Striving to create a better life for everyone by sustainably solving real estate problems

(512) 807-8777

Category Archives: Fun

Independence Day Hello

This holiday montage from 6 years ago shows Lee’s dad, having reached financial independence and doing what he loved.

Howdy from Texas! We’re taking the Independence Day holiday off for some family and friends fun and relaxation, but we wanted to wish all our readers a good day, too. We hope the Canadians had a good day earlier in the week, too. We know we have readers from all over the world, and we are very grateful.

We are also very grateful for your social media shares, too. I spent much of yesterday trying to get those little buttons at the ends of posts to work better, and yay! They do! So share and people will see it.

Independence is important. We wish for all of you financial independence and the ability to work toward your real estate dreams, or whatever you’re aiming for. When times are tough, we want to keep going and make the state, the country, and the world a place where we can all set and achieve goals.

Have a great holiday!

Hermann says please like and share!
1Shares

New Siding at Lady Rattlesnake and New Doorknobs at the Office!

Hey everybody out there in blog land! Boy howdy, have I been super busy lately! We open Dorothy in Wonderland this Friday at Milam Community Theater as our summer youth production. I’m the technical director and designer on that, and man it has been a blast!

Sue Ann has come with me and gotten pictures of us trying to figure out where to put the set. We have some great kids in the cast and helping me on tech and a great team of volunteers to tie the ends! Plus there’s my day job, which has really picked up the pace, but it has been a whole lot easier to keep up with since the installation of our new planning and scheduling system. With anything new, it takes some time to get used to it, and to learn about it, but as the days go on I see that I am more and more thankful for it! It is so much easier to keep up with what’s going on when I can look at it in an online planner rather than calling Lee, Sue Ann, or someone else 30 times to get reminders on what we were working on and my role in it.

Which Brings us to Siding!

Check out that big lift! It’s a very tall house! The lift I use at the theater is only about half that size. Kudos to them going up in that thing! I sure wouldn’t do it!

See? Water is just destructive! Bad old rotten wood!

Siding repairs are having to be done out there at my little piece of Texas, The Lady Rattlesnake. We had a bad storm that came through several months ago and it really did a number on the siding. When the adjuster came out, we found out that the siding had not been secured properly around the windows, so the wind just grabbed it and ripped it almost completely off. One side of the house’s siding would just flap in the breeze. Thanks to our insurance agent, Cody, and his Choice Builders crew, my Lady Rattlesnake is getting a much needed face-lift!

And Oh! Ain’t she lovely! Once the old siding was pulled off, Cody found a lot of rotten wood from where the siding had been loose enough around the windows to let rain in. That made us really sad, but that is getting fixed as well. I am very happy with the progress and this side will be finished today or tomorrow. They are sure working hard on getting it done. I really appreciate that!

Continue reading →

Hermann says please like and share!
0Shares

On Being Paternal

Sending appreciation to my fatherly teammates.

I just wanted to take a break from hyper focus on real estate to salute Russell, the only member of our team who’s a biological father, and to Lee, who has helped raise three stepsons. I’ve learned a lot watching the two of them over the past decade-plus, as Sierra Mangum, my two sons, and Lee’s adult stepson have grown into having adult issues and moved out into the world. Talking to Russell about his daughter has always been a joy to me; he wants the best for her and will do anything to be there for her. Lee has encouraged both of my boys in their passions, especially the musician, with whom he has that passion in common.

Will these guys stop being paternal? Nope. But, none of us (even non-fathers) stop being paternal, I think. Those new investors we mentor, the prospective home sellers we counsel,  and all the people who turn to  us for wisdom and advice benefit from “fatherly” impulses within us.

The cover photo to Lees upcoming book, which isnt written yet.

While I certainly do think of Lee’s and my late fathers as the primary father figures in my life, I think back on others who’ve shaped me by listening, providing advice, but then giving me the chance to go out and prove myself. They hold a special place in my heart and mind.

An organization I used to work for focused on mothers, and maternal acts of love and service, but maintained that the father’s role is equally important. I think they had a good point, though I’ve seen many different kinds of relatives, friends, and acquaintances in this “fatherly” role.

Russell, thinking about his next book topic.

Whether it’s in your role as a real estate redeveloper, or in some other part of your life, treasure those who shape you and encourage you to test your wings in the big, wide world. And thank them, today or any day! Shoot, thank them every day if  you want to. It won’t hurt one bit.

Hermann says please like and share!
0Shares

A Short Respite

Why no blog posts for a few days? Lee and I (and Anita) fled the state of Texas and drove to central Florida with the goal of taking a real break. So many of our travels are work related that we just needed to rest and refresh.

Construction as far as the eye can see.

Of course we have had some real estate observations. How much the Orlando area has grown shocked me. I know Austin has done the same thing in the last 20 years, but I didn’t get the same shocking impression there, because I’ve been there.

It used to be solid greenery, with a few lakes, out here.

Here, I clearly recall there being nothing but trees out here in the area close to the giant attractions. Now I can sort of see some trees way off in the distance from up here on the 14th floor.

We’re staying at a condo at a resort, mainly so we can see some friends. We’ve come to the conclusion that the designers chose the furniture mainly for the way it will look in photos, not for usability.

Not exaggerating here. This truly is the most poorly designed and uncomfortable chair any of us have tried to sit it. Even Swampy the gator is sore.

That’s a good lesson to learn in our business, too. Don’t just renovate a house to look good. Make it work well, too!

Hermann says please like and share!
0Shares

Frustration and a Fun Find

For now, the copier make a nice decorative accessory.

Sometimes frustration can lead to something good, so I always make it a point to look for a silver lining. Here’s how it worked last Friday.

Lee and Kathleen are planning to start a new business, which we’d run out of the Hermit Haus building. Because of that, we will need another office (there’s some regulation about it). So, we knew we’d have to convert at least one, if not both of our storage areas into offices when we do the remodel. In that case, where will I keep all my seasonal decorations (only I would ask that question first)? Where will we store excess office supplies, table cloths, and stuff for the event venue?
Continue reading →

Hermann says please like and share!
0Shares