and how they had not had enough time to learn to trust each other. (Oh, we’ve had time. He failed to perform… we don’t trust him.) And why it take so long to get started—permits, planning, assessing, putting bids out, and depending on other people when they can do the work. It was a pretty grueling city council meeting. At last they voted to go back to the owner. If he was willing to put the $50,000 up front, they would agree to his proposal and timetable. If not, they’d file the condemnation and he has 30 days to file to contest it. It was about as good a win as I could get, and my client was happy that they hadn’t voted to file the condemnation. Still, I thought the city was pretty stupid to plan to turn down $50,000 because it was just “buying time.”  I’m thinking, are you so rich you can afford to throw away that money?

What was harder was that just before I learned I had to attend that meeting we’d invited an investigator family and the missionaries over for dinner that night. We moved up the time… and I bailed early. But apparently they had a great discussion and the 20 year old daughter became interested in learning more.

Tom and I also went to look at houses for Adam. It’s possible his paid off house has enough money to help buy another house. We put a backup offer on “The Nasty House.”  It has 3 bedrms 2 bath a 2 car garage and nice bones. But it’s filthy. Will need all new flooring, roach droppings washed from every surface, new roof, and bath room repairs. But it has the potential to be a good house. Talked to the bank about financing. I love it that they are willing to work with me.

Thursday we had the Oriental rug cleaned. It had been returned by Andy and Kera and now that we had a hardwood floor, we had a place for it again.

On Friday evening Jonathan, Kristy and family came for the 3 day weekend.  They helped trim some trees and enjoyed a bonfire with s’mores… and ticks. On Saturday evening, Deborah and Ian and family joined us as well. It’s nice to see the kids playing happily (mostly) with each other. Sunday Hailey Alexis Reck was blessed in church. I had been asked to teach Relief Society, so I prepared a lesson on teaching and serving those we visiting teach as the savior would. Jonathan made delicious pizza to end our fast Sunday.