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Over the weekend, I had some family and friends over to my mother-in-law’s house to price things–thousands of things–for the upcoming garage/estate sale.    If you’ve ever felt a need to own 30 identical paring knives, you should stop by.

While we were over there, I had my contractor look at the house (Thanks, Dad!).  Shortly after the sale, we want to start working to bring the house up to date.

Here’s the list of repairs so far:

• Replace storm windows all around the house, since all of them have had the screens and screen frames vanish.
• Trim the windows that are missing trim and replace the trim on the windows that have oddly colored trim.
• Put locks on all of the windows.
• Trim the window between the kitchen and the living room that used to be an actual window.  Add a shutter.
• Trim the archway between the dining room and living room.
• New linoleum in the kitchen.
• Remove two cabinets in the kitchen to open up counter space.
• New ceiling panels in the kitchen.
• Sheetrock and plaster repair all over the main floor.
• Remove linoleum from the dining room.
• Sand/buff/varnish hardwood floors under the dining room’s linoleum.
• Replace attic access panel.
• Seal bathtub surround.
• Replace front screen door.
• Replace back door
• Install ceiling tiles in basement.
• Finish basement bathroom.
• Finish basement walls.  They are sheetrocked, but not mudded, taped, or painted.
• Paint basement floor.
• Paint basement steps.
• Paint the entire main floor.
• Install spare cabinets in the basement for a utility area near the washer and dryer.

While that’s happening, we’re having the outside landscaped.  We also need to take the city-mandated landlord class and file for the business license that will allow us to rent a property that we aren’t inhabiting.

The good news is that we have potential renters already.   Assuming they are still ready to shack up when her lease is up in February, we won’t have a tenant hunt.   My wife has known the couple for years and is positive they’ll be responsible people.  If not, that’s what a security deposit is for.