In a condo in boulder creek

After a busy day and a 4pm wedding rehearsal things are calm. With lammerdings in a quiet little condo. Nice to be away from the office. Praying that your weekend will be blessed. Love Tim

Another busy day

My prayer each morning is that I will do good work, be careful with people so that they feel cared for, be safe, be polite, be healthy, that the little car will hold together, the my family and friends will be blessed.
Today I started early knowing I had to be in Pittsburg by 8:30.  I made it and found a family unprepared to have me there, Indian family, only the ladies were home and of course the husband had not told them I was coming, it all worked out ok.  Then I left in a hurry for San Ramon where I arrived early.  the home was incredibly beautiful, on the top of a hillside with a panoramic view of the valley below, wow.
Then it was on to Livermore where the home was surrounded by vineyards and was perfect.  Once that was over I left for Antioch to complete my day, then it was time to see Amber, she is my hair cutting friend in Brentwood, she was happy to see me as business was slow today.  Then it was home to begin work, the house was crazy happy with four cousins all trying to outdo each other in noise and activity. Dana and boys had been to the zoon today but found it small, they are from Texas you know where everything is large!
Plans are developing for a couple days at Jason's, the boys will enjoy the ocean and it will be nice to have them enjoy their other cousins.

Well I still have more reports to write so I'll see you later.

Tomorrow night I'll be writing from Felton where the wedding of Tim and Jeni is taking place.  I'll drive down tomorrow afternoon for the wedding rehearsal, a quiet night of rest with the Lammerdings and then a full Sabbath culminating in a wedding at 5:30.  Of course I'm nervous as I've not done one since Costa Rica.  Just want everything to be right for the kids.  its their big day.

Love to all

Tim

Bad day

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been one awful day.  Woke up with chest pains, muscle I think, not angina and the chest has continued to hurt all day.

Wrote an appraisal, took about 3 hours and lost the entire report on the last keystroke, totally lost, has not happened in years.  I planned for a house of 1820 sf but when I did the sketch it turned out to be less than 1500 sf.  Some nitwit who purchased the house decided to take off the back 1/4 of the house and just keep the foundation as a patio, of course he did not mention it to the listing agent who sold a house to people that is actually 350 feet smaller than what they thought they were buying.  Lawsuit time!

Every call has been a demand for an appraisal and then as soon as they get it they ship back a boat load of conditions.  Appraising is not fun today, not at all.

Steve took the boys to the track and they rode for several hours, that let the house be very quiet for awhile and that helped.

No matter how hard I've worked I still have a stack to finish yet.

So sending love and I appreciate hearing from friends and family today to give me a lift.

Tim

Life is interesting

Good evening,
I just took a break and mowed and edged the lawn, it was nice to do something different from pushing paper, now I'm grateful for the paper to push, it pays pretty well but after a long day of sitting its nice to do something else for a change. Anthony has taken on the task of cleaning the paddle boat, tonight he has it sitting full of clean water trying to soak off the dirt.  Caleb meanwhile is dripping soda everywhere, dropping popcorn and asking a million questions.  Dana does a good job of keeping them out of my way so I can work, that helps.

Just now I took Caleb with me and we backed the motorhome in to the storage area beside the garage.  No reason for it to sit out front where the risk of someone doing something to it is much higher.

Its been a cool day here today and after going shopping this morning Dana and gang have sort of just hung out this afternoon.  I think they are zoo bound in the morning to the Oakland zoo.

I managed to get some reports out today, one was very tough and a heart breaker.  A good solid sale of a 4 plex in antioch for a good price but there were no comparable sales to support the sales price so I had to end up cutting it by quite a bit.  We have rules and we have to abide by them no matter how we feel.

Steve's help was great today. Two of the reports that are out were because of his help.

Well its time for sleep now. 

