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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    After my 3+ month stay at my luxury bubble in NY I will be unable to even be in a house where they rip up the carpet or any such thing for a year. I won't be able to do anything other than live in a germ free environment. This means loads will have to be done cleaning up here but I won't be involved.... I'll be in the hospital....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    I wold stay from California if I were you because Spanish is all you hear.

    But, why should they bother learning English? We cater to them by printing eveything in Spanish for them. My stepdad was a Driver's License Examiner and at the age of 55, they MADE him learn basic spanish.

    Seems like it should have been the other way around!


    I agree -- and I speak Spanish! It pisses me off too. A good friend from college was from Miami. He was born here, but his parents came from Cuba. His Mom had been in the US for over 20 years and didn't speak any English!!! :sick:
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,353
    I just don't understand that. She must have learned some, right? But just refused to use it?

    in 20 years, just by hearing stuff, I would think you would be darn near fluent whether you wanted to be or not!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    You'd certainly pick up a lot just by listening. You could tell that my grandmother still thought in Italian but she understood most English perfectly well.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You'll have a wonderful time on your cruise, and your $1,000+ will be plenty on board the ship. Relax and enjoy yourself. Let us hear all about it when you get back.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Quit worrying about the hospital bills. We have a friend whose hospital stay was $250,000---brain surgery. Right before this, she lost her job which meant that she had no insurance. She told the hospital finance office that she wanted a payment plan of $100 per month because that was all that she could afford. They agreed and it kept the collection agency from her door. As you say, blood from a stone? They actually adjusted her bill by cutting out some of the excess charges, but it wasn't enough to help much. It's been at least five years and she continues to send her $100 per month---an extra $50 when she can. Just think. If you were an illegal alien, you could have it all done for free. ;)

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "I don't have that much sympathy for folks in the southwest and California complaining about Spanish speakers. They live in what used to be Mexico."

    For 35 years, I lived in an area that was one third Native American Indian. Though they were proud of their native language, they still spoke English on a daily basis. My uncle married a sweet lady from Yugoslavia in 1937. Her first task was to learn English. She spoke it fluently after a few years. So many others did the same thing. Why not now? I do get a little irritated at times when reading the directions on a box because I suddenly realize that I'm on the "Spanish side" of the box. :mad:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    What am I going to do with you? You casually mention in a post about your trip that you got the hosue in Florida. That kind of news requires a lengthy post filled with exciting details of the sale, the negotiations, why she suddenly decided to do it, etc. It's like a car sales story. You don't just say that you bought a house on this thread. Get with the program and tell us all!

    Hope you're having a good time. :)

    Richard
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,959
    Relax and enjoy yourself.

    Thanks, Richard.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Nobody ever notices you got a new one..."

    They'll notice this roof. This house has always had a tan roof. The new one is Onyx Black because we added black shutters to the windows, black carriage lanterns on the garage, and large black lights to the brick entrance at the bottom of the driveway. The house should have a new look by the end of the week. The roofer called this morning to inform me that they will begin work at 7 AM in the morning---a little early to begin hearing the sound of hammers!

    Richard
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,718
    .. I've read dozens of stories over the years, about young baseball players from Latin American countries, learning English by watching TV in their off hours..

    But, you could sit me in front of the tube for a solid year, with nothing on but Univision, 24/7, and I wouldn't get the first thing... Unless they use a Spanish word that I already know (cerveza, banos, etc..).

    That would be me, 20 years later in Caracas, saying "no habla Espanol".. :surprise:

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  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Black roof. Good choice. That will really hold teh heat well....

    Well, I've done it and submitted the retirement application. This is just to get the ball rolling. On the 20th I'm back with the doctor. On the 21st I made an appointment with the NJ retirement people to make sure the health coverage doesn't lapse in between and such. If the doctor says at that time that there's no way the transplant will occur before (your date here) I can move the retirement date. It has to be the first of a month.

    This will really screw things up for a while but we'll manage.

