He Said/He Said/He Said

Remember the hubbub Hick and Business Owner had over HIS LAND that is being used as part of a business driveway? They reached an agreement on January 8 for Hick to get $1200 for HIS LAND in exchange for his silence at a variance meeting about the property. Then both agreed to pay half the costs for a title search.

I signed the paperwork on Thursday, January 15. I remember it well, because it was Thursday errand day, the day after my yearly lunch with my best old ex-teaching buddy Mabel, and the day before the big cold snap on Friday, when I started staying home due to the weather.

Hick asked me that afternoon if the gal at the title company gave me a check. No. She said that Business Owner hadn't been there yet. From what I recall, they were expecting him later that afternoon, though I don't remember her exact words. That was just my impression. Hick said he figured they'd call him to come pick up the check. The call never came.

This Monday, February 2, Hick went by the title office. To ask about his check. They didn't have it. Said that Business Owner hadn't signed the papers yet.

"She said they had called him several times, but he hadn't come in. So I sent a text to his son. I said, 'I know you're just the middle man, but I did my part. You'd think your dad could at least have the decency to do what he promised.' He said he'd talk to his dad. A few minutes later he sent back a text that his dad was on his way over there now to sign. That nobody from the title office had ever contacted him that the papers were ready."

"Well, you seem like the rumpushole now."

"How's that? I did what I was supposed to. He's the reason I didn't get the check."

"It's the way you worded it."

"I didn't say nothin' bad! Only that I did my part, and he should do his. I'll read it to you..."

"See? Right there. When you said, 'You'd think he'd have the decency.' That was not necessary. It's like trying to start a fight."

"Well, HE's the one who didn't sign the papers. And I did."

"Yeah. It's been two weeks. But you didn't need to have a chip on your shoulder."

Anyhoo... Hick got a call the next day, and picked up the check. It wasn't from the title company. It was from Business Owner. A business check, made out to Hick for the $1200. Which meant we had to write a check to the title company for $147.50 for our half of the title search. Not a big deal. Just an unexpected inconvenience. Usually at a closing, the buyer pays the title company, who then pays the seller, after deducting out fees.

I'm not sure who's the reason for the delay. It's not Hick, because he signed the papers, and I went the next day and signed. MAYBE the title company called Business Owner, and he didn't recognize the number and didn't answer. MAYBE they left a message and he didn't get it. MAYBE he knew all about it, and was just making it difficult for Hick to collect the check. 

For being such a "nice guy," according to his son and some of Hick's acquaintances... Business Owner sure seems to have an odd way of doing business.

Courtesy of Hick's Two Feet

In the midst of my open house here, showing the interior that is finished, though cluttered, of Bargain House... there was a development behind the scenes. Thursday, Hick came home with some news:

"I was getting my toes done this afternoon (his monthly pedicure), and The Gal said she was living with her husband's family, and she was really unhappy about it. I told her I had fixed up a house and was ready to sell it. She wanted to look at it. So I showed her."

"You took her in the house? With all that junk laying around?"

"It didn't hurt nothin'. She could see the house. She said she liked it. Several times. She really liked it. She asked how much I wanted for it, and I told her that amount we agreed on. She said she was going to tell her husband."

"Do they have kids? It's only two bedrooms. They'd have to share a bedroom."

"Two boys. One is at least old enough to drive. She said they already share a room now, where they're staying. That's not a problem. If she wants it, we can just go through the title company, and we won't have to pay a commission to a realtor."

"Is she from here? Does she know how to get loan and all that? Maybe she NEEDS a realtor to walk her through what to do. I AM from here, and I would be lost. I'd rather have a realtor handle everything for me."

"I think she's from Vietnam. Her English is okay. I assume she knows how to get a loan. I was talkin' to one of my buddies, and he said, 'You never know. They might just pay cash for it. Maybe they've been saving.' Which is true. I said I could show her the house in the evening, but she said she had another job then. So we went in the day."

"Well, I'm not going to count on it."

"She really wants it. But we'll see."

On Friday, Hick came home saying that The Gal had brought Her Husband to see the house. 

"He wasn't as excited about it as she was. He didn't like the bathroom floor. The small bathroom. Because it's not the same flooring as the living room. If that's all that's stopping them, I'd rip up the floor and replace it to match. It's only about $150 and a couple hours of work. They're coming back on Sunday, and bringing somebody else to look at it."

"Who else would they be bringing? Like, an appraiser? Or family?"

"I don't know. Only that I'm going to meet them on Sunday afternoon."

It was actually starting to sound like this deal might be serious. But then on Saturday night, Hick got a text from The Gal.

"She says she can only get a loan for $100,000. Because she just bought a car. So they don't have enough. She was letting me know, so I don't have to meet them tomorrow."

"Well, that's too bad. She really wanted it. But at least she knows how to go about getting a loan."

"Yeah. It would have been a good deal for both of us."

You never know. Hick might charm someone else into taking a look at Bargain House. But I doubt his feet will have anything to do with it.

Bargain House Progress: Kitchen

There's really no new progress on the kitchen. You've seen the pictures of it completed. These are just pictures The Pony took after cleaning. Though I don't know how effective that cleaning could be, what with Hick having junk strewn across the counters.

