Welcome to Chez Cliff!

The kitchen is my first real test on planning when activities occur.  As much as I’d like to hire someone to manage the work, right now that’s not feasible.  While I have money to fund the kitchen work, I don’t have a unlimited supply to go all out.  That means I’m playing manager.

The demolition went smoothly . . . if demolition can be called that.  Walls have been brought down and photos are coming.  As part of the demolition project, the walls have to be refinished: that is to say doors need to be removed, windows need to be sealed. 

After two successful days of demolition, the work stopped because of the two missing areas: electrical and plumbing.  The kitchen severely lacks electrical outlets.  The plumbing fixtures need to be moved about two feet.

After a few phone calls, I was given a list of trusthworthy electricians and plumbers.  My fingers magically start working numbers on my cellphone.  The workers can come but not before next week.  My kitchen sits idle until that time.

Idle time bothers me.

While I could sit here and say "I wish I would have known-", that’s not going to resolve this little snag.  However, I have learned from it and I won’t make that mistake again.

With this weekend, I’ll be listing out everything that needs to be done and who’s going to be doing it . . . and when.  I’ve been a project manager for years at this company.  Scheduling for my own projects should be a snap.

"And each one of our drawers is dove-tailed," Cabinetman pointed towards a corner of an unfinished drawer.

Yesterday, I found myself standing in the factory of Cabinetman.  We were going over my final kitchen design and I asked for the grand tour.

He happily obliged me.

I was impressed.

The construction of my kitchen cabinets is commencing.  Every cabinet, every drawer is being dovetailed.  Every hinge is a "European Hinge".  All shelves will be slide-out shelves.  The wood shall be maple.  The counters are granite.  The outcome will be spectacular.

"My objective," Cabinetman said, "is to give you a $50,000 kitchen."

I’m thankful he’s only charging me a fraction of that.

Dove Tail	European Hinges	Slide out shelves

My mid-30’s are quickly approaching.  This blog of my adventures will continue for a long, long time if I have anything to say about it.  However, this nagging feeling in the back of my head won’t leave.  The feeling of the worse case scenario:  What to do if I kick the bucket?

This was delayed for about a month, not wanting to address it.  I finally realized if I didn’t make decisions regarding my investments that the government would.  I don’t trust the government.  Also, what I’m doing requires a level of responsibility on my part and I will be responsible.

I’m not married, as far as I know.  However there was that one night in Vegas . . . .

Who does that leave?  According to law, my parents would be the executor of my estate if I have no will in place.  This, of course, is after probate court.  The fees involved in that are expensive.  My parents will be the first to admit that their knowledge of real estate investing is quite limited.  In addition, they are enjoying their retirement years and I don’t want to burden them with this responsibility.

Fortunately I have a brother who has been dabbling in real estate for nearly 30 years.  Every few months, our conversations reveal that he’s doing quite well for himself.  The last time I talked to him, I asked him if he would be the executor of my estate.  One condition of his acceptance:  I must spell out exactly what I want done.

That is the interesting question.  What would I want done with the money I’ve created?  I definitely would like it to go to good use.  Charity?  Family?  Who in the family? 

I don’t have kids, as far as I know.  However there was that other night in Vegas . . . .

From what I’ve seen, my family members would squander the money.  Maybe an Educational trust?  If my nieces and nephews went to college, the fund would pay a stipend of sorts?  Who would run that?

UGH!

Many moons ago, I received a call from my mentor.  He was very interested in doing a real estate deal with me.  At the beginning, tremendous effort was made to get him and the Real Estate Agent in the same room.  Both are very successful at what they do.  What could be the problem?

Plenty.

Trying to align schedules proved to be more difficult than I could imagine.  And I only have myself to blame.  I had fallen under that trap of trying to make everyone happy, be flexible to everyone’s schedule.  This has never worked for me in the past.  I’m unsure why I thought it would work now.

It’s the same idea as trying to get eight people together to see a movie.  There will always be one person who can’t make it.  Their cat coughed up a hairball or something.  So what do you do?  Do you sacrifice seven people for the one?  I certainly don’t.  Someone has to step up to the plate and take charge or no one sees the movie.  Everyone waits for everyone else.

With these two, I was running into the same problem.  Only difference is the project can’t go forward without either.

In talking with my mentor this last weekend, I mentioned to him how difficult it was trying to get them together.  My mentor simply said "Make it happen."  I realized my approach to this had been all wrong.  I was leaving the question opened ended:  "Well what time works for you?"  This proved impossible to get these two to meet.  My question became "We’re meeting at 1 o’clock.  Can you make it?"

Make it happen.

I did.

We’re meeting.

I appreciate the feedback on the kitchen.  I went back to Cabinetman and asked him to make a couple of changes.  Focusing on getting "gadgets" into the kitchen, I forgot to put my gourmet chef’s hat on and think about layout.

I hate Bobby Flay.  He makes me want to get into a fight.  And that fuzzy Emeril won’t
help me either.  Into the shoes of Alton Brown I went and came up with the following design.  There is a space between the fridge and the stove.  A slider-rack will be installed there.  The stove/oven/microwave will now be one complete unit.

I tried to get the kitchen into a "triangle" flow.  What I mean by that is each major appliance is on an adjacent wall so traffic flows in a triangular fashion.  With this design, I’m a little closer.

The next step is to meet with Cabinetman.  He is going to have a 3-D drawing so we can see what it will actually look like.  After that, we sign contracts and the work starts.