Main is under way... Here's a small part of what is inside.

Yep, we are not saying that the former resident was a hoarder, but this is a lot of stuff. A. Lot. Of. Stuff.

Meanwhile, back at Hazel, we have been rocking the walls. As soon as we get some photos, we will post them. Hazel has been a long haul. We are thinking that "haul" is now a relevant term. The stuff at Main will be a haul.

Stay tuned.

The inspections are done! Yeah! Ya! Da, comrade! Yes!!!

Our contractor has started insulation. On a boat to Sheetrock town. Yes!!! We wrote a poem:

First comes insulation.
Then comes Sheetrock.
then comes door installation
followed by trim-stock.

(We failed poetry in college.)

Needless to say, we are ecstatic. Finally! (Picture a 15 year old rolling their eyes with that last word.)

Here are some photos of poetry in motion:

Yes!!!

Stay tuned.

Well, we're waiting on the inspection to get the drywall going.

Meanwhile, our contractor has been working on the exterior. (Photos below.). Note the scallops in the fascia and the work on the porch soffit towards the right side of the photo.

​We also received word on costs for the Main Ave remodel. Want to guess?

If you guessed over 100K, you would be correct, sir/mam.

We are currently looking at scheduling. Scheduling will be somewhat akin to Hazel baby (the new build). It's going to take some time to get this bad boy wrapped up and bow tied.


Finally, we were not successful on a recent auction bid... A nice 4 bedroom in a nice neighborhood. That's okay. Next!

And that, friends, is the "new new."

Stay tuned.

Nope. Not six sigma. We would love to be lean and on our model, but no dice, oh sage management guru.

No no six sigma... But six grand overage on Hazel? Yes!

We got hit with six grand in improvements today. What, pray tell, is the six grand going towards? Glad you asked. Would you believe a fence, and some steps? Steep lot and theft necessitated some changes.

Yep, the cost overruns of being a spec home builder is almost as fun as the cost overruns of being a house renovator or flipper. Actually they both suck! But hey, if you can't afford to play, you shouldn't be in the game.

​We were not planning on more cost overruns. We have already had quite a few on the spec home... Including the theft of shingles, massive delays, and increased carrying costs due to those delays. But, again, this is par for the course.

So, our best free advice for those that are going into home flipping, or for those who are going to build a spec home for the very first time, would be to plan for those cost overruns. Just sit down and add 10 to 20% of whatever your budget is to the total amount. If you did your math correctly, and your calculations on improvements were (or are) realistic, this 10 to 20% should be pretty close to reality. It is better to know what reality is-even though it sucks-then to be slapped around blindly by unexpected costs. (That sucks more.)

We have said it before but it bears repeating: be prepared. Eventually we might get smart while we get a little more lean on these things. Right now we're bloated and no where near the model of perfection. Hang on lean perfection! We're trying.

Until next time...

​Stay tuned.

​

We are moving forward on Hazel.

The interior and exterior finishes are being completed.

Landscaping is is up next.


More than likely, the next batter on deck will be the renovation/transformation project on Main Avenue.

​Stay tuned.

Hey Race Fans,
The dog-days of summer combined with travel and our GC on vacation, has produced a sloooooooooooooooooooooooow down in our schedule.  We are hoping to have new pics and new progress to report next week on our spec home.  

In the interim, we are almost done (supposedly) with our subdividing of our 70+ acres south of town.  We should know more in two weeks.  

Please do us a favor, and stay tuned.
(Summer is coming to an end.)