Haunted House Flipper

Chapter 17

I couldn't understand why Claire didn't want to get started on the job right away like I did. She said she was excited about it. Looking back now I can see that she was just being normal, not like an overworked super stressed out realtor like me. I always worked as fast as I could to get everything done incase a client became a buyer so I could move on an opportunity right away. That's how realtors are. You never know when a client is going to become a buyer or just one more person you'll never hear from again. She had asked me a question, but I was throwing a mini tantrum inside so I forgot what it was.

"What?" I asked.

"I said you really like to rush things don't you?"

"Well we have the day, so I thought we might as well not waste it."

"What's going on dude? I'm glad you're excited, but this is a little crazy."

She laid on that genuine smile of hers while she said it. It kind of broke me out of my anger funk.

"I know it's crazy, but I just really thought we could get a lot done today. Time is money."

"Yes, but I really should do a bid on all the work before we get started. Seriously, you seem way more stressed than before. What's going on?"

"Yeah. About that. I kind of quit my realtor job and I only have so much savings to live off of and fund this renovation project. So, I kind of feel really motivated to get this house sold as soon as possible."

"Wow. Seriously?"

"Yep."

"Bold move dude."

Her smile was back.

"Thanks."

I couldn't fight against her smile. It cut right through my black little grinch heart and made me halfway normal.

"Okay you've got to stop freaking out. Can you do that?" Claire asked.

I nodded.

"Okay. Now that I know where you're coming from I can see why you're so stressed to get this done. What are you going to do after you get this place sold?"

"I was thinking I'd find another haunted house that no one else will buy, get rid of the evil spirit that haunts it, renovate it, and then sell it for a huge profit."

"That is actually a pretty awesome plan."

"Thanks. I've always dreamed of being a house flipper, but a haunted house flipper could make a whole lot more money."

"And save a lot of properties and hopefully help people in the process."

I didn't have anything to say to that, but my anger had slipped away as my excitement for my blossoming career floated above my head like a bright balloon full of my hopes and dreams.

"Wow. I can tell you're really pumped about it. Sounds like you found your pot at the end of the rainbow," Claire said.

"Yeah. I hope so. First I have to fix up this place and convince someone to buy it."

"Well let's get started on that bid so I can give you an idea of what this is going to cost you."

She looked up at the house.

"I guess we can do it without the power turned on. Gotta flashlight?" she asked.

"Yeah I do. Listen, do you think you could do that while I go and get the paperwork ready for Mr. Pennwater to sign?"

"You haven't even drawn up the paperwork yet?"

I raised an eyebrow and shrugged my shoulder.

"Look man. There's no way I'm going in there without the power on alone. That demon like just left here!"

"Oh he won't be back."

"I sure hope you're as right about that as you were about this place. It is gorgeous. It has incredible potential. I can see what you see in it and I haven't even been inside. This house is going to have crazy curb appeal when we're done with it. It's going to be the most beautiful property in the neighborhood, but right now it's creepy. Like, could not possibly be any creepier kind of creepy," Claire said.

She looked from the house to me.

"So you're coming in there with me, and you better have that sword drawn just in case."

"Please? I promise it's gone. You'll be fine."

She crossed her arms.

"Either come with me or get the power switched on and we can come back and do it then.".

"No, no! I've got a flashlight. I've got the sword. Let's do it now."

I got the flashlight and handed it to Claire. We stood there for a second looking up at the massive edifice in front of us. The wind blew ripples through the tall grass and weeds making it look like the yard was alive. We walked toward the side of the house.

"Whoa, nice statue. An angel?"

"Or a demon," I muttered under my breath.

"What's that?"

"Yep. An angel."

I didn't want to freak her out any more. I could tell she was getting more nervous with every step.

"Oh I heard what you said. Thanks for that. Angel or Demon it's not helping make this place less creepy. Does it get better or worse?" Claire asked.

"There's more of those things in the back yard."

"Great. So worse."

"Yep."

We walked around to the back of the house. Claire walked up to the exterior wall.

"This might take more than a little pressure wash," she said.

"Why? What's up?"

She pulled a huge flathead screwdriver out of a cargo pocket and started scraping the paint on the bricks.

"Yep. The rest of the house should be fine to clean but this will take more work."

"More than a fresh coat of paint?" I asked.

"Yeah. See here where I scraped? There's a lime based white wash on these bricks underneath. We'll have to lay down canvas and collect all this paint and seal it. It can't get into the soil, so we'll have to haul it away in drums."

"Seriously?"

"Yep. Part of the lead abatement process,"

"That sounds like a headache," I said.

"It's really not that bad. I've done it before on other old houses. This is a lot of wall though," Claire said running her eyes down the back wall of the house.

I followed her gaze. It must have been almost as wide as a football field. Probably not really one hundred yards, but it sure seemed like it.

"So then we can just add new paint after that?" I asked.

She chipped away at the corner of one of the bricks with her massive screw driver.

"These are some old bricks. We really should put some fiber cement coating on them as a conditioner. That will seal and stabilize them."

"Sounds like a good idea. Then the paint?"

"Yeah. Then a coat of primer and a finish coat of paint. It will take a while but it's not hard. Let's hope there's nothing structurally wrong with this place."

"As far as I can tell it's in great shape."

Claire looked back at the statues of angels in the back yard.

"Yep. It's getting creepier," she said. "Now let's go inside where it'll be nice and dark and recently inhabited by a demon."

I shook my head and tried not to laugh as I opened the back door. As we went inside she walked a little closer to me. I lead the way, hoping she would get scared and run up and hold onto me.