Author Archives: Fran Hart

About Fran Hart

Disciple of Christ, earning a living as the director of US-based operations for a Taiwanese company, managing an engineering organization while carving out time to write. Wife, Mother, Grandmother.

Separate ways

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Fran Hart

We met during our fifteenth year, immediately inseparable, soul mates, imagining life eternally together. But youthful ideals are impractical. After we graduated, ambition, a greater divider than geography, widened a gulf between us. The year I started college, she married. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Almost there

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Fran Hart

Before: After: No, it’s not “done” done, but it’s darn close. Unfortunately, life demands will keep us away for a few days, but our agent put the sign up in the yard and told us if he gets any calls … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Flipping Houses, Rehab | 6 Comments

4 weeks into rehab

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Fran Hart

Four weeks ago today we acquired this flip house. Or flippin’ house. I am feeling much more empathy for the folks on reality TV who find themselves embroiled in this quagmire of endless to-do’s and decisions. The situation and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Flipping Houses, Real Estate, Rehab | 2 Comments

Nothing left to talk about

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Fran Hart

“Have a seat; put your feet up. You can sit and talk with me while I paint.” Marsha’s offer to her husband of 40 years was sincere, as was his rebuff. “Why would I do that? What’s to talk about?” … Continue reading →

Posted in 100 words | 14 Comments

Hard work, hard work, hard work

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Fran Hart

We’ve been painting and putting in tile and cleaning and watering the foundation and the lawn (and pulling weeds), pruning bushes, and taking care of business (getting the A/C checked, ordering a new garage door). The water bill came yesterday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Flipping Houses, Real Estate | 2 Comments

Rehab, not flipping

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Fran Hart

I need to remember that what we are doing now is “rehab”. The flip refers more to the real estate transactions. We’re in the ugly, gory part of the process, where there is a lot of sweating and occasional swearing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Real Estate | 2 Comments

House flipping: kitchen, carpets and bathroom

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Fran Hart

Yesterday Mr. H and I put in about 13 hours. Today we put in about 5. While he puttered around with stripping linoleum, prepping new doors and modifying the kitchen cabinets for the new microwave (all are still works-in-progress), I … Continue reading →

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House flipping: on the job training

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Fran Hart

Our first full day of labor began with, of course, a surprise. After unloading all of our supplies at the flip-house, Mr. H and I got busy. I took the initiative to work on removing paint from the door hinges … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Real Estate | 1 Comment

Flipping houses: Time to get this project rolling

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Fran Hart

Almost everything we know about flipping houses, we learned from TV. Fortunately we have a realtor who graciously gives us advice and encouragement. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still surprises. On Monday we closed on our first “flip house”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Flipping, Real Estate | 3 Comments

Despair

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Fran Hart

From the depth of her being she knew she had to escape. She wanted to believe her situation couldn’t get worse, but she knew better. She’d survived this long by paying attention to the signs and trusting her intuition. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 100 words, Fiction | 6 Comments