Mike's Blog

Day 20Time to choose kitchen countertops.  Granite seems the obvious choice.  I kind of like quartz.  It looks as good as granite and, according to the salesman, is easier to care for.  Since granite is so common anymore, especially here in San Diego, I think "quartz counters" might give our list...

DAY 15Finally got some photos uploaded of the exterior paint.  I'm so disappointed.  The photos really don't show how GOOD it looks!  The change is subtle, I admit.  Guess we didn't want the house to stand out like a sore thumb anyway.  But the shade is very nice, and once the landscaping is in, ...

My husband, Mike, is a great guy.  Granted, I am prejudiced slightly.  Though he has our fix and flip uppermost in his mind, he took the entire Saturday and half the day today (Sunday) to help my parents.  My father and mother built their beautiful home in Descanso (mountains of San Diego County)...

Day 10 The exterior paint turned out perfect.  Wednesday I had to make a decision.  I wasn't sure about the shade I had picked out.  You've seen houses that you know the people were trying for something and yet missed it by a mile! What were they thinking, you say!  Mistakes cost money, and thoug...

DAY 6Anne and Joe are back from the River and Mike met them over at the house at around 6 pm.  Our mini-roll-off (30 yd dumpster) was delivered this a.m. and the first order of the evening was to load it up with all of the debris that has been accumulating over the last five days.  By the time I ...

I had great plans for us today!  I thought we would go see a movie, come home and do a little work in the garden and have a nice dinner.  After church, I said we needed to run into Home Depot to pick up some wood stakes for my garden.  Mike says, "Why don't we just go to Lowe's instead and while ...

DAY 4Yesterday was a tough one for Mike.  He needed to get The Box out before the drywall guys came.  He said that closet was built like a fortress!  Our son-in-law, Luke, came to save the day with his Saws-All.  Being a contractor, and much younger!, he has the equipment and the muscle and Mike ...

DAY 2We use a wonderful carpet and tile cleaning company, J&P's Carpet Cleaning.  Stan the Carpet Man to me.  Stan came and cleaned our carpet back in the day when we were first-time buyers of a mobilehome up on Guatay.  His son runs the business with him now and they are just the best.  Mike and...

Day 1Closed escrow today on our first endeavor at a flip.  We're excited!  All through escrow, Mike was working getting estimates and preparing a working budget.  Our goal:  six weeks and $25,000.  Let's see... that is 42 days.Our daughter, Anne, and her husband, Joe, are investing in this with u...