Page 19 of Tinsel & Tools
I shook the railing and inspected it further. “Yeah, it’s a safety hazard. The posts are rotted, the rail’s loose, and if someone leans wrong, they’ll end up on the ground. Tomorrow, we’ll demo it, and you’ll have to use the back door to get in and out, but my dad and I should be able to get a new one built in a few days once we have the lumber.”
Allie tilted her head, already eyeing the width of the porch. “When we rebuild, we could make it wider. Big enough for rocking chairs, maybe some planters.”
“Yeah,” Gavin agreed. “I like that idea.”
“You draw it up, we’ll see what fits.” I made a note on my clipboard. “Let’s move inside,” I said, pushing the front door open.
The entryway smelled of dust and must. Wallpaper peeled at the edges, and a stain spread faintly near the corner of the ceiling. I pointed it out with the end of my pencil.
“Leak?” Gavin asked.
“Could be from the bathroom upstairs, could be a supply line. I’ll have a plumber check it. If it isn’t the plumbing, we’ll look at the flashing on the roof.” I jotted it down and moved into the dining room, checking the first outlet I came to.
Right away, I could see that it was two prongs with no ground, and I knew the whole house was more than likely wired the same way. For a place that hosted guests, I wanted proper grounds for every outlet.
“I’ll want to change out the outlets to have grounds to make it safer for guests. After I check the electrical panel, I’ll have a better assessment and determine if I need to rewire anything. We should probably tear all the plaster down and hang drywall instead. It makes it easier to patch whatever holes need to be covered.”
Gavin’s eyes widened. “The whole bed and breakfast?”
“Drywall is cheaper and won’t take nearly as long as having to hire skilled plasterers. My dad and I should be able to do the drywall.”
Allie tapped her pencil against her notebook. “Okay, I’ll need to plan for new fixtures and paint.”
We moved into the kitchen. Cabinet doors sagged on loose hinges, and the floor near the sink showed signs of warping.
“This room’s going to need more than new wiring,” I stated. “Once it’s opened up, we’ll have the plumber check the lines and drains.”
Gavin rubbed the back of his neck. “That sounds expensive.”
“It is. But once it’s done, you won’t have to touch it again for years.”
“Or hopefully ever,” he said under his breath as we moved into the back hall.
We headed upstairs. Each of the six bedrooms had worn carpet and cracked plaster. In one room, the floor dipped near the window beneath a wall unit with its own thermostat. I pressed my boot down and felt it give.
“Water damage. It could be an old leak; could be the unit’s not draining right. A plumber needs to check it.”
“Anyone else seeing dollar signs or just me?” Gavin grumbled.
I cracked a grin. “Once we get this place in top condition, you’ll have people booking it every night and money will start rolling in.”
“Promise?”
I nodded. “Promise.”
I flipped the bathroom fan on, and it rattled without pulling any air. “Something’s off with the venting. It could be dumping into the attic instead of outside. I’ll trace it and run it outside with a proper cap.”
“This is turning into so much more than I thought it would be.” Gavin sighed.
“It’s probably why Old Man Price never bothered.” I lifted a shoulder.
“Nope. He just dumped it on his son, who happened to die before him, and now I'm stuck with it.”
“But just think about what Cole said. Once it’s fixed up”—Allie patted his back—“we can make it like a mini-Kellerman’s.”
“Like Dirty Dancing?” Gavin asked.
“Hell, yeah.” She beamed. “With a hot dance instructor and all.”
