With the inns that are run down my question is how did they get in that condition? Somewhere along the line an owner let things slide. Did the owner let it go and then sell to a pair of rose-colored glasses that did not have a thorough inspection who was then over-extended or did they just not bother to reinvest in it to keep it up? I can see how a blocked road or a caved in road (rain closed our end of the trail with a washout that did not get fixed for 2 years and that hurt us) can put the screws to an inn, but I question allowing it to run down to the point of shabby. We are 10 years in to the 21st century and things that were in the 80s, 90s, and even 2000 are either continually tweaked or tired creeps in.
Pride of place. I think that is what would make me keep my inn in shape.
As for the closings, thre are myriad reasons for that - and it is not always financial. Retirement, illness, death, burnout but I love my house, getting the unexpected gift of taking in a relative, parent, or children/grandchildren are all reasons an inn might close rather than sell. It may be a case of knowing there will be no buyer as a reason to close without selling.
My point is, do not always look at it as a sad thing. It may be a fond memory but time to move on to another phase. I know one lady who was an innkeeper for years who told me that she took it as GOD's answer to her prayer of whether to close or not - her house was struck by lightening when no guests were in-house and the firemen who had been called by the newspaper delivery person, woke her up and got her out without incident. She looks back with pleasure and no regret..
gillumhouse said:
My point is, do not always look at it as a sad thing. It may be a fond memory but time to move on to another phase. I know one lady who was an innkeeper for years who told me that she took it as GOD's answer to her prayer of whether to close or not - her house was struck by lightening when no guests were in-house and the firemen who had been called by the newspaper delivery person, woke her up and got her out without incident. She looks back with pleasure and no regret.
What an inspiring way to look at things. Thanks, Kathleen, for reminding us that there's good in many of life's twists and changes.
Unfortunately when it's a foreclosure or a forced sale, the reason is always financial. And it's never good.
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Yes we aren't talking here about just inns for sale..but foreclosures and auctions. And those are always for financial reasons which force the sale. Yes some is the fault of our economic climate, but others are because someone did not do due diligence in thinking they could run an inn. And, in a particular case I know...the owners had no clue what they were doing and thought it was just another business to run. And in the process they also ruined the lives of many other people...soooooo sad:-(
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catlady said:
Yes we aren't talking here about just inns for sale..but foreclosures and auctions. And those are always for financial reasons which force the sale. Yes some is the fault of our economic climate, but others are because someone did not do due diligence in thinking they could run an inn. And, in a particular case I know...the owners had no clue what they were doing and thought it was just another business to run. And in the process they also ruined the lives of many other people...soooooo sad:-(
Unfortunately, I too know a few inns in that category. In fact, Mendocino County is somewhat littered right now with lives ruined by ineptitude and greed.
Of course, I also know some good ends that came out of some such messes. One of the most delightful inns on the coast, in fact, is now back in the hands of its original owner. She bought it back at auction after the idiot she sold it to ran it into the ground. She's turned it back around and restored the inn to its glory days. A real happy ending.
So in a way, even though forced sales always bring tragedy, they can also bring something good back to life. We'll just have to hope for more in the latter category in the months to come.
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