    Of course the real fun is they give you eight gazillion options - I could take the maximum option which would be a nice half of what I make now but leave my wife hanging when I'm gone and then 8 or 9 other options with varying checks. Went with the one that keeps paying her afterward which costs me $600 a month in pension to do but she's 8 years younger than me, in much better health and the kids are still quite young. Seems the right thing to do though $600 a month would be a payment on a really nice car which I'd enjoy more than knowing her next husband will be taken care of.....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,331
    But, you could sit me in front of the tube for a solid year, with nothing on but Univision, 24/7, and I wouldn't get the first thing... Unless they use a Spanish word that I already know (cerveza, banos, etc..).

    One nice thing about Univision; they have an internal policy that requires them to show a hot chick with major league cleavage at least once every five minutes...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    You did all that to match your SRX? You must really like it.
    Don't swap it for a pink one anytime soon. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yeah, I don't know if it will ever teach me Spanish but I'm doing my best.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited September 2011
    I hope you have at least learned 'caliente'.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Si!
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Muy Bueno! That's the extent of my Spanish.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    I just don't understand that. She must have learned some, right? But just refused to use it?

    Nope, she didn't speak English. She lived in Miami, in a section full of Cubans. Her daily life was in Spanish, and she didn't work.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    you got the hosue in Florida. That kind of news requires a lengthy post

    We have to catch our flight to Barcelona but you have a good point. The lady decided to sell and we are away in London UK. I'll send more details when we get to Barcelona, we are supposed to have free wi-fi there.

    Gotta go.....................

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • ken117ken117 Member Posts: 249
    Sonic has good drinks which makes it different than McDonalds. I can honestly say, I have not visited a McDonalds in over a decade. Lousy, lousy food and too many yelling kids with parents who seem to have no clue on raising a child. Sort of like Walmart!
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "That will really hold the heat well..."

    I chose the black for a reason. We have lots of pine trees that put black streaks on the tan roof. Pressure washing the roof twice a year wasn't good for the shingles. With the black, I won't have to worry about that. Hopefully, the ridge vent system and the fans will take care of the heat. I suppose that you have trade offs in everythng that you do.

    As for the retirement, I chose the same option that you did in order to provide for my wife. It lessened my monthly check by $800, but I was glad to do it. I don't have to worry about my wife getting married again. She says that it was hard enough training me. ;)

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I would think that you would see plenty of cleavage at work---sitting up high on that judge's bench. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "You did all that to match your SRX?"

    LOL!! I hadn't thought of that. Parking the SRX in front of the house will enhance both of them even more. :D

    Richard
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >We have lots of pine trees that put black streaks on the tan roof.

    Put the zinc or copper strips at the top of each roof portion's highest point. The strip puts a little metal into the rainwater flowing down the roof. The metal stops or slows the growth of the algae or mold causing the black smut.

    http://www.zincshield.com/home.html

    I considered putting a copper wire across the roof in my case to give a heavy metal wash down the roof, but we're replacing our roof due to hail damage. 2nd roofer was to come last night but he didn't show up. He forgot to come.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    edited September 2011
    " I don't have that much sympathy for folks in the southwest and California complaining about Spanish speakers. They live in what used to be Mexico"

    So what? It's been AMERICA for a lot of years now!

    I grew up in a real "melting pot" of a town in So. California. Before the fishing industry died the town attracted a lot of people from Italy, Yugoslavia, Norway and Greece. A lot of people spoke with heavy accents but, you know what?

    They quickly learned ENGLISH! nobody catered to them and they learned English because they wanted to be AMERICANS ann join the Melting Pot!

    They kept their traditions and they cherished their customs but they became part of what made America what it is today.

    This is no longer the case. The old timers are, for the most part, gone and the new immigrants simply don't care anymore. It is out of control.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    You don't just say that you bought a house on this thread. Get with the program and tell us all!

    Good point..it has been so hectic the last few days forgot about the villa in Florida.

