A Test of My Good Nature

It seems people have suddenly mistaken me for a doormat. This is odd, because I don't look like a doormat! However in the past 24 hours:

1. I have a tenant that left me a chirpy voice mail yesterday at 6:30 a.m. saying that she would be paying a partial payment and would give me the rest of this later. No negotiation, just see, ya! Bye. I called her this morning to tell her that was unacceptable. SHE WAS SURPRISED! "I thought you guys had money. You are for profit aren't you?" she says. We are for profit when people pay!!!

2. I have another tentant who asked if it would be ok to skip a month and what was the worst that could happen?? Huh? How about the house gets foreclosed upon by the bank because I don't have the money to pay the mortgage? I might have come across as a bit brusque when she called. She recanted.

3. My most avid partner asked me to handle some data entry for him today. My response included something about slavery being outlawed 140 years ago. I am sure that really ticked him off. At this moment, I just don't care.

Yucky Business

Now comes the part of the business that keeps me awake at night.

I have two tenants who did not make rent this month. Tenant 1 moved in late July and was last her first month. She never contacted me this month to tell me why I don't have her rent. I have not heard from her and do not know if she is living in the house. Her work voicemail says she is out of the office until further notice. She might have had a family emergency and left town? Whatever the case, she has either forgotten about rent or thinks it is optional.

Tenant 2 has a small family and got laid off at the end of August. He has been a good tenant and acts as a handyman for me. I know his situation is short-term and with time he can get back on his feet.

Welcome to the Federal Fair Housing laws. I can't grant a reprieve for tenant 2--whom I think is in a temporary situation--without granting a reprieve for tenant 1. I know I can argue the logic of both are stealing from me and taking money from my family. I know they both owe the money. Because of Fair Housing, both got a summons on Friday. Because of Fair Housing, I have to evict both of them. Even if I think tenant 2 can make it up to me.

I know very little about tenant 1. She might be the most responsible person East of the Mississippi. But, she hasn't communicated anything to me. Tenant 2 could be pulling the wool over my eyes and has me duped. He has done a great job if that is the case.

I have been praying for both families. Maybe I will have checks from both tomorrow. I hope so. I hate evicting. I am sure I will hate having extra mortgage payments two months from now if I were to do nothing. Not to mention, I am not sure how I could convince my partner to start a charity.

Momentum

I started this blog as therapy. I never have (or will) expect anyone to care about my life. But, there are things I just cannot discuss with the general public and it gets old to have a one topic conversation with my family and friends.

After my last post, I have been thinking quite a bit about some of the changes I need to make. I have also been thinking about my eager-beaver somewhat silent partner. It occurred to me that he believes in what we are doing and wants more. So, today I asked him to go to lunch to discuss the future growth of our company. I just want his input and I made it clear I didn't want to discuss financial. Lunch isn't set up just yet. But I am interested in seeing what happens. It is ok if we don't meet. But it is time for another's perspective.

After my last post, I also started thinking about what I want to accomplish. I want to help people. Oh, and I want to make money too. But, putting the business aspect aside. I really do want to do some good. I know what this looks like in the context of my company. But, I have seen, today alone, an unusual offshoot. I heard from three tenants today.

Tenant 1: wanted advice about starting his own company.
Tenant 2: wanted my opinion about matters of the heart
Tenant 3: just wanted to say "hey!"

Nobody called to tell me they had a leaking sink. These people really don't know me. I have met two of them face-to-face once, for three hours. I am floored. I really have a great group of tenants--and I know it. And, I am grateful.

I threw back out to Nos: 2 and 3 some ideas I am kicking around about growing our company, hoping they will share with me their perspective. One gave me some interesting suggestions. I don't know if the other will or not. My goal really is to open up to the universe my wanting of help to grow. It is also my way of recommitting to what I have started.

Inertia

Well dear reader, it certainly has been a while.

I once heard that satan tempts us when we are at our weakest. I am finding that to be true. In all honesty, I have lost my nerve. It isn't so much that I don't want to continue with what I am doing, I am just feeling like I don't know how.

For example, we lost one of our business partners this summer. I knew he was bailing our, but it didn't change the fact I wasn't able to inspire him. In many ways, it was a good thing he left. This isn't a business for him. He wasn't a good fit and we weren't savvy enough to know it. Another business partner seems to be pulling back. Not good or bad. It is just what is.

