Co-Owner of the Bluemont Bed and Breakfast in Luray, Virginia
In our search for a B&B, we particularly wanted a "turnkey" business. We thought this would save us some time and extra work in reopening.
WRONG, at least in this case. Turnkey didn't quite turn out to what we thought it would be. Yes, we had some basic furniture with the house, but that was about it. It's amazing how bare the rooms are once the personal touches are gone.
What we thought would be "move in" condition... was not. Mattresses were tired and needed to be replaced. Some furniture was not of the quality we would like and all of the linens were too worn to use. Some we will make do with, while others are being replaced at this very moment.
So a word of advice to potential buyers -- make sure you know everything you're getting and the quality you're paying for. Of course, we have our own things which luckily will fit in nicely for the most part, but it was a shock to come into the house for the first time alone and see it very differently than it looked before.
Since this was a part-time business for the former owners, we didn't inherit much. There is a list of past guests, a good reputation with some in town, some small advertising with the local Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau. But beyond that, not much else. For us, it has almost been like starting from scratch. I guess that isn't all bad since we want to start out slowly and not be too overwhelmed.
To say that we are in a state of chaos is probably putting it mildly. We've had to do more renovations than previously thought. Some repainting and other more substantial repairs.
The process has taken much longer than I would have liked. But my husband is doing most of it by himself, so I really shouldn't complain since we are saving tons of money. I feel badly because I can only be there once a month to help him out. We work ourselves to death that week. I call it my "workout week" because I usually manage to lose at least five pounds! Guess that is a benefit, though.
Shopping online has been a blessing and a time-saver, when the shipment is right. But when it's wrong it takes up more time than necessary trying to get things right.
As the saying goes, "Shop 'til you drop!" That's me alright. I'm a shopper by nature, and I never thought I'd see the day when I was tired of shopping! But I believe I have just about reached that point. Choosing the right bed comforters, towels, linens, paint, wallpaper, lighting, decorative items, etc., has just consumed me.
My "things" which are still packed in boxes will eventually emerge, but trying to find "just the right thing" takes so much time. I'm a detail person. So while my husband tends to see the big picture, I tend to concentrate on the minute. With me, things that probably could wait, won't. That's what makes for this chaotic feeling at times. I work on several projects at a time, going in several directions at once. Does that sound familiar to anyone?
Well, I believe I've rambled on for long enough. When I take a look out the window -- the tree trimmers just left and now we can clearly see our view of the beautiful mountains and are seeing the first flowers of spring poking through the ground -- I think it's all worth it.
Calm comes in for a minute and the chaos seems to disappear... at least for a little while.
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NOTE: Since this feature was originally posted, Eleanor and her husband ran the Bluemont Bed and Breakfast for several years before retiring.