    We lost the first unit when the woman decided not to move...in March.
    In May we bid on a bank sale unit. Sealed bids, lost by a few $1000.
    This unit went up in May, we put in a bid about 16% below ask.
    Owner couldn't bring herself to sell.
    Her husband died, she is 97, so she decided to sell, though nor easy.
    No haggling back and forth, she accepted our price.
    Interesting, a nicer unit, but not as nice a location, was reduced from the same price she had to our buying price the next day.
    We had to sign the papers, scan them, email them to the realtor, and mail a check for a down payment the day before we left on our trip.
    We are away for 2 1/2 weeks so we might have lost it if someone else was interested.

    Price was exactly half of what it was at the peak. Fortunately my brother in law is nearby and is in Florida for 5 months in the winter. Unlike me he is very good at being a handy man...so he can put in wood and tile floors, paint, do any renovating.

    I wanted the larger, heavier, safer car for the drive to Florida for the winter so that is all in place.

    The Canadian dollar is just at par with U.S., it would be nice if it could go to about $1.10 for awhile.

    The taxi to the hotel was a little Citroen. I am amazed at how comfortable and solid they make little cars these days.

    The architecture in Barcelona is incredible...very unique blend of old and new.

    Florida villa:
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thanks for the tip. Wish I had known this 5 years ago. The new roof comes with an algae and mildew protection package. Also, being black onyx will help. I really like the architectural design of the shingles. We're leaving the house shortly. The hammering is driving us crazy!

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    That was a much better report---details plus picture. Hope it all finalizes for you. If you get a chance, send us some architectural pictures from Barcelona. I'm sure that it's beautiful.

    Richard
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,959
    edited September 2011
    new roof comes with an algae and mildew protection package

    My roof is a light grey and has the black streaks going down it. My house faces north and I've noticed most north facing houses in my area are just like mine. I've seen companies that claim they can clean it without harsh chemicals and without damaging the roof. My roof is about 15 years old and don't want to do anything to accelerate it needing replacement, but may have to give one of these guys a shot as it bothers me the way it looks.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,202
    "...which I'd enjoy more than knowing her next husband will be taken care of..."

    LOL. When my wife retired she took the option which gave her the max but stopped when she died.

    She'll do anything to stop me from getting another car. :sick:

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,202
    "...The Villa in Florida..."

    Is this one in the same area? (Fort Myers)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Maybe it would be different if I didn't still have young kids (2 of them turn 10 next week). And they did offer an option for more now for her getting various reduced benefits after my death - (75%, 50% or 25%). If I knew for a fact that I'd still be there in 10 years that would be a maybe. She would, at that point, have fewer money worries and a paid off house.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    send us some architectural pictures from Barcelona

    Notsure I can do this justice because the buildings vary, from really classic, to ultra modern, and lots of mixtures. Here is a few at random;

    image

    image

    image

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    This is the most looked at...church by Gaudi, started in 1883 and still not finished, estimated to take 20 to 80 years more to finish.
    image

    image

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    "...The Villa in Florida..."Is this one in the same area? (Fort Myers)

    Close, but about 2 hours further North. I don't want to be too exact or I might have about 20 unexpected visitors ha ha, but South East of Tampa or east of st Petersburg, or NE of Bradenton.

    I think you stay around St Petes. This area is very residential, half the people live there all year long. It is inland, but I don't want to live on the actual coast. It would cost 2 or 3 times as much, and it gets very busy and more touristy.

    We thought about it, and our main goal is not to have lots of heat, we just don't want to be in the cold and snow.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    edited September 2011
    Stay away from the Clorox and water treatment. It's murder on the shingles. We did find a company that used a foam of natural origins. I don't know what was in it. They guaranteed it for a year. I kept watching it. It actually lasted a year and a half. For $300, I was very pleased.

    They put in the new roof fan this morning. The old one never worked. We can't find the switch to turn it on though. It's not in the attic, the garage, or in the house. I wonder where the darn thing is located! If I don't find it, I'll have to pay an electrician to put one in for us. :sick:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "...the option which gave her the max but stopped when she died."

    My wife took the same option. She said that I would be foolish enough to listen to some other woman. :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I really like the second picture from the top.

    Richard
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    So you took less so that she'd be taken care of but she took the money and ran? :surprise:

    At least she's hanging on to you while you are still here.