Our most avid partner is having trouble letting go of things he has no understanding and experience with. Essentially it isn't that he doesn't know his place, he doesn't like his "place" and wants more control of the minor details. It doesn't change the outward appearance of the company, but it exhausts time, money and resources to have to explain owner's equity doesn't show on an income statement and the debits he is seeing on the bank statement are good thing. It is money coming into the bank account--not out of it. No, there really isn't any animosity. I think what is really going on is he sees this as managing homes. We see it as building a business. His part is minimal compared to the big picture and he wants a larger role in the process. However, he doesn't know enough to do so. This just hit me. Maybe he senses my reluctance to grow and this is his way of showing concern.

This year has been a year of change for our company. I have improved processes, created systems and streamlined our product. I have replaced most of my vendors who didn't deliver what needed to be delivered. I am currently noodling ways to find better tenants and better prospects. I don't have an answer to this one just yet. There are other vendor changes on the horizon--a major one--I see that need to be made too. But, I am not ready to go there.

One of the most interesting aspects to my company is that even though I have not put in tons of time in the past several months, it is still moving forward. The momentum from my prior work is helping keep it moving. I know that I need to step it up again if I wish to have continued success. So, now is the time to find my heart. Denounce the evil that holds me back. Work around the set backs and other challenges and step up and head this company.

My summer was tragic. We lost a dear family member. We came darn close to loosing a second one. But that isn't what caused our setbacks. It was my ultimate fear of failure. After all, if I don't do anything, I have not failed. I have just prolonged the final outcome--good or bad. The only way truly not to fail is just to do something. I have people counting on me. I have people who I have promised many things. Things I CAN deliver. It is time for action.

God is from Alabama--Just Ask Anyone Else From There

I spoke with a lender yesterday who asked me my religion. Normally, this wouldn't come up in professional conversation, but in Alabama, God is more prevalent in casual conversation than the weather. When I said I was Catholic this gentleman explained he was Baptist and then went on to mention how he knew a few people who were Catholic and how all of these folks are alright and he even recently went to a Catholic fish fry and had a nice time. Out here in the West that would be quite unusual, not to mention quite personal, but he isn't the first in Alabama to ask me my religion, recoil with horror and then either try to save my soul or explain that they will do their best to accept me.

I find it refreshing to work with people who believe in God. For the most part, people in Alabama are genuine and friendly. I have yet to meet a pretentious Alabamian. I find them to be hard working, and more importantly, grounded. They want to associate with like-minded individuals. Their faith in The Almighty is something they are proud of and it unites them under a common ground. It is one of biggest factors that attract me to these folks.

To clarify a point from my last post: Apparently Heritage Electric will return phone calls after I leave 5 of them in a week and my agent leaves her fair share too. Sadly they don't seem to grasp the concept of time zones, but we can't have everything I guess. The jury is out on the work they do.

A Fortnight in the Life...

When we last left our slightly sane heroine, she was trying to get it all together to start another advertising blitz.

So, I have now found a lender that seems to have a triple digit IQ. I have talked to a credit reporting agency who said they would fax me over an application. I called back to tell them I hadn't received it, and two weeks later, my fax machine has cobwebs. Yep, gotta love people with integrity. For the record, this company is called "Innovis."

I have found an attorney who is worth a darn. Actually apparently he is worth $200 an hour. I can't wait to get his bill! I am pleased at his assistance and am feeling better about not being sued. So, maybe it is worth all the bucks. Think of it as insurance.

I started my advertising campaign yesterday. Sadly, it is more like an advertising drip. Although, I did have more than 30 hits in the past 24 hours on our site. From that, I have received 4 calls and 1 e-mail. I might get one new person in our program from that and I certainly can't complain. But, last time we advertised, we had more than 100 calls in 24 hours.

I have an electrical issue, and worse, what stems from that is another #$*&^(*&! Birmingham vendor who refuses to work. Also for the record, if you are looking for electricians in the Birminham area, Heritage Electric does not return phone calls and a representative at Hill Electric in Anniston, AL is a rude hot head who will NEVER get a penny of my money.

A week in the life

As we are in the toddlerhood of business, we are discovering the world around us and finding ways to adapt, with the occasional temper tantrum when I can't have my way. And, just like any toddler deep in the throes of a developmental milestone, I am not sleeping; but wanting to concentrate instead on fixing/finding a new way to figure out what my latest hurdle happens to be. Unfortunately, just like grownups, my partners don't understand. It really isn't up for them to understand exactly. I would appreciate a little patience from them however.

