Family and business can occasionally mingle much like oil and water. My brother-in-law was very explicit about that. My name is Clyde, and I work as an engineer. My profession is renovating homes. This is what transpired, and it was entirely his fault, that led to the breakup with my brother-in-law.
This story has been developing over the past few years because of my work. It has to do with a major renovation project, my brother-in-law Jeff, and a ton of drama. It’s going to be a wild journey, so buckle up!
Jeff came up to me a few years ago with a significant request. He was hoping I could complete his dark, unfinished basement. He requested many rooms, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a family room—the works. Although we weren’t as close, I only considered it to be a request from a customer.
He trusted me to do the project because I own a renovation company. I priced the entire project at $38,000, but I gave him a good discount because we were family. This was quite kind of him, as he would normally have to pay three times as much as I did for something similar.
As Jeff was rebuilding his basement, he would sometimes request adjustments. Even though he had already approved the layout and floor plan, he nonetheless did this.
Let’s fast-forward to when the renovations are finished. It was a renovated basement. What had been a gloomy, unwelcoming room was now a lively living place. To put it mildly, Jeff was pleased.
But when it came time to pay, Jeff became uncooperative. Every time he tried to talk about his dues, he was met with postponed promises or excuses. His justifications started to show indications that he wouldn’t pay anything at all around six months later. He never made a payment. He would frequently make excuses and utter phrases like:
“Now that you’ve married my sister, we’re like real brothers. Would you ask your brother for money?”
I attempted to discuss the matter with my wife, but she seemed to be in favor of her brother. She attempted to get me to overlook the money while defending him. But I had previously paid for this with my own money. Both the materials and my employees’ salary were covered by me.
We danced like way for two years. Jeff then had to sell his home. After his fiancée found employment in a distant location, they decided to relocate to make room for her. All of a sudden, he gave me a call. Anger and terror mixed together in his voice.
“YOU AREN’T ALONE? Why am I unable to sell my home? He shouted.
“because I’m not getting paid for the work I completed.” Jeff, that lien is genuine, I laughed a little in response.
There was a noticeable stillness on the other end. A knife might be used to release the stress. Once more, Jeff pledged to make the payment as soon as the house sold. He even made an attempt to coerce me into believing that he was my brother, but this time, I wasn’t buying it. In response, I said:
Not at all, Jeff. Once you pay me what you owe, we may discuss removal.
He attempted to persuade not only me but also my wife, who is his sister, into helping him with his money problems. In our own living room one evening, he made an attempt to scare her into paying his bills. That’s when she decided to side with me.
“You’re my elder sister; sisters lend a hand like that.”
“Jeff, fulfilling your obligations financially isn’t helping; it’s enabling. You must pay off your debts.
It startled both of us that he would twist familial ties for his own benefit. However, when that failed, he resorted to my in-laws in an attempt to win them over. With worried voices, they made a call.
“We’ll settle his debt. We cannot see him go from the home.
“All OK, but he has to reimburse you or take it from any inheritance. Additionally, interest begins to accrue on the day the loan is made.
They grudgingly consented, and Jeff became agitated again upon learning about this agreement. Knowing that her brother would also be taking money from her inheritance enraged my wife just as much.
Jeff questioned, “How could you bring up inheritance with our parents in such a manner?”
It was you that engaged them, not me. Jeff, you forced this scenario.
When Jeff was finally forced to face reality, he took up a credit line and paid the debt, interest included. The remodeled basement played a major role in the property selling for more than asking, but not before leaving a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
Some familial relationships have been strained, if not completely broken, by the entire affair. However, it has strengthened my conviction to stick to your convictions even if they are inconvenient. It’s difficult to combine family and work, and if limits aren’t established, it might result in unwelcome circumstances.
Similar like Jeff, someone else learned an important lesson from a family member. She lost out on what could have been a pleasant family home, regrettably.