TYLER
As we walk through the house, I’m having trouble focusing on the task at hand. I don’t know what it is about this chick, but I can’t keep my eyes off her peach of an ass. Okay, and there are other points of interest, too.
The only plus to starting at the back of the property is that the state of the kitchen desensitized me to what else I’d face. On walking into the bathroom, I soon change my mind.
This is mostly down to me, just about going straight through the floor. If not for the many layers of linoleum underfoot, I probably would have.
This, and a brief sniff, has me backing out of the room and straight into Lily, her breasts mashed hard against my back. While she struggles to put some space between us, I close the door with a boom that resounds in the hallway. “Black mold!”
Next to me, Lily appears dazed, although she soon nods sagely. “Let me guess, a complete gut?”
“I’m afraid so.” Even with us having looked at what would be the most expensive rooms in the house to fix, the costs of making the place livable are racking up.
Deciding I can’t put it off any longer, I stop and make sure I’ve got her full attention. This is easier said than done, with the woman looking everywhere but at me. Unsure if this is because she likes what she sees, or she doesn’t, I don my professional hat and press on.
“What’s your budget?” Usually, I’d be more tactful when asking this, but I don’t want to waste Lily’s time, or mine. The sooner I finish up here, the sooner I get to spend some time with my daughter.
If I get away soon enough, we can even go for a swim at the beach. I know she loves this, and with my mom deathly afraid of the water, there isn’t a chance my girl can go other than with me.
Rather than answer me, Lily is staring off into space. At first, I think she hasn’t heard me, then it soon becomes apparent she’s frantically working through figures in her head. When she finally answers me, I’m surprised. It’s a healthy budget.
“I’m waiting for some other funds to come through, otherwise there’d be more.” The tightness of her lips leaves me to wonder exactly where those funds are coming from.
Despite this shortfall, there’ll still be enough to do the old girl justice. My less than positive comments about the house to one side, Lily has the right of it. The place has good bones.
The ceilings are high and the windows large, giving the house an airy atmosphere. Although you wouldn’t want to breathe too deeply right now thanks to the cats’ calling cards in every room.
“We can definitely work with that budget. The only trouble is that we’re booked for the next six months, at least.”
Finally, I’ve got Lily’s undivided attention, with her now staring up at me open-mouthed. It’s an expression that leads to many impure thoughts on my part.
“Six months?!” She then buries her fingers in her gorgeous locks in a way that has me longing to do the same.
Sheesh, get a grip, would you?
It takes all my concentration to confirm this timing. “We’re due to start an extensive project on Monday. But I can at least get some prices through to you for completing the basics.”
“The basics?”
Keen to get away, I rattle through the fundamentals. Unfortunately, this includes all the big-ticket items, like a new kitchen and bathroom, and fixing all those rotten floorboards.
“We’ll also need to check the foundations. The back of the house is definitely lower than the front. Of course, if you’re looking at resale value, then you might think about adding a second bathroom and replacing the roof.”
Despite not having inspected it, I know if the rest of the house is this decrepit, then the roof will probably match.
After glancing up at where I’m pointing, Lily darts back along the hallway. Despite her speed, she’s careful to keep to the edges where the floorboards are a little firmer. She disappears first into one bedroom, and then another before reappearing in the hallway.
“Come, tell me what you think of this idea?”
Her eyes are alight with excitement and she’s having trouble standing still, something that has me on my way to join her. And just like her, I avoid any floorboards that have the potential to see me in the crawlspace under the house.
“What if we took in some of that first bedroom, and then swallowed up that silly little dining nook off the kitchen, and made this into a master suite? Would that be possible?”
It’s a suggestion that has me booking it out to my truck to grab my laser tape. Her idea has merit, but whether it’ll measure up, I’ll need specifics before I can answer that.
A quick measure of the room we’re in, the other bedroom, and even the kitchen nook and I know it could work. “I’ll cost that up for you, too, but obviously it’ll all have to wait until we’ve got availability.”
There’s no missing Lily’s disappointment at this delay. If she’s anything like most flippers, she’ll be covering mortgage payments while she waits. And there isn’t a chance she can offset this by renting the place out.