On my list of to-dos this week. Find a lender who wasn't a complete bozo. I may have found one. Keep your fingers crossed folks. I absolutely have to get the lending thing under control before I do anything else. Next, I have a call into a couple of the credit reporting agencies trying to see if I can streamline the loan application process. Then there is the whole loan application process! Still working on that. I want to update it and include some additional pertinent information. And finally, I am interviewing my third attorney in Birmingham. I really think Birmingham attorneys go to the Alabama Plumbers' school of customer service. There are more items on my to-do list. I am just scratching the surface here. All of these little things are minor. But I have time to deal with them now. And, if I improve my processes now, I won't be trying to fix them later on when I am busier.

Just like learning to walk before I can run.

New Rule

Last year when my agent started getting involved in what I was doing, every once in a while she would call me and say "new rule...." and then proceed to tell me what I was going to do. I didn't take offense to this, as she is just helping me grow my business.

My bookkeeper got involved and she also says "new rule" when it comes to some of the zen accounting practices she was dealing with early on. (for the record, my accounting practices were zen--which does not mean unscrupulous or illegal).

Now, I have another house I am trying to sell and I have run into an interesting situation. The tenant purchasing the home has a judgment on her credit. A judgment means she cannot get a loan until the judgement is paid off. This isn't my rule. This is the lender's rule. My new rule is not to take tenants who have unpaid judgments.

One for the Books

Whatever happened to that casual acquaintance who moved to Birmingham and wanted us to buy a home for them to rent? Well, somewhere in the middle of their lease, they decided to up and leave to some other state. They didn't have to move. They just wanted to. They broke the lease, left me with a vacant home more than 1,700 miles from me and, from what I understand, left the house smelling like dog. They didn't leave on bad terms with me necessarily, because I didn't want them to trash the house. However, I don't return anyone's deposit when they break the lease and the lease says so in black and white.

Essentially, they weren't an ideal fit for what we are trying to accomplish. I didn't know that at the time. But, without them we wouldn't be where we are today. For that I will always be sincerely grateful.

Today, I got an e-mail from this casual acquaintance asking about our program. She didn't write her name on the message. The reason I know it was her was because her e-mail address is in my Outlook program! I am astonished at her audacity. I know she looked at our site. And, she must have seen her own testimonial. I can't tell if she is playing me for a fool or if she is just didn't put two and two together. She has seen my logo before--at least once when she got my certified letter saying I wasn't' returning her deposit and why--and she should recognize the phone number as an Arizona number on the site. Then again, she may not recognize what our company is--but only if she hasn't been paying attention--and why should she?

Here is what I would like to write to her:

Thank you for your request (I can't help myself, it just came out automatically). However, as you abandoned your lease with me I have no desire to take another chance you won't pack up six months from now and move to Bangor Maine, leaving me with yet another vacant home. Please be advised that my good humor and check book only go so far. Best of luck to you and your family. Please do not contact me again.

It seems pointless to write her back. Calling someone on the carpet for a lack of integrity never goes well. So most likely, nothing good would come from an e-mail exchange. But, I don't like leaving this hanging. In any case, I will figure it out. I never thought this would be my latest weird event. It sure beats dealing with plumbers.

What It's Really All About

My Birmingham agent and I were talking last May. I asked her if she knew of anyone else who could use our program. She said we should put an ad in the paper. Oh, duh!

Given I have a degree in Marketing and Public Relations, ran my own freelance PR business for several years before converting to what I do now, it seemed like this is something that should have been intuitively obvious to me. However, living where I do, I am jaded to such thinking. A three Sunday ad in the Arizona Republic would have netted me three phone calls--and one of them would have been the wrong number.

Apparently this is not the case down South. The first Sunday the ad ran, my agent called and asked exactly what I was thinking of doing with all the phone calls. The word, "calls" got my attention. Exactly how many calls were we talking about? Three, five. No, 30. By the end of Sunday, the number rose to 60. By Monday at noon it was over 100. I pulled the ad Monday night. From the 100 calls, I got several applications and four immediately solid candidates. I also got a couple more that came up months later. I am still amazed by this.

There are those (namely my partners) who are ready for me to run another ad. I have been hesitating, knowing how the first one turned out. It was a lot of work. But, I need to remind myself, it turned out good in the long run. It was just a lot of short hoop jumping.

As I write this, I am reminded of all the work that came with the newspaper ad. And, there was a TON of work for about three months. The call screening, background checks, contract negotiation, lease writing, phone calls... and more phone calls. However, I am also reminded of the rewards I have received. The greatest reward was simply helping someone achieve their dream to own a home.

