This was the end result after a lot of money and a lot of hard work.
I've been away from the blog for months but I've been busy in the meantime. It took 2 months to work magic at 954 West Allen St. in Hendersonville, NC. I was lucky to have a wonderful contractor, Robin Stafford. Together with Ira Holbrook - plumber, Gary Melton - electrician, Jerry Moore - Painter, and Rocky from Horizon Plumbing and Heating, as well as Hardin Flooring and Quality Aluminum for the gutters and let me not forget Bradley, the kitchen designer from Lowe's -- and a lot of email badgering from me -- we created a small miracle. The inspectors were pleased as were all the neighbors. After the fact, Dan Osteen now keeps the grounds up for the showings.
I took two short trips down there and a long one at the end to do the landscaping and staging. While I was there I bonded with my contractor (he treats me like his second mother) and my neighbors. We made a good impression at the Town Offices because we presented ourselves professionally and did a good job.
The first time down was just to kick off the project. My first act, a few minutes after arrival, was to meet with the locksmith who changed the locks. Now that the property was mine, I went through it at my leisure, seeing how my memory matched up with reality. I also set off the bug bomb that Bill recommended to kill any lingering bugs. Of course, I also gave the house some encouragement for what it's future had in store. A ritual stolen from Suzanne Brangham in her wonderful book, "Housewise" I told the house that it was going to feel like it had spent 2 months at Elizabeth Arden. (I had also told that to my Dunlap Rd. house -- although it will be a much longer time figuratively spent at that august beauty landmark). I made a quick trip to Lowe's and bought 6 chairs for the meeting the following day. I brought card tables from Dunlap Rd. and set them up. I also ordered sandwiches and picked up some beverages. Feeding the troops is, in my eyes, an important part of establishing good relations with them.
When everything was ready I headed back to the Clarion Inn near the Asheville Airport -- my home away from home. I hoped to see my friend, Kimberly Calvert, head of catering there, but it would be a couple of days before I would catch up with that busy girl. I had a good meal in the bar and a good rest that night so I could be up early to meet Robin at the hotel before going the few miles to Hendersonville.
After morning coffee and some toast, I went out to my car to pack some things before settling down in the lobby to wait for Robin. But he beat me to it and was pulling next to my car when I came out of the building. He leaned down from his six and a half feet height and gave me a big hello hug. That certainly got us off to a good start. He then followed me down to the house.
It was the first time Robin was seeing the place as well as the subs. My wonderful realtor, Bill Millwood of Trillium, had been a bit optimistic about what it would cost to upgrade the place. As Robin and I went through the house together he was busy scrawling notes and numbers in his notebook. The $20,000 I had counted on for a quick turn-around, quickly became closer to $60,000.
With sinking heart we proceeded with the meeting as the subs arrived. Ira and his son went through everything and then wrote his estimate out on one page -- in a fair amount of detail. Shock number one. Gary was a little more debonair about his figures. That would become an issue. Bill arrived with a painter that he knew. That young man went quietly through the house and handed me his estimate. Way beyond what I could afford.
When the others had left, Robin had the old heart-to-heart with me. He looked at the figures I had received from the subs and we decided that the painter was much over-priced. But not to worry -- Robin had one that he had worked with often over the years and said he would get an estimate from him -- for inside and out. (I had planned to do the inside but Robin assured me that it would be impossible since I could only spend limited time there -- and his man was excellent.) (This turned out to be true, not to keep you in suspense).
There also turned out to be some issues with the furnace. It seems the former owner had not been kind to it although it was not that old and should last many more years. Gary had offered to attempt to fix it and would bring the necessary parts the next day. It ended up a bigger job and although Gary's work got it going, it would take Rocky (located by Robin) to resolve the issue.
At the end of the day, Robin's educated guess of close to $60,000 seemed accurate. I remade the budget to that figure. I spent the evening at the hotel figuring out how I was going to come up with the additional $40,000. Still no Kimberly. But I did have pleasant conversations with my colleagues at the bar.
The next morning Robin and I went to the town offices to apply for the permits. He was very cooperative with the clerk who helped us and made a good impression. We had all our paperwork in order and the permits were issued. It was the first time Robin and the subs were working in Henderson County -- they were an unknown quantity so far. Robin and I went to lunch after obtaining the permits and as our conversation went on, it was clear that we were on the same page right down the line.
That evening I finally caught up with Kimberly. She grilled me on just what the project was and who was my contractor, etc. etc. She's like a mother hen -- which I appreciate. She said she would go down and check out the project. (I'm not sure she actually did that -- will have to ask her).
In between meetings, etc. I went to Lowe's and bought light fixtures, etc. All were being changed. On the next trip I would meet Bradley in the kitchen department -- as would Robin. More about that next entry.
Tomorrow I'll tell you about my next visit a month later (just couldn't stay away). Exciting times. More photos.
Jean, Still in Maine, but hoping to get to NC