Love to all

Tim

Just home

Dear Family and Friends,
Another long one, not sure how long I can keep this up.
Up at 6 and sat down to work a few minutes later, left for San Jose at 1, then Fremont, Then Sunnyvale and then Antioch.
The way it works is I take drinks with me and some snacks, honey and oat bars, peanut butter crackers, water and diet snapple, once that runs out I grab something when I have to make a pit stop.  Today the weather was perfect, the homes easy to measure, the people nice.  Sunnyvale was a bit strange.  The guy has about 5 bedrooms which he rents to individual men, some looked a bit shady, perhaps wards of the court or recently divorced, very strange, I was actually happy to leave that house.  But the area in Sunnyvale is really nice, one corner had 7 cop cars parked in a line, not sure what that was about but I drove slowly since my tags are out of date, I have a brakelight that has not worked in 4 years.

Tonight my head hurts, I'm overdue on several reports so tomorrow I don't leave the house, just crank out work, as many as I can to try to get a bit closer to being caught up.

Dana and the boys have had to fend for themselves.  Dana has coffee ready in the mornings, eggs or waffles for breakfast, tonight when I got home she had lasanga and spinach, so good.  Spell checker not working so sorry for any misspelling.

Just glad to be off the roads, a couple hundred miles today and the beetle just keeps running along, turned 270,000 the other day.  So thankful.  I look at newer cars and drool but for now I like having no car payment.

Love to all

Tim

Keeping it real

The happiest moment of the day, the week came this evening when Keanna and a group of dancers her age raced out onto the stage and Keanna took the lead, did a free form dance she had created herself and then proceeded to do a one handed cartwheel across the stage, turned and did it coming back, she had stage makeup on, her hair looked great and she was smiling through it all.  We were so proud as we watched and, well I just cried, that is what I do when I'm really emotional and it was a grand moment.  Really grand.

The entire program was top notch, the little Brentwood group joined a larger group based in San Ramon, the leaders are sisters and so the resulting program was really excellent.  I was set to video tape but a sign on the door said no so I took it back to the car.

Then we went to California Pizza kitchen, Keanna's choice where Kallie eventually fell asleep.  Unfortunately the tickets sold out weeks ago, long before we knew Dana was going to be able to come out.  She and the boys went to the Tracy mall and saw a movie and played there.  Now that I'm home they are already in bed.

I rose early this morning and have generated 4 and 1/2 reports today, I'll finish the one I'm on in the morning and then try to get another couple done before I have to go to the field.  Still busy, still stressed.

I wish for you a good week, one with touches of humanity, of grace and of peace.

Love to all

Tim

A busy day

Up at 6, in the paddle boat with Dana and the boys at on the lake, in church listening to our pastor at 11:15, home soon afterward to empty house.

Using the quiet time I settled in to begin working on the upcoming wedding for Jeni and Tim.  How I enjoyed reading the history of their discovering each other, well written and very touching.  So for several hours I buried myself in preparing what I will say a week from today as they marry. 

This evening the local REI store and other companies sponsored a camping night in the park just up the street from my home.  Hundreds of campers are settling in for the night as I write.  I spent some time up there this evening with Nikki and the girls, the Texas cousins were there too and enjoying them selves.  In fact Anthony just came home, met some kids and was having a good time.

Tomorrow afternoon Keanna will dance in a recital in San Ramon.  I can't wait to see her in action, she has progressed a lot over the years and loves to do her moves.

This morning Steve hosted the family out at the track that he has built for riding motorbikes, the boys are used to riding and the girls are getting used to riding, they had a blast, it was a very nice thing for Steve to do and everyone enjoyed it a lot.  Dana has scrambled to find clothes in the Goodwill stores including boots, long pants so they would be safer as they rode. 

This afternoon the kids all swam in Steve and Nikki's pool so its been a big day for all.

Sending love to all,

Tim

At last, Friday

Dear Family and Friends,

What an incredible week, so much has taken place and is taking place.

My board is full of appraisals, just stuffed and more came in today.  One party is paying me $500 to have a report done by Monday, crazy times.

I started early and finished the tough one with acreage and a drussage horse setup, even huge mirrors in the covered arena so both rider and horse can see how they are doing, pretty amazing.  I left for Lafayette at 11:15 and found a very nice family, a clean tidy and updated home with a value probably over 1 million, that is for 2100 sf and about 65 years old!

