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The appraiser scribbles a few more notes on his clipboard before looking up at us. “Bottom line is I doubt you’d get more than a million for the house.”
Cal shrugs. “That’s more than my grandfather paid for the place back when he bought it.”
I glare at him. “There’s no way we are only getting a million for it.”
“You have some serious termite damage, a roof that needs to be completely redone, windows that are fifty years old and desperately in need of being replaced, and enough small renovation jobs to keep a general contractor busy for a whole year.”
“How much would that all cost to fix?” I ask.
“I’m guessing two hundred thousand dollars, give or take on the finishes. Prices can vary if you know some people in contracting that can give you a good deal.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I know some people who would do the job for the cost of supplies if I asked them.” And they would be willing to draw out the entire process for as long as I wanted, which is a win in my playbook.
Cal’s gaze burns into the side of my face. “We’re not going to remodel the house.”
I turn to face him. “Well, we’re not going to put it on the market for a million when most houses around the lake are selling for triple that.”
“Those look like the Ritz compared to this.”
“Then we give this one a little bit of a facelift.”
“With what money?”
I shoot him a look. “Are you pressed for cash all of a sudden?”
He barks out a laugh. “So you expect me to front the money? Of course.”
The appraiser’s eyes bounce between the two of us like he is following a tennis match.
“We can split the costs,” I offer.
“Where will you get those kinds of funds?”
“You can deduct it from my earnings once we sell the place.”Which is never.
If it were anyone else, I’d feel guilty for talking them into this crazy plan, but this is Callahan Kane. His trust fund is padded with enough money to make his great-great-grandkids little baby billionaires one day. Two hundred thousand dollars is nothing for him.
The appraiser shifts his weight from foot to foot. “In theory, she’s right.”Don’t we love to hear it.“The more you invest into a property, the more justified a higher listing price is. Remodeling a unique house like this would increase the profit margin significantly. Especially since there are lots of people searching for turn-key vacation homes in the surrounding towns.”
I gesture toward the appraiser. “See?”
Cal rubs his stubbled jaw. “Since when do you care about profits? I thought you didn’t want to even sell the place.”
“I’m thinking about the future, Callahan. I know it’s hard but try to keep up with me.”
His nostrils flare. “Iamthinking about the future. It’s just that my version happens to be a realistic one.”
“Can we sell the house for more than suggested?” I ask.
Mr. Thomas’s gaze swings between the two of us. “Technically speaking, yes. Since the house is paid off and doesn’t carry a mortgage, you can sell it for any price.”
“That’s not a real answer,” Cal grumbles.
“Just because it isn’t the answer you want to hear doesn’t make it any less real.” I place my hands on my hips and stare him down.
Cal ignores me as he turns back toward the appraiser. “How much increase are we talking?”
The man flips through the pages attached to his clipboard. “If you fix the glaringly obvious issues I found with the place, then you can possibly get an extra million out of it.”
