Last week I was on a cruise to sunny Mexico. Just a short trip to get my mind off everything that was happening here.
Not really. Before I left the things on the must happen list was already falling apart. First, the white shingles for the new roof had not arrived. The roofer promised that the roof would be done while I was gone. Trust him (the company that is). So I left with a promise. Got back and guess what, the roof was almost on. They ran out of shingles on the last day and more had to
be ordered. But it's done and looks good. The white is really light gray and should increase the efficiency of the roof by several degrees.
One thing done.
Monday was a holiday and I couldn't do anything to confirm status with anyone. So Tuesday it's pick up the phone and start down the list of things that had to be done before I can close.
Is the appraisal done? No. The original appraiser hired had to bow out because of a 'conflict of interest'. No idea what that was about. So the lender hired another appraiser. The appraisal landed in my email box yesterday. Better late than never. It was a huge stack of paperwork. Once I sorted out what was really needed, 2 pages told me everything and I can check that off the list.
Moving on: next item.
The lender is having an issue with the termite inspection. Huh? The inspection happened back in March. From what I remember of the conversation between the inspector and me there wasn't anything that was a concern that needed fixing right away. In other words it wouldn't impact financing. Signs of old activity, some damage to a couple frames. But the the report submitted to the lender recommended treatment before the loan could go through. Can I get it done before June 6th? Huh? How much is that going to cost? $700 plus. I don't have $700 I can pull out of the air for this. Lots of phone calls and texts back and forth with the realtor, the termite people, the lender. Finally a plan is worked out and the cost of the treatment is rolled into the closing costs. Which means more money next week but the loan moves closer to being finished. Still have to find that extra $700 next week.
Moving on: next item
The lender is questioning the tiny amount of money I made in 2012-13 as an aviation consultant. My federal income tax documents declared it: can I send backups? Like all copies of the tax paperwork for those 2 years? And a letter explaining what the extra money came from?
Hindsight is 20/20. Should have never declared that tiny amount of money to the IRS. It raised my income bracket from 21 to 25% and I had to pay over 2K in extra taxes. At the end of the day trying to start and run my own consulting business cost me a lot of money that the federal government got. Won't happen in 2014.
Moving on: next item.
It's Friday morning and closing is scheduled for the next Friday. I don't have a time yet. There hasn't been anymore demands for paperwork at least so far this morning. The emphasis this morning is a house showing this afternoon and another one scheduled tomorrow morning. I really need the Charlotte property sold, or a solid contract committing the buyer so I can start planning the move. And that's another item: moving. First investigations into the moving costs indicates that moving from Charlotte NC to Madison Heights, VA is going to cost almost as much if not more than moving from Alaska. I've got to find a company who will take the TVs off the walls, remove the brackets as well, without charging an arm and leg for the service. So far it's 'we won't be liable' and won't do it. That is going to take some work. Never mind the 'extra liability' for the antique striking clocks. I'd love to just have friends and family do it but that isn't feasible. I'd need to rent a moving truck and some muscle if I did it all myself. I don't have the physical strength to move the furniture.
I need coffee.
Not really. Before I left the things on the must happen list was already falling apart. First, the white shingles for the new roof had not arrived. The roofer promised that the roof would be done while I was gone. Trust him (the company that is). So I left with a promise. Got back and guess what, the roof was almost on. They ran out of shingles on the last day and more had to
be ordered. But it's done and looks good. The white is really light gray and should increase the efficiency of the roof by several degrees.One thing done.
Monday was a holiday and I couldn't do anything to confirm status with anyone. So Tuesday it's pick up the phone and start down the list of things that had to be done before I can close.
Is the appraisal done? No. The original appraiser hired had to bow out because of a 'conflict of interest'. No idea what that was about. So the lender hired another appraiser. The appraisal landed in my email box yesterday. Better late than never. It was a huge stack of paperwork. Once I sorted out what was really needed, 2 pages told me everything and I can check that off the list.
Moving on: next item.
The lender is having an issue with the termite inspection. Huh? The inspection happened back in March. From what I remember of the conversation between the inspector and me there wasn't anything that was a concern that needed fixing right away. In other words it wouldn't impact financing. Signs of old activity, some damage to a couple frames. But the the report submitted to the lender recommended treatment before the loan could go through. Can I get it done before June 6th? Huh? How much is that going to cost? $700 plus. I don't have $700 I can pull out of the air for this. Lots of phone calls and texts back and forth with the realtor, the termite people, the lender. Finally a plan is worked out and the cost of the treatment is rolled into the closing costs. Which means more money next week but the loan moves closer to being finished. Still have to find that extra $700 next week.
Moving on: next item
The lender is questioning the tiny amount of money I made in 2012-13 as an aviation consultant. My federal income tax documents declared it: can I send backups? Like all copies of the tax paperwork for those 2 years? And a letter explaining what the extra money came from?
Hindsight is 20/20. Should have never declared that tiny amount of money to the IRS. It raised my income bracket from 21 to 25% and I had to pay over 2K in extra taxes. At the end of the day trying to start and run my own consulting business cost me a lot of money that the federal government got. Won't happen in 2014.
Moving on: next item.
It's Friday morning and closing is scheduled for the next Friday. I don't have a time yet. There hasn't been anymore demands for paperwork at least so far this morning. The emphasis this morning is a house showing this afternoon and another one scheduled tomorrow morning. I really need the Charlotte property sold, or a solid contract committing the buyer so I can start planning the move. And that's another item: moving. First investigations into the moving costs indicates that moving from Charlotte NC to Madison Heights, VA is going to cost almost as much if not more than moving from Alaska. I've got to find a company who will take the TVs off the walls, remove the brackets as well, without charging an arm and leg for the service. So far it's 'we won't be liable' and won't do it. That is going to take some work. Never mind the 'extra liability' for the antique striking clocks. I'd love to just have friends and family do it but that isn't feasible. I'd need to rent a moving truck and some muscle if I did it all myself. I don't have the physical strength to move the furniture.
I need coffee.
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