From there I went to a place I know who has this guy who knows how to turn off the fix engine light on the big engine.  Then I drove to a Union 76 station that does smog.  last time this sequence worked and it passed. Today it was not giving out the correct signals so it did not pass.  No great.

I then drove to another million dollar sale in San Ramon.  This one was fancy, hardwood floors that were almost black, high ceilings, over 3800 sf but no rear landscaping.  Nice and quick since no one was at home.  Then I headed home using the back roads and picked up a tank of diesel in Livermore for $3.69 a gallon, down from well over $4.00 a couple weeks ago.  Filling the tank took $45 instead of $57 at the worst.  I'll take savings where I can find them.

Now I'm home and ready to sleep a whole night for a change.  God has blessed with safe trips, good inspections and PLENTY of work, now how do I get it all done?  No solved that one yet.

Love to all,

Enjoy the sabbath

Tim

Still going

Good evening
Heading to bed after a very long day, walked with Ken this morning in the cool morning air, still in my tennis shoes now.
Worked while it was quiet this morning, lovely morning with cool breezes.  Worked on conditions, fixing things someone wants changed in the system.  Then started writing reports.  Almost done with a rough one, big 6 acre site, perfect horse property but not worth what it once was.

Working in during the morning and then out to Lafayette and San Ramon afterwards, then back home again.

This evening Dana cooked for the family, Lois came and joined us and we had a grand time.  Noise, great food, kids popping up everywhere, did I mention the food?  Wow.  Nan would have been proud, we actually used the dining room table, Nikki's idea and it was a great one.  Just wish Jason and Jo could have been here too.

Still way behind on all counts but plugging along as best I can considering all that is going on.

Would appreciate your prayers,

Love

tim

Reality

I know I begged for work and now I'm begging for relief.  This morning I moved the alarm earlier and started at 5 am.  Worked on an appraisal, did research and left at 8:10.  Rodeo was a very nice property and the morning was cool and inviting, just before I left Dana announced eggs and toast and it was wonderful.

As I was leaving Rodeo which is near highway 80 and near the bay my phone rang.  It was a lady in Castro Valley that I've been trying reach for days.  She had been out of town moving a college attending child back home for the summer.  She said I could come now so I diverted plans and drove to her home, it was excellent and I enjoyed my visit. Then I hurried to Hayward to the K&B tract where townhomes are selling for just under $400,000 and have lovely noise from nearby train tracts.  Once that one was over I went to Starbucks, had a yogurt with nuts for lunch and using my laptop found comps for Castro Valley.

Once I left Hayward I was near Castro Valley so I drove there and shot comps, then using a back road moved over to 680 and found a parking lot.  For the next precious hour traffic moved and stopped.  Of course miles later we all found cars smashed and beside the road.  So I arrived at my 4 plex in Antioch nearly an hour late with several people waiting for my arrival.  I've found that one has to keep calm and not get rushed under such circumstances or valuable things get missed.  This one is selling for $385, highest sale in last year is $355,000.  It will be a very difficult report to prepare.

The next house was in Antioch and using my lock box I accessed a dump.  Junk piled all over but that was not the high point.  For the first time in over 25000 inspections I found I could not get to the back yard.  Some nitwit had nailed the sliders closed, the windows nailed and the garage door had its handle removed.  It was over 100 inside and I was frustrated and upset.  I remembered that I carried a little tool that one of the kids got me long ago.  I went to the car and had myself a set of plyers, then i attacked the nails holding the slider and eventually got them out, my hands can tell the tale.  I finished my photos and measuring the dump, shot the comps and kept moving.

Upon arriving in Discovery Bay I had one more to see, just a block from my house.  It was beautiful and they repeatedly offers to share their drinks with me.  I declined knowing Dana had some incredible food waiting.

