fifth-before-compress
This home launched a company!  After a year of research and dipping my toe in the water, I jumped in the deep end.  I convinced a couple investors that this was a home run and we were off and running. There is a saying in the military that no plan survives the first contact with the enemy.  Well, no renovation plan survives the first opening of a wall!

No amount of research warned me that I could possibly sell it before the demo was complete or that this house would put not only me but also my partner in the hospital. 2 weeks into demo I was standing in the front yard and a lady on a bike stopped to chat.  Turns out she is a local broker that knew an agent that might have a buyer.  3 days later on a Sunday, 8 people and an agent show up.  We divided the group and conquered! Usually a buyer can’t see past the bare studs and destruction.  These folks walked through with stars in their eyes!

The next day I showed up to work and was watching our mason repair the foundation on the back of the house (one of many unbudgeted surprises!).  The next thing I know I’m lying on the ground confused.  My partner came outside and recognized the symptoms of a stroke and called 911.  Long story short: Norwalk Hospital (and my partner) saved me!  Their stroke team ID’d the stroke, gave me tPA (clot busting drug) and flew me to Westchester Medical Center.  4 days in the Stroke ICU and I walked out on my own!

IMG_0855

As I was lying in the ICU, I received a contract to buy the house! Needless to say, it took a few days before we could come to an agreement :-). Now that the house was sold after 2 weeks of work, we now had to do the job right!  It took me several weeks to get back to work, in the meantime my partner was managing the project along. As demo was completed,  window and siding were started and new plans were being put together for additions that the buyers wanted.  During this my partner stepped on a nail.

IMG_0591  IMG_0595  IMG_0614

Lets stop a minute and introduce the players here.  I’m the business guy, my partner is the lead carpenter and project manager.  That being said, stepping on nails is not uncommon and usually aren’t a big deal……..except this time.  Long story short: bone infection + surgery = 11 weeks of not being allowed to walk, much less work.

IMG_0706

Can you say “behind schedule”?  Now you have the business guy running the show and doing the work.  Talk about trial by fire!  Gradually the project came together and the end result was a beautiful home.  My head is fine and my partner can dance a jig again and the lessons learned were plentiful. fifth-after-compress

What a transformation! Not only for the house but for my impressions on how this new business will succeed.

The House that started a business…..