Punch list update!
The short story, we bought a house, made a repair “punch” list, closed a business, inherited a quilters will, a crafters will, my favorite maiden aunt died and my beloved got sick. Then he died, all within three years. Breathe.
My beloved managed to slice a good portion of the 100 item punch list before he was promoted to engineer for Jesus full time. The twenty five items he completed were big ones that would have been costly for me to hire to complete. He rewired walls and the main panel, replaced rafters, installed two sprinkler systems, built a staircase, installed a floor in the two lofts and more. I am so thankful for what he managed to complete! The 76 items left loom over me like an oncoming freight train. I budgeted for them carefully and set a priority for each item and began to tackle them one by one.
Saturday morning I was able to put the final coat of paint on the trim around a sliding glass door and hang the blinds. This was the completion of a long drawn out item that included: repairing water damage to the wall, removing its cause, associated black mold, insulation and drywall, some wiring and replacing a damaged outside light fixture. I lost the alarm, electricity, light and phone on that wall due to the water damage. The patio cover on the outside of the wall had to also be removed and the damage to the stucco repaired and trim replaced. Research and technical advice on how to proceed were required to proceed. It also required I face my Kryptonite, multiple trips to the big box hardware stores where the service is less than desirable when you don’t know what you are doing! I am sooooooooooo happy that this wall is done!!!!!!!
I haven’t been brave enough during the last few months to even look at the outstanding punch list. I could only deal with one overwhelming task at a time so, what was the point. Today I opened up the Excel spreadsheet to move the wall repairs to the completed page and do a review/update of my remaining tasks. There are some larger ticket items on the list that include: insulate attic, tile the master shower, replace kitchen window and associated water damage on that wall, replace water damaged kitchen cabinets, remove two crumbling cement pads, replace patio pad, new patio/balcony (old one is removed), new construction of walkway from bedroom to landing in loft. There are a total of 30 items, the rest are easier and lower cost. The budget for the entire list is $33,960.00. I feel so broke just looking at it! Items that I complete myself will lower the cost but take longer. Welcome to homeownership.
A review of the completed page revealed that I was completing the tasks at a rate of one a month. Good right? At this rate, I will finish the list in almost three years. I really need it done in two so I can retire and transition to a fixed income. That means I need to complete seventeen tasks this year, thirteen tasks in 2017 and four tasks in 2018 for a total of 34. The last four tasks are looking like they may have to just stay a wish and a dream. Reality is, I may not have the money to complete them.
Who knows, if I am brave enough and talented enough to actually finish my three novels and sell them, it might just work out. My home is no longer the horrible looking pit it was when we bought it in a short sale. It’s still in the needs improvement category but I have two neighbors that have usurped me in the “worst” house spot. Each item I can complete on the punch list only improves the look and value of my home.
The land of optimism is a much better place to live than the dark side. There are more sane people there.
Tessa Bertoldi 