Its been a long one but to cap it off an hour ago I was finishing an appraisal that was demanded.  When I put the memory card in the reader, a part of the new computer, it slipped past the right opening and fell inside, I could not even see it or access it.  So I had to unplug the computer tower, tear its walls off, unscrew the reader and take it out, shake it until the card fell out, then reassemble and plug all the cables in, the appraisal is gone and I'm ready to call it quits.

Ken says we walk at 6:30 and its 11:46 right now.  This is getting tiring but I'm safe, OK and just tired.

Love to all,

Tim

Texas comes to town

After a long time Dana and boys arrived this morning in Oakland.  They have grown so much and are outstanding little boys.  On the way home we picked up Keanna and together they torn up what Tanya the worlds best housekeeper had carefully created.  What fun and what noise and excitement.  Instead of writing needed appraisals I found myself on the lake in the paddleboat, we found life jackets to that fit each size perfectly and they had a riot on the lake in and out of the boat, swimming and splashing, yelling and having a great time.

Dana meanwhile ventured to the grocery store and hours later arrived with a car bulging with groceries.  Now a frig that this morning was bare is overflowing with everything one could think of and some more.

For me the work keeps coming in and I'm going to have to start saying no as I'm behind with a full board.  Tomorrow morning I'll rise at 5, write a report, hit the trail by 8 for a 9 am in Rodeo, then to Hayward to a tract office, then to Antioch for a 4 plex and then to another one in Antioch and limp home.  Wow, my stress level is pretty high to be sure.

Nikki came with Kallie after work so for awhile there were 4 little monsters doing battle.  Now its quiet, cool and I'm exhausted.  I so appreciate Nikki bringing a pizza.

This morning on the way home we stopped and chatted with Steve for awhile.  We enjoyed watching this lab jump into their above ground pool to retrieve a pink ducky, she would just fly through the air and launch herself into the pool, pretty amazing.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Another long one

Started at 5:45, then a walk with Ken, then office work until 1:30 when I headed off for Oakland, then on to another Oakland and then to hayward hills, what a view this one had, near perfect property on over an acre of downsloping court located fully landscaped beauty.  Then to another Hayward property to see if it had been fixed, it had, then to Nations for a cheese omelet.  Finally home at 10:15 and so tired.

Excitement arrives tomorrow in the person of Dana and the cousins.  I pick them up at 9:30 in Oakland and the house will not be so quiet for the next few weeks.  So exciting.

Love to all,

Tim

A Big Sunday

What can be said about spending Father's day behind this desk?  Well I got a whole lot of work accomplished, inspected one in Livermore with very nice owners, got to have a home cooked dinner with Nikki, Steve and family this evening and managed to keep fairly cool in spite of intense heat outside.  This evening its cooling down nicely, something we are all ready for.

When Jason and I talked today he was shivering, when the valley is hot then the marine layer there keeps them cold and cold they were. Strange was a two hour drive can do to the weather.  Yet he is going to miss that cool weather when he makes his move to San Jose in July.

Now its bed time as Ken says we are walking in the morning at 6:30.

Love to all,

On Tuesday morning at 9:30 Dana lands in Oakland, this should be an exciting week!

Tim

One Warm Day, about 106 or so

Well , it was warm here today.  Kallie and I went to Sabbath School, then to Burger King, she has graduated from chocolate milk to a small milkshake now, is this progress?  What a little cutie!

Once I dropper her back at home I came home to try to find a cool place in my own house.  The office is cool, for the equipment mainly and the operator.  I threw the two AC units in the bedrooms upstairs and they both worked, I did a few loads of wash and relaxed, chatted with Ray and took the day off, Sabbath is for rebuilding.

Now its bed time and then tomorrow there will tons of work to be done.

Here is a photo of the lake tonight, very nice.

Love to all

Tim

A very busy Friday

It started at 6 this morning, I jumped up rested, hit the shower and started work.  I've just rolled in at 9:45.

Contrasts: The first home in San Ramon was almost 3,500 sf and will come in close to a million dollars, great home with big pool, residents are leaving for India tomorrow for 5 weeks!  There was a high dollar Italian Sports car in the garage, can't spell it but it starts with M.

