July 26, 2019
Dear Everyone:
For quite some time I have had a list of things I would like to improve
in my condominium.
The first thing I did, before moving in, was to buy a new refrigerator.
This was mandated by the fact that the one I had at my “old”
place was too big to fit into the prescribed place in the new-to-me
kitchen. I also replaced the
toilets in both bathrooms with newer “comfort-height” ones.
A year later, I replaced the combination washer-dryer with full-size
machines stacked one on top of the other.
This was primarily because the old machines couldn’t handle a
single bed sheet and a comforter cover together in one load.
Recently, I realized that pretty much all of the appliances in the
kitchen, dishwasher, oven, stove and microwave, plus the aforementioned
refrigerator, were all approaching their natural lifecycle end.
It was time to start thinking about replacements.
I happened to mention this to “Percy”, my personal financial advisor,
during our recent annual review of my financial situation.
“Percy” assured me that my situation was quite satisfactory.
“So go ahead and remodel your kitchen if you want to,” he said
offhandedly.
Well, I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Suddenly, new vistas opened up in front of me.
I could replace all the cabinets!
And the black granite counters!
I could even have new lighting put in over the counters, similar
to what “Jeannie” had done in her kitchen.
I really liked that idea.
And, while we were at it, I could replace the shower-tub in one bathroom
with a walk-in tub and the other bathroom with a walk-in shower.
And replace the vanities to match the new cabinetry in the
kitchen.
And replace the 10-year-old carpet with hardwood flooring.
Before you knew it, I had a whole list of improvements, with only the
vaguest idea of how much they would cost.
I knew that “Jeannie’s” whole home improvement project had cost
somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000.
And I knew how much I had paid to replace the windows in my previous
townhouse and to install shutters.
Plus, I could look up online at various hardware establishments
for the initial cost of some things like showers and tubs and such.
So I started a Project spreadsheet with items, projected costs and so
on.
Last month I decided to “get off my rusty-dusty” and get started by
having the windows replaced.
And I decided to not “cheap myself out” by using the least expensive
vendors to do the work.
Instead, I contacted a national brand outfit, “Augustine”.
The sales representative, “Chester”, was more than happy to
measure windows and get the paperwork started on the windows.
He even assured me that they would take care of getting the HOA
approval.
And that’s where we hit a snag.
The HOA had just changed Property Management companies beginning July 1st.
I don’t even know who the new Property Manager is.
But “Chester” had someone in his department contact them about my
request to replace the windows.
All HOA’s have rules about making changes to your place.
Requests generally go to the Architectural Review Committee
(ARC). Having served on my
HOA board for several years, I happen to know that there is no ARC.
Instead, the Board reviews and rules on requests.
Normally, this is a routine matter, but the change in management
companies threw a spanner into the works.
The management company representative wasn’t sure if she could go
ahead and use the same ARC form that our HOA has used for over fourteen
years, or to use the generic one that the management company has.
In the meantime, I contacted someone about replacing the much-despised
vinyl blinds with shutters.
Their representative came here the other day and measured windows and
doors for some lovely white shutters.
They actually have multiple versions of white from which to
choose. Plus choosing styles
of frames.
Yesterday, someone made a decision and the property management company
emailed me their own form to fill out.
I copied exactly what “Chester’s” people had already done from a
copy sent to me, signed the form, scanned it and emailed it back to them
this morning.
So right now everything is in the works.
In the meantime, “Jeannie” and I will be flying to New York to
spend a week with “Alice” in the middle of August.
The actual replacement of windows and blinds will have to wait
until we get back.
Love, as always,
Pete
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