    Sounds like I should want to be in your wife's will.....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,959
    Richard,

    Thanks for the advice. The place I talked to uses a "foam" I may get it done in the spring.

    As for the attic fan, many of them are just wired to an "always on" source and have an adjustable thermostat on them to turn on/off.

    Does your attic have lights on a switch? If so, see if it works when the lights are on. Some knucklehead could have wired it to the "switch leg" of the attic light, instead of the "hot" wire. They did this in my parent's house and I was called upon to fix it.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    I'll bet it just works automatically when the attic reaches a certain temp.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    edited September 2011
    Yep - that's how attic fans are supposed to work.

    They're installing a ridge vent - aren't they?
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    We have lots of pine trees that put black streaks on the tan roof.

    I can beat that, we live on a lake which attracts a lot of water based birds, including sea gulls. One time we got a boat load of gulls that decided to stay a few days and mostly roosted on the roof of one house. That houses roof turned almost completly white over the course of 3 or 4 days.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    edited September 2011
    I grew up in a real "melting pot" of a town in So. California.

    I think I remember that you're talking about San Pedro (San Peedro in those days, and still, for those who know). My Dad worked for the CA Fish & Wildlife dept before WWII and did inspections of the fishing boats and their catches there. What he told me about those times reflects what you say.

    When I drove a truck & hauled overdimensional boats, I remember picking up a fishing boat in Everett, WA, for a big company that had contracted with a number of fishermen (in November), several of whom were Portuguese and owned boats that were too small to go offshore late in the season (bad weather, high seas) back down to the Bay Area.

    I hauled all kinds of boats back then, mostly new ones from the manufacturers to distant dealers, or to individual buyers (that was back when the U.S. had a boatbuilding industry), but rarely had the opportunity to load and move a used boat, much less for an owner who was standing and watching.

    The guy walked up to me, after I'd spent an hour or so blocking and chaining down the load in a driving rain, and said (in broken Engilish): "Please take care of her, she is my life." Wanna guess whether I treated his load a little better than the others?

    This country is built from a lot of immigrants, and THEY FOLLOWED THE RULES. I would have walked over glass for that guy, but for many of the recent ones, not so much.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    To you, Houdini, and robr2: Thanks for the tip. The new fan is automatic and has a thermostat. Our problem is that we can't find the power source. There has to be a switch some where in this house. I'm still looking. Tom, I'll check that attic lights in the morning. Some dummy may have done just as you said.

    Richard
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,593
    I really like the second picture from the top

    good choice. A classic by Antoni Gaudi, it is the Casa Milà or La Pedrera and is an excellent example of his works

    I think we will go on the Hop on Hop Off bus today. It's a good way to get an overview of a city.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,718
    Most attic exhaust fans don't have a switch. They are wired in, just like an electrical outlet..

    I put one in my garage attic, about 1993... but, the electrician was my brother-in-law, and I had him put a switch in, just so I could turn it off, as it was right at the top of the pull-down stairs..

    He thought that was unnecessary, so evidently it isn't usual.. but, I got what I wanted.

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  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thanks for letting me know. I like your idea of having a switch.

    Richard
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >There has to be a switch some where in this house.

    It has to be wired through a circuit breaker in the electrical box. Are the circuit breakers labelled? It might have a separate breaker. Most likely, however, is that it will share a circuit with some things nearby. You might find a switch based on location of the general circuit.

    If you can find a breaker which turns it off when it is running due to the temperature, there are electronic devices to clip to the connection in the box and then use a small radio receiver to follow that wire to the fan in the attic and what other things it powers. There might be a switch.

    Our house has a switch on the garage wall because the previous owners had installed a roof fan. Have you checked the garage? Or a utility closet for a switch?

    The blower doesn't serve much purpose because there are turtle vents on my roof. So the hot air can escape through the vents and the roof fan pulls air back from them along with air from the soffit vents. The turtle vents should have been blocked off.

    I left the blower when I had roofing done 16 years ago. Ideally the fan should have a humidistat and turn on in cooler weather to remove extra humid air from the attic to protect the wood. That's why it should be left on year around. Does yours have that?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

This discussion has been closed.