The next place was a three story high townhome going for nearly $400,000 and measuring less than 2,000 sf.  Talk about high density, no lawns, no patios, just a sidewalk between your home and many other homes.

The next place was in Antioch and has sold for $85,000.  Yes its little and holds tons of memories for someone as evidenced by the things left by a little old lady.  The agent who met me was such a class act, soft spoken, gentle and a real gentleman.

Next I drove across the Antioch bridge, not my favorite thing to do, I don't like heights and this bridge is narrow and very high so ocean vessels can pass under it and head up to Stockton.  Today the winds were high and the car was feeling the pressure.  Then I followed a car hauler truck to I-5 and that part of the trip was SLOW.  Finally I arrived in Lathrop to 100 degree heat and a strange tri level home which was hard to figure out, to measure.  They were busy filling a huge pool in the back yard and have had the water running strong for a day and the pool is only 1/4 full so far.  People were nice, place was sort of messy but basically OK.

What a blessing to climb back in to the beatle, crank up the AC and feel the cool.  After the comps were shot I stopped and pick up some almonds and a diet pepsi and headed for Modesto.  There I did a driveby and am in the process of determining a value for the middle of November 1994. 

It was now late and I was very hungry having only had a whole wheat bagel and mocha at Starbucks at 1 pm.  I set the GPS for Olive Garden, ate at the bar and had a delicious eggplant parm dish, great salad and loved every bite.

On the way home I stopped by Sylia's with a cable so she can put her photos of the new little girl onto her computer, the cable fit!  Yea.

Now I'm heading for bed. I deserve it and oh yes several new orders have arrived today.  Wow.

Dana is coming for sure, Dana is Nan's little sister and she is bringing two cousins along.  Should get pretty interesting come next Wednesday evening.

Sending Sabbath greetings to all,

Love

tim

Back at it hard

Dear Family and Friends,
Well last night was good, I slept soundly until 7 this morning, got up and felt great.  Ready to face the day and I had steel cut oats ready in the slow cooker, perfect breakfast.

Worked in all morning creating reports, setting up appointments and trying to put out fires that happen when you are slammed with work.  Oh that I still had my wonderful writer Jean but can't blame her for finding other work since I had not to share for so many years.

And I'm sure glad that Steve helps with writeups.

At 3:40 I left for Suisun City, a little town next to Fairfield.  I found a very nice home in great condition with fine people.  After I shot the comps I then headed for Richmond arriving to the minute on time.  House was fine but when I checked my comps I had run them for a house 1000 sf bigger than the subject, a huge mistake.  So I pulled around the corner and pulled out the Iphone.  After a long process I finally accessed the MLS board for the area and located a set of perfect comps, all nearby and perfect, most were model matches to the subject.  Of course this process took over an hour but someones WiFi had no password and my Iphone grabbed it and that speeded up the process.

I've just pulled in now at 9:45 and am pretty tired.  I have another big day out tomorrow in the field but will have a chance to come back to the office in the middle of the afternoon before heading to Lathrop and perhaps Modesto at 5.  We will see.

I am so grateful to God's leading throught the latest crisis, of course it is only started but at least I have good professional help all around and that helps a great deal.  I've appreciated calls so much today from both my children and from my brother and Art.  Turns out today would have been Nan and my 40th wedding anniversary.  Since they reminded me I've thought quite a bit about the blessing of our years together.

Good night all

Love

tim

Rough night, rough day

Remind me again why I do this job?  Oh thats right, for the money!  Getting rich yet, well no, not yet.

I managed to stay asleep until about 1 am when the problem that is looming over me professionally woke me and that was that.  Finally I gave up and came down and started working on the documents I needed to prepare and submit.  I worked until 3:45 when I finally felt I had a corner on the process and went back to bed, turned off the AC and enjoyed a couple hours before I was awake again.  I literally stumbled down to the office and work more until about 11 when I finally was able to submit my work and try to move on to other things, but there were so many things to deal with, totally overwhelming and I'm still feeling it tonight.  I can understand why people have nervous breakdowns, things get so intense and there is no escape, no help, so "out".  Oh yes I have prayed, last night, during the night, this morning but things remain awful.

