Browsing Opportunities
The next day, after another marathon sleep (still getting used to what felt like odd hours) and a chaotic family breakfast in the little kitchen, I rode along with the guys to look at prospective properties. Dave had a funny little thing Australian’s call a “ute,” which is essentially a large car with a pick-up-like box behind the cab. I felt silly squished into the middle seat at first, but Dave was just as easy to get along with as I’d initially guessed, which made the trip fun.
Following a haphazard route, we visited several properties that had been circled by one of my companions in local listings. Though most weren’t set at a feasible price for Adam’s modest investment budget, there were a few that seemed to fit the bill.
The first was a tiny brick house sandwiched between two food shops of questionable quality. Though the shape of the house was classic and the overall look that of a cute 18th-century cottage, it was clear the neighborhood would hinder the resell price. With just a quick look inside, we moved on to the next site.
This one was a dilapidated two-story home on an otherwise pretty street. Though it would require a lot of money in terms of renovations, the location was ideal. The address was starred on the news sheet before we moved on. The final property on the list wasn’t a house at all, but a small apartment building that had apparently been vacant since the 1980s. Dave shuddered to look at it, and even Adam frowned when we pulled up. Nevertheless, we piled out of the ute and had a proper look up-close.
The outer façade was faded brown paint over concrete, while the inner rooms sported out-dated wallpaper, carpeting and broken fixtures. Overall, however, the structure was sound and the neighborhood neither gave a negative nor a positive impression. I liked it.
“What do you think?” I asked Adam, trying not to sound excited.
He shrugged, running the palm of his hand over a dirty section of floral wallpaper. “Well in theory, an apartment building is the best investment we could make. I mean, it’s six properties in one, sort of. But…”
His brother cut him off. “But neither of us knows shit about all the legalities of prepping and selling an apartment complex. It’s way more than we can take on right now. Anyway, with the repairs needed it’ll cost more than we’ve got stashed away for the project.”
“True enough,” Adam agreed, but I thought I saw a hint of regret in those words. Carefully, I pursued the matter further.
“So saleable houses have different requirements than apartments?” I hoped the question wouldn’t annoy an already tense Dave. He answered frankly.
“It’s that most of the old utility systems in the building will be run on out-dated circuits. Modern by-laws require more efficiency, and since there are six separate units, we’ll have to buy six whole sets of certain things. You get me?”
I nodded, biting my lip. “Well that’s a shame. It would be a fun project.”
“It could be, that’s for sure,” Adam said.
Dave grunted. “You two are nuts. Lux homes are so much easier to deal with! Get a normal home, throw in high-end appliances, lighting and furniture, you make half a million bucks. What would we get with this? Probably fleas, and no buyers to boot.”
“Well, that’s fair. I guess you guys need to talk it out then?”
We grabbed a quick lunch in the city before heading back to the house, where Dave and Adam went out on the shady deck once more to hash out details and try to make a decision on which property to buy. Julie and the kids were out, but I felt too much like a stranger to enjoy the main part of the house on my own, so I retreated into the bedroom.
I could vaguely hear the voices of the guys outside, but not well enough to follow their conversation. I sat on the bed, my thoughts drifting from place to place. I wondered – again – if I were crazy to coming out here like this, to get in the middle of a family issues. Especially one involving money! Sighing and feeling a little sorry for myself, I reached for my laptop. If nothing else, I could do some research about local shops to occupy my mind. I’d need some good items soon enough, from wall paint to accent chairs.
Pinterest had some cute ideas from other users, so I started my journey there. It was difficult to keep a low budget in mind, something I didn’t really have experience with, so at first I simply collected photos and idea boards, plus singular items I liked, without looking at the prices. Color schemes weren’t bound by cost, thankfully. As I collected images, I thought of the tiny little brick house in the middle of downtown, plus the apartment spaces in the old building. There was something really satisfying about organizing small spaces to fill a number of functions; I was surprised to find myself enjoying the pins for single-bed apartments more than anything else. I think it appealed to my new-found sense of independence and creativity. Imagine! Turning just 500 square feet into a beautiful, comforting space where you can not only sleep, cook and shower, but entertain friends! I craved such a challenge to my untested home-decorating skills.
Unintentionally, I began to think about how I would change my current bedroom, not to mention the rest of Julie and Dave’s home. It was no surprise that Julie herself hadn’t offered (or been selected) to help with the interior design project, given the vast array of ugly knick-knacks that covered every surface of her house. Evidently, she had a thing for porcelain sheep, and I was trying very hard not to allude to that fact in any way during our conversations. Not that we had many. Adam kept making excuses for the cold, sarcastic woman, but it was clear she didn’t like me or want me here.
Sighing, I pushed it out of my mind and wrote down a few notes in a scribbler. Ominous footsteps came towards my room, and suddenly Adam opened the door and poked his head in. I looked at him questioningly.
“We’re getting the little house between the kebab shop and the fake KFC,” he told me. I smiled.
“Alright! I know exactly what to do with it.”