See what I mean? At least this picture gives you an idea of how the kitchen is situated, at the end of the living room. That kitchen window looks out on the side street where Hick parks SilverRedO.

There wasn't much cleaning to do for the microwave, stove, and refrigerator, since they're all new. I like how Hick left the tag on the oven door. Again, there's his assorted clutter.

Here's the other side of the kitchen. Room for a table. That door goes into the hall that goes past the big bathroom, and leads to the big bedroom.

This concludes our progress tour of Bargain House. But there's a story about it coming up.

Bargain House Progress: Large Bedroom

The large bedroom of Bargain House has been done for a while. It is also remarkably free of clutter! Plus it includes artwork from Hick's collection, heh, heh!

I don't consider that box on the bed to be clutter, after seeing the state of the other rooms. That's a twin size bed Hick had in the Beauty Shop. He might nap there while Old Buddy works! There is plenty of room in here for a larger bed. That's a decent closet.

This bedroom has two windows. The left one looks out into the back yard, and the other is on the side with a view of the neighbor's house. I like the black baseboard trim. It goes well with the flooring.

You get to this bedroom through a door off the kitchen. There's a little hallway without a door to the actual bedroom. The big bathroom is off that hall. Here's an older picture to get an idea:

That white door leads into the kitchen. The opening on the right is the door to the big bathroom. This is before Hick put down the flooring.

In looking through the older pictures, I discovered where Hick is getting his artwork! Seems there's a plethora of wall hangings that were in the house when we bought it.

There's the picture that hangs in the living room now! The closet here was enlarged to make the small bathroom. A door was put in where those pictures are stacked, to access the living room. And a closet was built where the wardrobe is standing next to the pictures.

Hick is kind of a wizard when it comes to renovating an old house.

Bargain House Progress: Large Bathroom

The large (originally the ONLY) bathroom in Bargain House is truly finished. Has been for a while. The Pony was just dusting it off. A little scrubbing and toilet cleaning, mainly.

Hick has even decorated THIS room with art, heh, heh. I stand by my approval of the flooring choice, and only regret that structural issues under the house prevented the vent from being in a less prominent location. Hick was not going to move a support beam to relocate a vent.

That's a brand-new tub and shower enclosure. No reason for a buyer to feel squeamish about using a used tub. The toilet and sink are also new. This bathroom got ripped down to the studs, and was completely re-done. Of course, everything in the small bathroom is also new, since no bathroom existed there before Hick framed it out of part of the front bedroom.

The fancy lights add a nice touch. I'm hoping in reality that they make the bathroom lighter than The Pony's picture! That's just a mirror, but there's a medicine cabinet on the wall to the left, out of the picture.

The good news is that there's no clutter piled in this room!

Bargain House Progress: Living Room

The living room of Bargain House is now finished. The flooring is all down, with trim boards painted and installed for the floor and windows.

Of course the sawhorses are not part of the décor, and will not be sold with the house. I think I heard you gasp at the picture. Indeed, I am flabbergasted as well, relying on Hick's statement that "The house is ready to list." Maybe he thought that hanging the questionable artwork made it ready.

I do like the curved ceiling in here, with the original swirl pattern. It's different. Not a cookie-cutter ceiling. There's some retro vibe going on. The front door is to the left of that window. This looks like The Pony took this picture by standing in the door of the small bathroom.

Are you ready for more clutter? Here's the other end of the living room:

It takes a lot of bits and pieces to overhaul a whole house. That window looks out on the side street where Hick parks SilverRedO. There's the entry to the kitchen. Looks like Hick has installed a throne for himself here, to watch Old Buddy work, heh, heh.

Hick stands by his statement that the house is ready to list with a real estate agency. He scoffs when I say that nobody wants to look at a house all cluttered with tools. "Val. A good two hours will get everything cleaned out." Well, then. I say it's time to spend two hours doing that! If, indeed, Bargain House is completely finished.

Bargain House Progress: Small Bedroom

From the small bathroom of Bargain House, we now take a look at the front bedroom it adjoins. That's the door to the bathroom on the left, that is by the shower. The front bedroom looked much nicer right after Hick finished it. Now it seems to have become a storage area for Hick's tools. Especially since he had to move them from the living room to put down flooring there.

See? This does not look like a house ready to list with a real estate agent! Technically, the room is finished and ready to live in. Except for the accumulated odds and ends that might be needed elsewhere in the house. I do like the mirror hanging there, and the light fixture Hick chose.

The dresser, and the end of the bed frame that you see in the background, are furniture Hick moved from the Double Hovel flip house(s). Which originally came from the QuickFlip house we had for a couple months, then sold to an old lady and her grandson. She still lives there, and even had lunch one day a couple months ago at the Senior Center.

This front bedroom is an L shape, due to the addition of the second bathroom. Hick figured that would be a better selling point that a larger bedroom.

That's a full size bed. Otherwise, this little alcove could be used for a desk or sitting area, or to put the dresser, or kids' play area. A bed can easily fit along the front wall under the window, with the head against the side wall with the window you see in the first picture.

The Pony couldn't do much cleaning in here, other than wipe down the baseboards and Swiffer the open floor area. I'm not so sure this picture wasn't taken to shame Hick for the clutter!