The one bright spot came this afternoon when Keanna came at 3 so her daddy could go see a house. Then at 4 I took her to where her mom works and went on to Tracy to do an appraisal.  It felt good to get out and I even went to CostCo, got water, toilet paper (guests coming you know), bread and paper for the office, $24 instead of $64 at Staples!  I'm learning.

Well now its time to give up and go to bed.  I've been nearly dead on my feet for hours and its overwhelming now.

Love to all and please include a prayer for guidance and peace for me.

Tim

Long day, short night

I almost forgot you, so busy cranking out reports.

Today I've seen 6 properties that were in Pittsburg, Danville, Dublin, Newark and Livermore.  The day made great sense, I think God helped me lay out the day as it really worked well.  Met some sweet people along the way.

Once I got home I had to check on the motorhome to see if Jim was all set to go on his trip with his buddies.  Looks like everything is coming together for that one and he will leave in the morning.

In the morning I have to write a letter that just might be one of the most important writing jobs I ever do.  Its in defense of something I did last fall and there are questions by the lender about it so I get to try my best to explain what I did what I did.  Been working on it, getting help from others for a couple weeks, Now its time to write, no more putting it off.

Thanks to Steve I've been able to ship a couple reports out that were needed badly, that is so helpful.

Well my friend Karen in the middle of America would appreciate our prayers for her dear brother who had heart surgery today, came through great but they would still appreciate our remembering him and her too.

So having said this I say, love to all

Tim

Strange day

A day of contrasts, mostly I've just kept cool writing reports after a brisk walk this morning.  When I went out to the car and headed to my dinner appointment this evening I was shocked to see the temp read 100.
The dinner time was great with my friend, what a find and what a pleasure to be with.

So I have little to report other than several reports are out and gone after a long days of working.  I've been pretty good today about not snacking and for that I'm thankful.  But I find its time for CostCo, out of water, paper both of which are available at CostCo for a decent price.

Tomorrow I see 5 properties or is it six?  Should keep me busy as I race from place to place, so thankful for work but still find it stressful to try to keep up.

Please pray that God will guide me through some rough times professionally right now.

Thanks and God bless each of you.

Love

tim

Sticking to the job

Dear Family and Friends,
Today was one of those days when disciple ruled over emotion.  I stayed focused and was able to accomplish a lot.  I jumped out of bed and came down, took my blood sugar and then set to work.  Later I went back to the kitchen and tried out my new omelet microwave cooking dish.  Not bad but I was not sure when you close the two sides creating one omelet, anyway the mushrooms, olives and eggs tasted great.  Along with a banana that was breakfast.
For lunch I made things that were light and tasty, then back to work. At one point I had to go out to shoot local photos and I went to Starbucks but this time had iced coffee with no sugar and no fat, I nursed it all afternoon and it was nice.
This evening I cut a baked potato in half, it was just too large, baked it and some mushrooms, added some salad and enjoyed a tasty meal with not too many carbs.

Been working on a huge challenge that I've got to deal with and getting some appraisals out as well today.  Ray and Lois had family come visit and they were kind enough to carry my boat back to the water, I really appreciate that and of course they tested it out on the lake and it worked fine.  I just love to see and hear happy people, families.

We are anxiously awaiting word from Dana that she is on her way, hope everything works out so they can come, will be nice to see them, family once again will rule.

Ken has called and urged me to walk with him in the morning so I'm heading to bed now.

Love to all and I certainly would appreciate your prayers as I make my way through this maze of work and life.

Tim

Kallie goes to church

When I arrived Steve had her fed and ready to go.  She was ready to head to church and sang God Bless America as we drove, at least I think that was the song.  She certainly does things her own way in Sabbath School but she enjoyed all the other children and then at the end got to celebrate her 4th birthday and we all sang to her.  She picked a little gift that she loves.