To sum it up: my favorite quote from my tenants is simply, "Thank you for the hand up, not the hand out." And, that is what makes the difference to me. Sigh. I guess it is time to call the Birmingham News

Providence

No, not the one in Rhode Island.

We accidently started our Birmingham business last year when I got a unusual phone call. A casual acquaintance called. They had moved to Birmingham and could not find anyone to rent them a home. They had found a home they liked and were wondering if we could buy it for them and rent it back to them. Strange, but plausible enough. At the time I had three local rental homes and Birmingham certainly wasn't on the radar. However, I offered to look at the deal and see if I could do something with it.

The first step was to find an agent. I did what seemed the most reasonable. I pulled up the Century 21 Web site for Birmingham and looked at the bios of all of the agents listed and randomly picked one. The guy sounded credible enough and from his picture he didn't look like an ax murderer. So, I thought I was set.

First thing Monday morning I called and asked for this guy. He wasn't in and the woman answering the phone graciously gave me his cell number. I hung up, dialed the guy and then hung up again. Why? Because I had no idea who he was and what he knew about buying investment properties.

Stupidly I called back to the Century 21 0ffice and asked to speak with the broker. The same woman answered and asked what exactly I wanted. I needed to find an agent who understood about investment properties who would be willing to take us as clients for this meager sale. "I can help you." she said.

After the first sale, she called me a few months later completely out of the blue. She asked if I remembered her. And, she then told me about this couple she was working with. Up until her husband went on disability, they qualified for a home. Now, although she had a good job, they didn't. Would I be willing to help them buy a home?

I could have ended up with any agent. I didn't necessarily call Century 21 because I had any faith in them over Prudential or Keller Williams. I just called them because... well, I don't really know why. I could have been stuck with any agent that day. She just happened to be the one who answered the phone--twice.

Eureka!

Ok, no flooring pun intended.

The second best flooring company in Birmingham just happens to be a major big-box home improvement store that rhymes with "crows." I am pretty sure "tome repo" would have been a close runner up, but I found "crows" first.

They graciously accepted my money when I called. Let's see if they do what they are supposed to. If so, I think that will be one less hurdle to mess with.

Now to find a title company and a loan officer. How hard could it be????

Trying to Give Money Away

I have a basic rule in life. Never beg anyone to do business with me. Plumbers for the most part are excluded when I am ailing, but otherwise, this is a stead-fast rule.

However, for whatever reason, people in Birmingham don't want my money. For example: I am looking for a new loan officer. Here's a snippet of what I have dealt with: my former loan officer botched up my last loan so bad, I am still reeling. I just got a bill for something he forgot to include in the last escrow. He and I don't see eye to eye on my priorities and although a truly nice guy and a super human being, we just aren't a good fit. So, I have been interviewing potential loan officers.

Potential Loan Officer #1: been in the business two years. Never has done an investment loan. Is "willing to learn." That's nice, but not at my expense.

Potential Loan Officer #2: retired from a company he spent 35 years building, works part time and likes to travel. He's been doing this about two years part time. I think his love for travel will win out in the mid-run.

Potential Loan Officer #3: informed me he doesn't want to waste his time with something that "may not pan out" and will call me if he has any loan programs. Um... I closed 9 last year, I think my loans can pan out. Oh well.

I am looking for carpet for one of my rentals. I have called "the best flooring guy in Birmingham" TWICE and have yet to hear from him. Tomorrow I think I will call the second best flooring guy in Birmingham and see if my money is good enough.

I am trying to get some title work done. I have called two title companies. Number one said they would get back to me. I haven't heard anything. Number two apparently is on vacation with the carpet guy.

If I were closer, I could just find these companies myself. But, I rely on the good word of people over there. So far, I am thoroughly discouraged. Who knows, maybe Arizona money isn't green enough.

When did Google Become a Verb?

Our Web site has been up since the end of December. There are no key words in our header. If you were to Google (the verb) a search on our business, our name would not appear. However, we have had more than 109 hits on our site in the past 30 days. This has been done with NO advertising, no promotions, no nothing. Just word of mouth.

In other news: we are looking at two new opportunities. The first in Columbia, SC the other in Houston, TX. I sent out a quick note to my most enthusiastic (PC speak for "high maintenance") partner to see if he was interested in either (after all, he mentioned no less than nine times in our one hour meeting last Saturday that we need to expand, expand, expand. And we have to do it NOW). I got back a weird e-mail saying something along the lines of maybe yes, maybe no. I will give these opportunities to my laid-back partner. No explaining, no justifying, no hassle. No worries.

