Getting the Show On the Road

Thursday, Hick hand-delivered letters to neighbors within 200 feet of the Double Hovel flip house. This is a requirement for the variance request to the city in order to divide the Double Hovel into two separate properties. That way people can get a loan with nothing down, a feat which is impossible with both houses, since there's the opportunity to make income off of it.

Anyhoo... the letter simply stated the reason for our variance request, and gave the date, time, and location of the public hearing that will be held on January 15. That way people with concerns or objections can show up and voice them at the hearing. Hick will be there, too, in case there are questions from the public or the city. If the variance is granted, we can immediately update the listing to sell each house separately. Even while waiting for a survey, and for the county to record the new parcels for tax purposes. 

Anyhoo... Hick said he took the letters to 18 houses. I had no idea there were that many within 200 feet of our property line.

"All the people I talked to agreed that it is stupid to not be able to split it. One lady said, 'That's the city for you!' Another little old lady said, 'I stopped and wanted to buy your little house, but now we've bought this one.' Nobody had any problem with what we're trying to do."

"How many people did you talk to?"

"Maybe six or eight. The others didn't answer the door. So I left it in their mailbox."

"That's not a surprise. I wouldn't answer the door if you were on my porch."

"That weird skinny two-story house next to us had a message on their Ring that they couldn't come to the door right now. But when I went back by there, they had taken the letter out of the mailbox."

"Again, I'm not surprised. Why should they open their door to someone they don't know, that they're not expecting, with a paper in their hand?"

"They DO know me, Val! I was over there for a year, working on those houses."

"That doesn't mean they know you. They don't want to get involved in something. Easier to read a letter you've left behind."

Hick doesn't think anybody will show up to complain about the division of the property. So the city won't have any reason to deny the variance. The yards will be bigger than some houses that were already grandfathered into the ordinance.

We'll see what happens. We are optimistic. If the variance is granted, we just need a survey to provide to the county Recorder of Deeds. Then it's hurry up and wait to see if buyers respond to the new separate listings.