Out of the house, yard sale done!

We have now moved out of the house and are staying with friends in Buckhead for our remaining 30 days in the states. We were able to get around $400 for various pieces of junk, clothes, computer parts and accessories, and a few books. The rest is being picked up by the Salvation Army tomorrow. I met a Congolese ecomomist at the yard sale. He was our best customer. I very nice man, woman and three childred. He told us interesting stories of how things were just as normal as they were that day of the yard sale and then people knocked on their door and asked if they were born in the particular area of the Congo where they were living. If you did not, you were asked to leave immediately. If you did not, then you were beaten, and they killed the family dog. So he taught economics at Columbia and lived in New York for the past 6 years. he now teaches at Emory. He and I have an appointment tomorrow at 9am, and he may buy my car. That means I need to clean it up today.

So we have transferred what we think we need for the remaining 30 days of fall in the states and what we think we will bring to Argentina to our friend's apartment in Buckhead. We may have gotten a little over zealous. We barely have room to sleep in the room now. We packed too much. I brought over about 50 pairs of socks for some reason and Fran brought about 35 sweaters. IT IS GOING TO BE SUMMER IN ARGENTINA FOR CHRIST SAKE. And I will bring my sock total down to about 10 pair, as I am sure they are not too expensive in Argentina.

It is nice at the apratment. There is a nice courtyard that has huge oak trees that have spread their great arms wide to catch the sunlight. Makes for great shade, and the morning sun in the east makes it pleasant for coffee in the mornings. The surrounding neighborhood is very affluent and there are nice manicured lawns to go along with the beautiful homes along my jogging route. I plan to be in top shape for my arrival in Buenos Aires. Eat well and exercise is all I know to do.

We still have quite a list of things to do before we leave: shots, supplemental insurance, RENT THE LOFT, find travel accomodations to Monzonia Mexico to see friends, learn more Spanish, finish the transfer of business to associates, have our Bon Voyage party on the 19th of October, etc.

Anyway, must get busy getting our house renter settled and my car cleaned for tomorrow.

Packing and yard sale prep

Man, we almost have the whole house packed up! I have been putting boxes and furniture in the attic for a week. I think I am actually shorter now. On the positive, we have had good, cool weather so it is not so hot in the attic while moving stuff.

I am having our yard sale of all the non essential stuff we own at a client's house to try to help them de-clutter their home too because it is for sale. We are having a combo yard sale/ open house. We hope someone shows up to buy a baby crib and walks away with a contract on the house, or they show up to see the house and walk away with a ping pong table.

It should be big fun. It is from 8am to 2 pm this Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and 28th.

What? You want an example of the things for sale? Sure, check it out:

Home For Sale:

4 bedroom, 2 ½ baths, four sides brick with granite foundation and full basement, huge, fenced back yard, deck off the basement, two fireplaces, great location, quiet street.

Yard sale items:

ping pong table, oak chest of drawers and black chest of drawers, large canopy tent, chests, chairs and folding chairs, home theater system, games and videos, lamps, nic naks, coffee makers, computer and flat screen monitor, scanner, laptop, books, planters, 6 disc cd player, vcr, wicker baskets, microwave and much more…rain or shine!

baby items: clothes, pack and play, highchair, stroller, car seat, toys, dining chair, baby crib with mattress and sheets, changing table, toddler gym, “never used” baby toilet.

Check out my helpers in the photo. That is Fran and her mom. They have done a fantastic job pricing things low and packing them up to take to 714 Willivee Drive for the sale. That is in Decatur if you would like to stop by and pick something up on the cheap.

We have to be out of our house on Sunday so the cleaners can do their job on Monday and get our renters moved in ASAP!! Only 5 weeks until we get on that plane for Buenos Aires!!

We will be homeless for a month. But thanks to Jason and Lisa, we won't have to sleep under a bridge. They are welcoming us into their home in Buckhead until we leave.

I still have to go through my clothes and decide what to pack away in the attic, what will go to Lisa and Jason's for the next 30 days, and what will go to Argentina. Should be interesting. I bet Salvation Army gets a big stack too.

I also need to line up some work in Argentina too so we can stay there. We have rented our home for the next year, so why not stay there until we have a place to live upon our return?

Send me a note if you have any job openings in Argentina or want to go to the yard sale!!

Gotta get our loft in Atlanta Rented!!

OK, we are getting down to the wire and need to rent our loft before we leave the country!! It really is a very cool loft in a very artsy area of Atlanta called Castelberry Hill. Way back when it was called "Snake nation" because it was essentially the red light district. Today it has a ton of galleries, restaurants, bars, etc. and is walking distance to great music venues like The Tabernacle and Centennial Park. It is also a short walk to CNN Center, the Georgia Dome for football and Philips arena for Basketball and Hockey. It is ready to move into and goes for $1,400 per month with garage parking and extra parking in a gated area for guests. Check the pics!! 2 beds, 2 baths, 20 foot ceilings and walls of windows, hardwoods, 1600 square feet of living space!

LINK to all the info and pics!!

Freaking out a bit

I booked my flight to Buenos Aires today and paid for the first months lodging and classes today. I have to move out of my house in 17 days. It is now real.

Banking and Cash Flow

My bank actully told me it takes the postal service in Atlanta between one and three weeks to get them their mail. Something is wrong with the postal service and something is wrong with my bank for allowing their mail to take so long!!

Why does it matter? Because we have three rental properties and our tenants were going to mail their rent checks to the bank for deposit each month. Well if the rent is mailed on the 1st but does not get to the bank for deposit until the 21st, then I have a cash flow issue!!!

One of the problems with moving out of the country.

Fran comes home today. We will begin hard core packing of the household items this week. We will also be getting the house in tip top shape, including the yard, gutters, bushes, etc. We will also begin hard core get-in-shape diet and exercise plans. Gotta look and feel good when you are starting over in a new country.

We will be making plans for the yard sale too. I think we will try to coordinate with one of my real estate clients so we can drive some traffic to the house for sale, have an open house, and get it sold at the same time.

We will also have to discuss plans for the Bon Voyage party. Yeah!!

Dealing with cars

Today my friend Jeromy Johnson is coming over to help me get the Lincoln in good shape so we can sell it before we leave. He is doing me such a favor!! He bought a new grill for my car with his own funds and is coming to my house to install it. You simply don't find friends like that very often. After today the Lincoln will be in good shape to sell come mid to late October. I don't expect much from the sale, but it may buy us a month or two rent when we hit Argentina.

Next on the list is packing up most of the dishes and getting them up and in the attic. It is so fun getting the house ready to lease it to complete strangers!!

Getting Started

My first blog as you will see. I am determined to learn how to work and develope this blog so my friends and family can have an idea what Fran and I are doing in Argentina and any other country we visit in South America.

We are flying to Buenos Aires on November 1, 2008. That means we are smack in the middle of preparations to leave our home, friends, family and business in Atlanta. We have to vacate our home on Oct. 1 so our renters can move in. They are renting our home for 1 year, we have a family renting our farm in Dawsonville for 3 years, and I need to get a renter for my loft close to CNN center.

I have been cleaning out the attic so we can store our persononal items, pictures, dishes, and some furniture inside while we are gone. I have a lot of stuff that needs to go in a yard sale. Anyone in Atlanta want to have a yard sale with me?

We have to also find something to do with our cars. Do we sell them or store them for some unknown period? We plan to be gone a minimum of 6 months, but if we find gainful employment or begin a profitable business while out of the country, what do we do then?