The Three Bears

One of the more interesting (for lack of a more descriptive word) aspects of my position is that I manage our three partners. Here is the breakdown:

Partner one: easy-going, just give him a dividend check every quarter and send him on his way. He, like all the other partners, approached us. When we brought him a unique business concept he trusted us blindly. He is appreciative and likes to be in the background. I call when I need something and he delivers in record time. I wish I could clone him.

Partner two: he asked to join and immediately regretted it. Not because of us, but because he isn't a true investor. Although interested in wealth building, he took a leap of faith he wasn't ready to take. He is uncomfortable when he hears nothing. To him, no news is no news. He isn't sure what he wants to do with our partnership and is on the fence, waiting to see what will happen next. I wish I could inspire him.

Partner three: he has actually been around the longest and is the most high maintenance. Often he crosses the line between wanting to direct me in how I do my job and being the silent partner he signed up for. Actually, he has never really been silent, but he has stayed where he belongs a fair amount of the time. He is a seasoned investor and at first, he knew more than we did and we needed him. However, as we have grown, we don't need him the same way any more and I think he knows that. He causes the most challenges for me because he is enthusiastic about what we do and wants to do more. He doesn't see the day to day work involved and he hears about the hurdles we face, but to him, hurdles aren't a problem--because they aren't his hurdles. I appreciate him pushing us to grow, but growing large isn't the same thing as growing smart. I like him, but he takes more personal energy and I spend more time appeasing him than I should have to. I wish I could lasso him.

Knee Deep in the Hoopla

With apologies to Jefferson Starship for steeling their title. But, it seems to fit.

One of the big challenges of a one-man (or woman) show is that when that One gets sick, everything comes to a screeching halt. Or at least for the very ill person, they wish everything would come to a screeching halt. Oh... Not so.

I have been sick since March 6. On March 8 I am told the vacant house that is to be rented on March 10 has a sewage back up. No, from what I understand it is more like a sewage flood. Getting this fixed entailed finding four plumbers as well as begging and kissing lots of plumber hairy butt. The situation isn't completely fixed, but the house is livable and the new tenants have indoor plumbing.

There were four plumbers involved.

Wednesday 3/8/06: (I am so sick, I can barely raise my head.) Plumber #1 comes out and says he doesn't have the right equipment and we are better off calling a national, name brand company and call him if I need something (yea, I need a plumber. What irony!). He also says make sure they send a PLUMBER out, not a technician.

Wednesday: "Plumber #2" from national name brand company (rhymes with Loto-Looter) comes out, says he is not a plumber, just a tech and can't fix the problem. When I explain I have people moving into the house in less than 48 hours, he promises and swears upon his mother's honor that someone will be out at "8 a.m." Tomorrow. He then changes it to 9 a.m. later in the conversation.

Thursday: Plumber #3 comes out at noon--after I call the offices and ask where the plumber is. I am told nobody ordered a plumber and they will see if they can work me in. When #3 gets there, he gives me a friendly call, telling me the sewer pipe is probably broken, it will cost me $3000-$5000 dollars to get this fixed and he will be back tomorrow to work on it. Oh, and this house call cost me $195. Pay up. I call the home owner's insurance company to ask if they have the name of a plumber to give me a second opinion. Yes they do.

I am told by my insurance agent that Plumber #4 walks on water, takes his grandmother to church on Sundays and has found a cure for cancer in his spare time. He is the most talented plumber East of the Mississippi and I could do no better. I call this miracle of modern piping. Plumber #4 tells me someone will be there by 4 p.m. and (get this!) "not to worry."

Thursday 8 p.m. #4 still has not shown up. The very sweet tenant of mine who is babysitting the vacant home wants to go home and offers to come back tomorrow. I call #4 and leave a message saying the plumber never came. At least I have #3 coming back in the morning right?

Friday 7 a.m. (I am still feverish) I receive a phone call from house-sitting tenant. #3 called HER to say he wasn't coming back to fix the problem. No, he didn't know anyone who could fix it. Good bye, good luck, thanks for the laughs. Fortunately, I still can call plumber #4 because they didn't come by Thursday, maybe they were just planning on swinging by on Friday. Besides, they told me not to worry. Right?

