Another light rain arrived today which kept our humidity high and our skies on the gray side. I’m definitely glad I managed to get all that mowing and weeding done over the weekend because it would’ve been out of control by the time I was able to get to it. Like I said to one of my clients yesterday, “If there happens to be a chore needing my attention and the time is available, I don’t have to be kick-started to get cracking at it.” Unfortunately, there’ve been too many times when I get overly focused and don’t realize the time to stop had long passed.
A good hour and a half was spent showing 416 N. Adams today, and I dare say the more I’m in that home, the more convinced I am of it being a prime candidate for restoration/upgrade, and for sure, if whomever purchases it, can perform the bulk of the non-professional work, it’ll end up being one heck of an investment. Just today I discovered someone had placed cheap paneling on the walls of the basement rec room and managed to cover up some good-looking skim-coat plastering. Now why would anyone do such a thing?
One of my colleagues dropped off a bag of sweets this morning which I didn’t need, but I’m sure it was simply a way to say ‘thanks’ for providing a much-needed document on such short notice. Before she left, we did have a nice chat about how the business of selling real estate has evolved, along with the aggressive mindsets of a select few who sometimes make me wonder what exactly drives them because in my mind, it’s gone far beyond being needy.
Some days ago I placed a call and left a voice mail with a person who owns a home that’s been sitting vacant for an extended period of time, and simply asking if there’d be any interest in selling it. Well, today I received a callback saying there was absolutely no interest in selling it at this time. Of course I remained as professional as possible during our short chat, but after I hung up from the call, I shook my head again over how the mindsets of these house hoarders are so much out of touch with reality. My gosh! They all must think they’re gonna live forever, and if they should die, they’ll be taking each and every one of their ‘rat traps’ with them.
While I was researching some properties online today, I was once again reminded how many homes are owned by rental barons on this city, and if I owned that many, I’d be personally embarrassed, especially when considering the over-all condition of the bulk of them. Yes, we do have a stand-alone housing shortage in our city, but if those ‘barons’ would sell even a third of what they own, our shortage would be greatly diminished. I used to make mention to several of them about selling a few, but not anymore because I found it more worthwhile to save my breath to cool the soup.
While in conversation with a contractor several days ago, I mentioned my ideas regarding my commercial listing over at 118 N. Federal, and the one at the top of the list, would be to tear off that back one-storied addition which was being used as the kitchen for the various restaurants which were located there over the years, and keep the original structure wide open where the kitchen would be exposed to the patrons. I would then create a private open-air dining area out back which would definitely be a draw for those wanting to eat in privacy outdoors.
Considering its tall ceilings, those beautiful maple floors, and oodles of natural light, there’s no question that restaurant would be a high-end copycat of the Northwestern Steak House, and when comparing the square-footage of the two, they’re almost exactly the same, and that’s after that back addition’s torn down. Yes, I can definitely see that build-out in my mind, and for sure they’d soon-after have to start taking reservations. Please find a buyer for 118 N. Federal who’ll make my brainstorm come true.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.