After lunch we went home where I turned her back over to her dad, Nikki and Keanna were at a swim meet all morning, Keanna is getting pretty good at it and learning a lot, gaining strength and power in her strokes.

So now its bed time and I'm ready.  I have a day that has much too much to complete tomorrow but with God's help I'll do everything I can to meet the needs of my clients.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Wow life is exciting

If you like really long days then it is exciting.  I left this morning at 7 after climbing out at 6, I drove to Rio Vista to see a little place, then across to American Canyon to see a larger place, a strange thing was a circular staircase by the outside of the back wall.  I went up the staircase and found a small platform about 3 x 4 feet which allowed for a fleeting view of the distant delta, that was it, no second story, nothing, just that tiny little platform, very strange what people do!

Then I drove to Richmond to see a house I inspected a couple months ago.  What a huge difference.  Now its perfect in every way, beautiful job of updating, what a crew, I'm so proud of their work.

Then to find lunch, I found a Strings and had soup and salad, then back on the road to Orinda where I inspected a really terrific place which backs to huge redwood trees, lots of wild life and a quiet setting that felt like Tahoe. 

I then drove back to Discovery Bay and turned my car to Milpitas where I got to have dinner with Jason, Jo and the kiddos.  It was nice.

Now at 10:30 I'm home and very ready to head to bed.  Hundreds of safe miles, many homes seen and I'm thankful for God's blessings.

Love to all

Tim

To tired to move............

So here I am sitting at my desk, its 8:15 and I'm too tired to move.

I started this morning at 6:15 and came down to work.  I set up orders, did research and prepared for the day ahead.  At 1:30 I left to see a place in Antioch, it was two story and huge but thats OK.  After that I headed for Danville and when I knocked at the front door a cute little face looked at me through the window but no one answered the door.  No wanting to frighten the child if the parent was NOT at home I went to sit in my car, then I went back to knocked again, no answer and no little girl.  So in desperation I called the owner and she did not know what to do, thought the renter was going to be there.
So I left and shot photos of the comparables and came back, knocked and rang, no answer, called the owner and eventually she called back to tell me she had reached the renter who said when she came to the door there was no one there so she went to dinner!  So now in the face of having to see about 10 other reports I have to go back to see this one.  NOT FUN.

My board is totally full and the orders keep coming in.  Amazing and I get to be in Rio Vista at 8 am in the morning to see a house.  Just what I wanted to do!  Oh well Sabbath is coming and I am so ready.  This time last week I was driving to Lake McSwain.  Oh how I wish I was on the way out of town this time but its not to be.

I'm not sure how to deal with all this success, way more than I can handle and STeve had his own 8 orders to work with.  Crazy times and I hear other appraisers are slammed too.

So good night all,  love to each and every one of you.

Tim

Such a great time of year

Perhaps I love this time of the year so much since it reminds me of August in Washington State where I was born and grew up.  Long summer days on our 80 acre farm were filled with walks through the huge garden, riding on the tractor, playing in the dirt and walking across the hay fields or playing in the barn.  Even on hot summer days it rarely rose above 75 degrees and there was rain fairly often even in the summer.

So our spring here is like my childhood summer and it is pleasant, to sleep with the windows open and under a simple blanket, the same blanket that I have used so many times in the past when I was near Nan, its a simple pink blanket and has served well.

Todays highlight was having Keanna come visit.  This creative kid decided to write a book today, to then create a cover and make copies.  Very clever and the story is one she thought up and wrote herself.  Tomorrow is her last day of school and she is sad, she loves her teacher so much and loves learning.  What a great experience our local school has been with caring teachers and lots of parent involvement.

This afternoon Kallie and her mom came to pick up Keanna, they did some picking up of things in the living room in anticipation of Dana's visit, we hope it happens soon.

