I started my birthday weekend enjoying a few cold brews Friday after work when the famous RING...RING comes in from a friend that rents a house from me.?ÿ The opening statement, "bad news, water is coming out of the laundry drain in the basement, I can't wash clothes or flush toilets.?ÿ Obviously not the news I wanted to hear.
On a Friday night, I had to find a plumber how could respond to diagnose the problem, hoping that a drain cleaning would solve the problem, I found somebody, who would respond, and, of course, charge a hefty after-hours emergency fee.?ÿ A few hours later, second RING...RING comes in, and again, "I've got some bad news for you, your septic tank is full to the rim and needs to be pumped.?ÿ Now I start working the phone after hours, again, to find somebody who can pump the tanks out and found somebody who could do it first thing Saturday morning, but again, emergency and weekend rates apply.
Saturday morning rolls around, I get up pour a cup of java, and, before I could take a sip of it, RING...Ring, "I've got some bad news for you, your septic field is shot, I had to pump 1,500 gallons out of a 1,000-gallon tank because the water kept draining back from the field and into the tank.?ÿ You are going to need a new field because it's not draining at all".
My property has not been surveyed since I bought it in 1994 and I never bothered to update it to reflect the improvements that I constructed (fences, inground pool, large back deck, hot tub, enlarged driveway, etc.).?ÿ After finishing my cup of java, I call my CEO and tell him I need a new survey, topo and septic design, and, I need it yesterday, the words that I hate from my clients. We both laughed because he knows how much I hate it when I hear that from my clients, but he assured me that the ball would start rolling on Monday (tomorrow) and would be free of charge for the survey, engineering and applications need to be filed for approval.?ÿ I had expected to pay for the Engineering, soils analysis and the like, but we do all that in house.?ÿ The CEO is a very appreciative guy, he and I started working together on building an 11 person into an Engineering & Survey firm with almost 80 employees.
Now, I'm looking at writing a huge check on my coasting to retirement, finally had my finances in order and bang!?ÿ Life hits me in the face again!?ÿ LOL!?ÿ TG I found my sweet spot in my career and have the ability to write that big check instead of borrowing money.?ÿ The downside, the motor home I bought last year won't be rolling as much as I used it in 2021 but the upside is that my company has my back and there are allot of contractors that I've worked for who are willing to cut me a break.?ÿ
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Oh, the joys of being a landlord. ??? ??? ????ÿ
?ÿGot in my truck this morning to discover that my catalytic convertor had been stolen overnight.?ÿ
@holy-cow the saving grace is that now, because it's an investment property, I can write the expenses off on my taxes.?ÿ Other than low interest mortgage payments, I really don't have much to write off at the end of the year.?ÿ In 2021, new dish washer, new fridge, new washing machine, plumbing repairs and more.?ÿ I could sell it for almost 4 times what I paid for it if I wanted to in the current market here but am emotionally attached to the home, it's the only "home" my kids had ever known from birth until the time that they left the nest.?ÿ Lots of great memories under that roof!?ÿ?ÿ