Saturday, 20th August 2022
Jamie saw the number of his real estate agent and ducked out of the house, heading into the front garden to answer.
"Hi, Will."
"The owners of the house in Richmond Green do not want to sell," Will said after exchanging pleasantries.
"What?" Jamie asked.
"We offered over value, offered to take the construction off their hands, but they were very clear, they will not be selling."
Jamie sat down on the bench he'd put in the front yard. "He won't sell?"
"No."
"Fuck."
"I know you really want that house, but I'll look around for other options."
"No," Jamie said. "No, it was that house specifically."
"I'll keep my ear out in case anything changes."
"Thanks."
"Are you still wanting to go ahead with the search for a place to build some low-income housing in Manchester?"
"Yes, thanks."
"I've also reached out to an agent in Spain regarding your interest in buying something there. Are you sure you want to go for such a little town."
"I am," Jamie said.
"They don't tend to like to sell to people who want to set up Air BnB's."
"I'm not," Jamie said. "I'm planning on using it for holidays and I loved the village, nothing touristy."
"I'll get back in touch when I have found out more about the house you mentioned. Renovations in Spain, especially in a small town, can be tricky if you're not Spanish."
"I know a guy who knows a guy."
"Okay, sorry about the Richmond house, talk soon."
"Bye, Will."
"Fuck!" Jamie hung up and then yelled up at the black alder tree above him.
"You okay, mate?" John asked, startling him.
"Yeah, sorry, bad news but it's all good."
"Can you come in and look at this moulding in the bedroom?"
"Yeah," Jamie stood up and followed John into the house and up to the master bedroom. The moulding was installed around the door frames and windows. It looked good but would look even better when they were able to paint.
"Traditionally the moulding would go here," Nigel said, holding the moulding up with their expert helping him.
"But," Ben, their expert said, "looking at the wall dimensions I think we should go up a bit, maybe 50mm and that would really work with the lines in here. Downstairs roof is taller so we can keep the same ratio down there and use the traditional height."
Jamie nodded and stood back, looking at the moulding, he turned and looked towards the bathroom and turned to look at the door behind him before turning back. "Let's do it."
Ben and Nigel nodded.
"Thanks," Jamie said. "I'm going down into the backyard to start weeding."
Jamie smiled at them and walked downstairs to work some of his frustration out on the weeds in the back yard.
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