Agonizing Reappraisal

Mystic Passage with new frame

Fall is my time to do the major clean and reorganization of the house. I don't really do a spring cleaning. I am too busy getting the garden begun. And after a long winter I generally do not want to spend another minute inside. Fall means winter cannot be far away and so the house must be livable. And then there is the studio tour the end of September.

The result is I find myself appraising my house and studio on several levels and deciding what needs to be done before the snow flies. And this year I am also doing an upgrade of the rental unit while also deciding whether I want to rent it or not. I have the laminate flooring to replace the well used carpet and that only seems to make me want to not spend that money there while doing nothing major on my list of wants for where I live.

Rental units are not as beneficial to the finances as they were before the new tax bill. And I do resent the money spent to make up for renters. And in addition to that this year there is the internet which I had supplied due to the placement of the battery backup/surge protector for the broadband system. Seems a lot of viruses crept in through that window countering my careful management of my internet use. So another thing needs changed. And it probably won't be cheap. I know the electrical side.

I am doing the upgrades on the unit so I can charge more rent. And after walking through the apartment with a calculated view of what needs to be done I am obviously going to have a higher deposit. And obviously that will make it harder to rent. People don't seem to have a lot of money for first, last and deposit these days. I wonder if it is worth it. I liked the idea it could be a guest house but there have been no guests. Friends who have the money to travel seem to be leaving the United States. I would if I was not afraid I would never come back. Better to shelter in place.

If I take the time and energy and spend the money will a new renter value the property? Will they do less damage? Rentals are getting hard to find in our area because more and more property owners are deciding to not to rent. What are people who cannot find down payments and mortgages to buy to do? And is that my problem?

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