Has anyone else with spooky old houses noticed that giving tours gets you contractor discounts? Although we have a number of people we work with regularly, we're not above giving come-hither looks to worthy looking contractors working in the neighborhood. Last fall the neighborhood was having some of its sidewalks replaced because of gas line replacements - we knew this was coming, and we had hoped and prayed that it would be OUR side of the street that was torn up and replaced. But alas . . . Undeterred, for a month we chatted up the owner of the company doing the work, and when he began working near our house he asked for a tour. Suffice to say, after his second tour a week later he poured 120 feet of new sidewalk, dug out a new driveway (returning it to its original location), and installed 6 new tree spots for cost. In return, we owe his wife a tour if he's working in the area again. I can live with that.
In that same vein, we had someone come out today to give us a quote on pouring some gravel in the new driveway to conquer what most closely resembles the Swamps of Sadness (we leave mud tracks all the way down the hill). After chatting about old houses and restoration for 45 minutes, he takes a glance at the driveway, adds up his material cost, and tacks on $100 bucks to cover the delivery from 45 minutes away, labor with a bobcat to remove the mud, lay fabric and dump the limestone. I don't know how the house does it, it's certainly not her stunning good looks or winning personality, but I wish I had her people skills (however, the 36 x 40 framed original photo in the entry may help incite conversation, as does the fact that in our main contractor's and real estate agent's phone we're "spooky house").
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don't let the dusting of gravel fool you.
this is a pit of doom! |
In other news, work continues, but I've come to terms with the fact that if I want to keep posting I have to let go of my rather controlling nature and see what my fingers type. Thus, chronology be damned!
That's a pretty good skill - I wish our house could master that one. Guess we need to start offering more tours!
ReplyDeleteI think it used its powers to get us to buy it too, it's the only explanation . . .
DeleteReading your blog from beginning and now have to surface to agree with the house's power. My little old 1946 brick story and a half cape cod called to me, found me, then called me again, this time for good. And contractors come in, get all dewy, and do good work for a good price. Found you through Hartwood Roses. Cindi M, RVA
ReplyDeleteHi Cindi, thanks for reading through my ramblings! It's funny how houses seem to pick their people, too bad more people don't know how to listen...
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