Bed And Breakfast

ron schenker

Have any of you "older" guys or gals thought about winding down, moving to the country and opening a B&B?

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

KillerToiletSpider

I don't think it would work where I have chosen to retire to.

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A flush is better than a full house.

firemike

My wife and I have been seriously considering that very thing. We have been looking online at different locations, and just starting to get ideas on what we want. kind of up in the air as far as staying in Michigan, or going elsewhere. Our biggest problem so far, I want one in the mountains, she wants one on the beach....... Figures.

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-Mike-

ron schenker

You need a location that is popular with tourists not too far off the beaten path.

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

mdshunk

I have two customers that are B&B's, and I can tell you first hand that they're a heck of a lot of work in my lay observation. They're certainly not my idea of tapering off during my retirement years. I'd rather stay in a few than ever own one.

K2

I'd go for "Bed and Make your own breakfast" or "breakfast is down the street". Housing and food service together sounds like too much work and would olny be fun if it was the right crowd together.... "I want lettuce, no cheese, tomato, no wnion, over easy on a sesame bun". Yuk.

firemike

Exactly!

I have a couple friends that have them. One is in the mountains in Tennessee. He was upper management in a local manufacturing plant here in Michigan, hated his job and the stress that went along with it. About 8 years ago, he bought the B&B and loves it. The first couple years were the hardest, but he now has a great staff, and like he said, "I get up in the morning, walk out on my deck, and have a million dollar view of the mountains." The added bonus he said is that he has met people from all over the world, and made many new friends. Says he wouldn't trade it for anything.

The other had one in northern Michigan, he just sold it a couple years ago. Same thing, he loved the people, the location, and the seasons. The busy times were a little hectic, but there are slower times when you can sit back and relax, enjoy life, and talk with other people from all over the world. The biggest key, as with any business, is having a good staff to keep things running like clockwork.

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-Mike-

KillerToiletSpider

I got a deal for you.

You open one in Michigan, somewhere near Frankfort or that area, and I'll send my wife up there to run it. She is a graduate of The Chicago Institute of Culinary Arts, and holds a degree in hospitality management. In return I get to store my boat there, and a free room on selected weekends.

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A flush is better than a full house.

firemike

I was thinking a little more north, but that is a very nice area. My wife is also a certified chef, and being near the water will make her happy. If we pick one up, you can store your boat and stay there any time you wish.

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-Mike-

KillerToiletSpider

For retirement so am I, I recently bought ten acres near Kodiak Alaska.

__________________
A flush is better than a full house.

Driftwood

Your idea of fun is getting up in the middle of the night ,with a gig stupid smile, catering to some strangers. Then I get to feed them in the morning and clean their dirty linen. You must be having a ball !

Michaeljp86

I live in SW michigan, lots of chicago people here with lots of $. I want to start advertising building boat docks next year. Chicago people own every house on a lake here and most of the houses sell for well over 1 million. If you want to start your B&B come here and advertise in the chicago newspapers.

Only problem is these rich jerks will sue that pants off you if theyre not happy with the work and they are very picky.

firemike

I know exactly what you mean. When I lived up north, I used to do work on the summer houses of some of those types of people. Many were grateful for anything I did, some didn't like anything I did (or any other contractor for that matter) and bit#hed no matter what. Some people were from the Chigaco area, many were from down south though and just up for the summer. I know I'd like to have a $750,000 "summer" home.

It's funny, some you'd give them a bill and they'd write a check without even asking a questioin, others want you to account for every cent, then go look to make sure it was there. Such is business......

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-Mike-

Michaeljp86

[quote=firemike;286768]. I know I'd like to have a $750,000 "summer" home.

quote]

Around here some of these guys from chicago have weekend houses alot more them 750k. Ive seen some over 5.5 million and a few that were on lake michigan 10 million. There is alot of houses around here for 1-2million. They are all on inland lakes. Lake michigan they are 2 mil and up and they sell quick.

KillerToiletSpider

Welcome to my world, all our work is in these people's Chicago homes.

__________________
A flush is better than a full house.

Michaeljp86

As long as they pay, but Ive been told they will start a lawsuit really really fast.

KillerToiletSpider

The things these people will pay for boggle my mind. Three months ago I had just finished piping the master shower, it took two days to pipe it all, and the HO comes in and asks the GC if the shower could get flipped 180 degrees. He tells her it will be an extra, and he'll get her a price, he talks to my boss, and and hour later tells the woman that it will cost 10 grand to move everything, her reply was simply "Is that all, go ahead and do it".

__________________
A flush is better than a full house.

Michaeljp86

Thats who I want to work for, the people I work for now flip out over 10 bucks.

POOLMANinCT

I went to a wedding this weekend & was forced to stay at a B&B, about 500 bux per night. what a dam ****hole!!!!!!!

I hate common dining...
just give me a marriot
ray

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......Less with the jaw & More with the paw.....

Michaeljp86

holy crap, I know what I need to get into