Friday 8 a.m. (after ingesting litany of over the counter cold and flu medications) I call #4 to find out what happened and if they could please swing by soon as I have new tenants moving in at noon. I speak with some jerk who tells me I "cancelled" the service yesterday. Huh? Even hopped up on cold meds, I should not be stupid enough to fall for this, but I take the bait anyway. No I didn't. Yes you did. No I didn't... The meds kick in and I come to my senses... Ok, well I am uncancelling the service can someone pretty please with sugar on it please come out and take a look at my teeny weeney plumbing problem??? Jerk tells me to call back in 10 minutes when the boss is in! No kidding.

Friday 8:45 I call back and get the same line that I cancelled the service from the guy who cured cancer. I give up. Of course I didn't cancel! But now I wish I did. Even more, I really wish I had a backup name so I didn't have to deal with these bozos either. At least Loto-Looter calls someone completely unresponsible for this problem when they don't show up! #4 tells me because they want to maintain a "good relationship" with me (their words) they will see if they can squeeze me in. I thank them and hope my tenants are late coming in from Florida.

After all that, it turns out the sewer line isn't broken. But it is a mess at the City sewer level. The city is aware there is a problem, but that doesn't light a fire under their buns to get the line cleared. We are still in the process of getting this taken care of. But, at least my new tenants have two working bathrooms.

Oh, and the sewage flood apparently took out the carpet and flooring in the basement. Also, the heater doesn't work. The garage door openers are missing (I found out they are actually being held hostage by the former tenant's girlfriend. So, I consider them gone). And, would I please make it a priority to take care of these things?

That was last week.

This week I have e-mailed or spoken to five of my nine tenants about something urgent in their lives but if they really think about it could wait until I am over my sickness.

Oh well. Just like in Hollywood. The show must go on.

Random thoughts

The tax guy and I meet tomorrow. I am already tired from the thought of it all. I had to hunt down random year-end statements from mortgage companies and delve deep into the minds of my partners to figure out where they might have misplaced various items I need. Additionally, I have called a mortgage company or two and pretended to be the wives of two partners in order to get the information I need.

Tax season has kept me calling my bookkeeper 73 times a day. She and I are way too friendly these days. Unfortunately she charges by the hour. It isn't like we can just do lunch once a month and catch up. She lives 1700 miles away. But, she is the absolute best at what she does.

I have a squirrelly partner right now. Don't know what is up with that exactly. He is asking for reasonable things--such as income statements, etc.,--items he is entitled to. However, he is going about it in such a way that have caused me suspicion. I am more than happy to provide info, but the needle on my BS meter is spinning wildly. In general, the more high maintenance he is, the less likely I am to grow the business with him because I have other, low maintenance partners who would do backflips for business.

Which brings me to my favorite Low-maintenance-happy-to-do-backflips partner. The man is as low-key as one can get and still be conscious. I gave him the preliminary balance sheet today and told him there might be a few adjustments but the main numbers won't change. This man actually cracked a smile and said, "this is awesome!"

Taxes Smaxes

Well, it is that time of year again. Actually, this is the first time taxes have ever blown me away. Usually I can handle them. And for a long time, I just did them myself. As our investments grew, I started passing them along to a CPA. As we started doing more real estate investing, I looked for a CPA who could make sense of the complex and find us more tax deductions. I am lucky to have him.

This is year one of our corporation, so taxes are even more confusing than ever. More to remember and hopefully more deductions will come my way. I dumped most of this on my bookkeeper. However, in college, just as I always had clients who would do a precleaning before I got over there to clean their house, I needed to get my receipts and zen accounting system ready for her. After she is done with them, THEN they go to the CPA. I cancelled my appointment twice and it is now set in stone for March 2.

I have started reviewing my personal taxes. I did a bit of a calculation and have decided that 1) I need to stop making calculations and 2) I probably owe.

A few random thoughts

So, my bookkeeper says to me today, where is my spreadsheet for my company... Um... good question. I have kept copious notes, journal entries, etc. for the three LLCs I run. Books are balanced to the penny. But because the property management company owned and run by me doesn't have anyone else answer to, I have neglected some basic bookkeeping. Tomorrow is the day of reconciling--literally.

Tommorrow is also the day I get her all of my tax info. She chuckled today that she is glad she is paid by the hour. She is going to earn it.

Greenhorn

Welcome any readers!

For any of you out there bored enough to read this, congratulations on your facination of the innane. This blog is my random thoughts on starting and running an accidental business. Although my background is marketing and public relations, I had NO idea that I would be CEO of my own corporation (though a small one). I hope as I document my experiences that it will lend clarity to what I am doing and maybe help someone else along the way.