I'm just back from seeing property in Stockton, nicely updated and attractive.  Now to finish one more report and then to bed.  I have the most orders I've had at one time in the last 3 years and I'm feeling the stress of it all.  I have way more work than I can do in a timely manner so the emails and phone calls are constant.  I'm seeing the market turn rapidly with little inventory, that means few homes on the market, and many buyers bidding on every home that comes on the market.  Here we go, at least I hope so.

Love to all

Tim

Marathon

Dear Family and Friends,

Great day, busy, tight schedule all day, 5 under my belt.

1) 6 acre horse property near Danville, huge covered arena, about 4,500 sf of living areas, new pool, country living.
2) burned out two story home needing everything, dark, scary inside, investor plans to dump $35K into it and resell, interesting experience.
3) Normal little house that is being sold to a family that is homeless, for $265,000!
4) Large Pleasanton home which experienced a grass fire that came to the back of the property, you could still smell the burnt ground and grass.  Nice people
5) Pleasanton home with pebbletec pool, mature palm trees, every room decorated with tropic these, little tiki huts, plush vegetation everywhere, beautiful.

Now I'm off to bed.  Got 6 text messages from new "friend" who has been cleaning out her home after losing her husband.  He liked to collect lots of things.  She and her son have been working non stop for weeks and making progress now.  Nice to hear.

Good night and I'm thankful for a safe day, been in lots of neighborhoods, think at least 6 comparables to be located for each appraisal so that is at least 30 addresses I had to locate today plus the subject of each appraisal.  Thank goodness for the GPS.

Love to all,

Tim

Back in the saddle

Well from last Friday and its 100 degrees where one just had to fall in the cool lake water to be really comfortable to measuring two homes in the rain today, contrasts, is this our idea of seasons?

Actually I spend a couple hours getting everything out of the motorhome yesterday evening and then hit the hay for a short night.  Ken is back and ready to rumble so we walked this morning.  It was good and the air got colder as we walked.

My first one was at 10 in Concord, totally renewed older home selling at the top of the market with multiple offers.  Then it was on to Fremont where I saw another updated older home.  It was selling for almost twice as much, was on a busy street and was much smaller.  Location means value, no way around it.

This has a day of facing some work challenges, some quite serious so your prayers would be appreciated.

I'm thankful for so many things, people, ideas, beliefs, opportunities.

Love to all

Tim

ps seeing 5 tomorrow and the times are right, what a rush!

The weekend was great

Having just spent the weekend with the greatest church family in the world its  a bit hard to come back to an empty home. 

However coming home to see Kallie celebrate turning 4 was incredible.  This lovely little kiddo had the time of her life getting her hair done, having it touched with sparkles, eating cupcakes, blowing out a candle, what fun she had.  Nikki looked great and was the proud mother of these two incredible little girls.  Keanna was all about helping and was a great big sister.  What fun.

When I last wrote I was leaving for the weekend.  The motorhome home behaves extremely well, everything worked including the AC which was needed on Friday when it touched 100 degrees or close.  The food was great, the chance to catch up with people, the inspiration of some of the people who have changed their eating habits and their willingness to share their secrets, the fun of sharing the motorhome with the Deans.  Being out on the water last evening chasing the elusive fish, just getting away to nature with no phones, no computers, no complaints from clients.  Wow what a nice break.

On Sat night I went over to Ron's motorhome where he demonstrated making popcorn in the microwave using just pop corn, no oil, no butter and after he got through with his seasoning it was incredible.  Then he showed me his Latte machine, talk about good!

Headed home at 10:45 today and arrived two hours later, I think the trip took about 21 gallons of fuel and there were no sudden stops, no problems, it just drove down the road smoothly.  Even the dash AC worked perfectly and since I was listening to a book on the ipod the trip went very fast.

While I was gone Nikki did a lot of work rearranging things and helped a lot in getting ready for Dana and family who will come next week.  Thanks Nikki for your great help.

Well now its time to head to bed.  Motorhome is all cleared out and put away and doing that takes some time to be sure but worth it all.  Got to find a way to do that more often, get out of town and enjoy nature either by the coast or the mountains or by a lake.  Its good.

Love to all and thanks Tracy for being so incredible.

Love

tim