Pay It Forward - Smoke Certificate

So here I am with my 'Pay It Forward' for this week.

This, by far, I felt is my best Pay It Forward - not because it will be perhaps the last Pay It Forward for my out-of-state client, but the way I did it - and I still do not believe I did it!

There are several Pay It Forward posts for my out-of-state client whose condo had difficult time selling it. When we received an all-cash offer in December, the bathroom pipe burst and damaged almost all flooring and kitchen cabinets - not to mention about the recessed lights in the ceilings of the first level.

The sellers could not fly to Massachusetts all the time so I worked with the contractors, building inspectors, insurance adjudicators to complete the renovation of the unit. Finally, after clearing all the hurdles, home was ready to show - back on market in June.

It would not take too long to sell this time. We had all new flooring, new dishwasher, new tiles in bath - and to top it, reduced price. We did receive an offer soon and sellers accepted it, too.

As a part of completing the sale, the sellers need to get smoke certificate. It would have been me, once again, Paying It Forward - arranging for the smoke test with the fire department and get smoke certificate. And I did schedule an appointment for Wednesday but...

Last Saturday, I had terrible pain in my back and was diagnosed with huge kidney stone - larger than normal size. Doctors recommended couple of surgeries - but not too soon. I had to wait for at least couple of weeks before even the first one would take place.

I knew that the beeping smoke detectors needed the battery replacement - and after renovation, both carbon monoxide detectors were missing. There was no way, I could make sure that the unit was in compliance as pain-killers kept me immobile. So, I reschedule the appointment for Friday.

Feeling better after medication, Thursday night, I went to the unit with my wife. I plugged in the Carbon Monoxide detectors and replaced batteries from the beeping smoke detectors. I also left $50 in the drawer, required for the test. At least, we are in compliance now!

The pain was unbearable on later than night - as I had broken the basic rules of taking rest in this condition. Despite two doses of heavy pain-killers, the pain refused to subside. I could not sleep the whole night and the biggest worry for me was - what if I am not at the unit for the test? There was no way I could drive - or anyone could drive me to this place in morning traffic.

At about 7 AM, I called our common friend to be there at 8 AM. The officer from fire department was going to be there at that time. I could barely talk with all the pain, still over the phone, I coordinated with my out-of-state client, the common friend and the officer from the fire department. And, it all worked - the department did issue the smoke certificate!

Thank God!

Of course, this one is a Pay It Forward from this common friend, too - without which I would not have completed this.

And this 'Pay It Forward' will help us when we are in need. It may or may not be a technology related need.

(image courtesy: http://www.wpclipart.com/household/odds_and_ends/assorted/smoke_detector.png.html)