I went to Holiday Park since the painter called early and said he could paint today instead of tomorrow. I’d planned to sleep all day and recupe from my earlier tummy bug this week, but that was not to be. While I was there and lay on the floor for a break, I looked up and saw the ceilings and freaked. My tenant was a smoker and, after 9 years, the ceiling in two rooms had a fine yellow layer of nicotine. It was easy to tell because she’d removed a wall about 4 years ago (! – yes, I know…) and I could see the difference in color between where the air was exposed to smoke and where it had not been. So besides cleaning and painting, all the switch plates and wall receptacles and smoke detectors, etc. will be replaced now, too. The new tenant deserves a fresh place with a fresh look. Plus, it’s good feng shui!
Yesterday it was a long and busy day! My good buddy and master craftsman Tod McNeal worked magic tightening stuff, stopping leaks, measuring and sawing, caulking and painting, fixing my under sink cabinet shelves. I joked on Facebook that: ” I tried to snooze but he had me making lists and running out for caulk and washing out garbage cans.” We caught the trash guys and got them to take a bunch of trash the tenant left that did not fit in the cans. It was a fun day, it was a mega productive day – Tod takes charge and gets stuff done! But it was a long day.
This afternoon I went to Home Depot and bought ceiling fans and electrical switches and wall plates and caulk and wall plugs and floor registers and GFI’s. I will have to replace some carpet since there are burn holes, but she put the carpet down. The other was worn but didn’t have burn holes. I’m envisioning the money for it coming when I need it, it always does. I just paid taxes and insurance (I own the land the trailer sits on), so the account balance could use a new tenant.
It’s cool having a place to fix up, I really like doing that. That must be why I rearrange my own living space so often. I went over there tonight just to bring some big decorative rocks and my plaster yard ducks to put in the planter out front. The planter is what everyone sees, so I want to do something with it. Now it is filled with dirt and then a layer of decorative smooth stones. And a generous sprinkling of oak leaf deadfall. I thought maybe scoop out the stones and set aside, take over a few of my biggest aloe and plant them along with something else native and hardy and colorful, maybe ixora. The aloe can take the heat and neglect. And of course nestle my ducks in the aloe too, peeking out. Top with some good dirt I have here, some mulch I have here, the stones, ta da, a fresh new look.
It was kind of neat spending a few days there and seeing the different residents at the different times of day, meeting the ones out for their walks, with or without their little dogs. Most of the ones I see out and about look my age and are friendly and pleasant. Everyone seems mindful of privacy, I always think that’s huge.
FOR RENT: 2 bedroom 2 bath single wide home in Holiday Park, a gated, over-55 community off Malabar Road and I-95 exit 173 in Palm Bay. Private shed and laundry room, washer and dryer, covered carport. Walk to Publix, CVS, Beall’s Outlet, Big Lots, Siggy’s, post office, Walmart, IHOP, Woody’s BBQ, Sonny’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Waffle House, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Subway, bus stop, more. Open, airy kitchen, newly painted, double insulated windows throughout. Under nice big shade trees. A perfect home for a quiet couple or two roommates. Two pools: heated and unheated. Recreation area: See list of activities on bulletin board. $500/month. Total privacy. The coolest landlord ever. Email horizonsmagazine@gmail.com
My tenant is moving out this weekend
Getting my rental property ready for the next lucky tenant
Wear gloves cleaning nicotine damage to avoid poisoning
I clean my rental home of nicotine stains