Business Matters

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

I would never have imagined how long it would take to sell a business!  First the buyer took ages to decide and I was often left in the dark to whether she really wanted to buy or not.  I had given her the date that I planned to leave Sydney.  Two days before my planned departure I tried again to contacted her (this was always difficult as she didn’t reply to emails, SMS or phone call msg).  Again I had to leave a voice msg asking if she was still interested.   I received an SMS saying she was on a break and would contact me on the Monday.  MONDAY!  I wanted to leave on Sunday!  Mind you I hadn’t finished packing or cleaning the house which took me another two weeks, but that was not the point!  She also asked if I would be able to help her understand the website operations and help her once she takes over.  That is going to take time too so she wasn’t leaving herself or me much time as she knew I was planning to leave Aust January 2015.  Yes, Lord I’m waiting … but not too patiently I must admit!

Anyway when she rang on Monday she made a definite decision to buy.  I then arranged for my lawyer to work on the contract of sale.  Oh Lord why did I ask for Your patience as I know that means You will put me through a trial of my patience!

More waiting! Time ticked by and a few emails and phone calls later there was no reply from my lawyer either!  What was going on!  I later found out he had had a few emergencies of his own.  Finally the paper work came through but needed a few tweaks.  Then it was back in the lawyer’s hands to forward a copy to the buyer for their approval before we made the final official signing.  Another wait!

My lawyer was going overseas and had left the sending to his assistant.  I tried calling from Monday to Wed without getting through and an SMS to the buyer assured me she had not received the contract!   I had a copy but it was attached to other things (my will in fact) and I didn’t know how to separate them as it was a PDF copy.  So I copied and pasted the contract onto a word doc.  It was scruffy and not at all professional but at least I could send her a copy.  Then on Thursday finally my lawyer called me from overseas.  He must have received all my panic emails!  He informed me that there had been some internet problems but the assistant had finally sent the buyer a PDF copy.  She confirmed it had arrived and informed me she was going to discuss the contract with her lawyer the coming Monday.  Ok, now I can relax. I had done everything I could.  It was out of my hands now.

During this time of waiting I made a list of all the transfers needing to be done once the papers were signed and deposit made in my account.  I needed to transfer the intellectual property, business name, trademarks, website and domains etc.  This of course all takes time and effort and is not always an easy job so best to make an initial inquiry on how it’s to be done.

I also had a garage full of furniture that needed to be disposed of.  Two weekends in a row, I posted things to buy and for free on Gumtree (a free advertising site for Aussies). The first weekend was a huge success and I gave away a load of things and even sold a few things.  The second weekend was a total flop!  There were several inquiries but even the free stuff was not taken.  So then it’s was a call to the Salvos to pick up whatever they would take.  I still had 3 big boxes to be left at church for Tamba and his mission in Serra Leone, Then, wait for the sale of the business so that I could ask the buyer to pick up the business items which were stored in my basement.  At least a car load of items!  I just had the fridge, which someone had given me an offer for, the washing machine, and the microwave to give away, then pack the last of my boxes – my printer and computer stuff, dismantle the office desk and give that and the chair to the Salvos and then I was free to go.

My friends have been asking me ‘so when are you really going?’  I’d shrug and say ‘In His perfect timing’.  I’m still waiting on the Lord but I’m not so stressed about it now.  I moved a foam mattress upstairs to be a bit more comfortable sleeping on the floor, slowly I’ve been eating through my pantry stores and only re stocked the fridge with essentials so I’m ready to leave in a moment.   I’m sure it can’t take that much longer to finalise matters!

Early Tues 16th Sep I noticed I had received an SMS from the potential buyer of the business, saying ‘Will call tomorrow, everything is fine. My lawyer just wants a lot more detail in the contract’. Well it wasn’t all fine! She wanted the rights to all my e-books and then sent me an email saying that the tax returns I had sent were misleading!!!! Misleading! They were my official financials sent to me by my accountant what could be misleading about that!  I lost the plot and asked my accountant to ask her what she meant by misleading.  He was right behind me as this also implicated his work too.  My lawyer was also behind me and reassured me that the initial agreement I was giving her the licence to use the e-books and having the copyrights was a different agreement. There was extra value in obtaining the copyrights. He didn’t think I was being unreasonable asking her for a higher price if she wanted the copyright for the e-books as well.  So here I was again waiting!  By now I had decided no matter what happened I was leaving Sydney early the next week either 22 or 23 Sep.

Tuesday 16ht was a hell of a day for me as not only was I having problems with the buyer I had somehow let a virus onto my computer which was stuffing up my web browser which took all day for me to try and work out how to get rid of it.  I eventually gave up, as nothing seemed to work, and text a IT friend who give me a few tips which DID help.  Later in the week my dear friend in India also helped and restored my computer to an earlier date. All fixed.  Thank you!

Tues I also rang the Salvos to pick up whatever was left in the house and was told Friday 19th as the earliest. Good.  That gave me a date for my departure.  I could put the last of my stuff on Gumtree on Sat, pack up my office and kitchen and get the last boxes packed and picked on Monday 22 to be gone on Tue.  Phew!  That felt better.  I had something to work forward.   Now my waiting can be constructive too.

Wednesday I received a call from a woman who had seen my ads on Gumtree and asked if I still had furniture to give away.  I said she had better hurry as Salvo’s were going to be picked it all up on Friday.  She told me she worked as a volunteer provided housing for women on the street and those affected by domestic violence. I told her I was wondering why none of my stuff went on the weekend and had asked the Lord who He was reserving it for.  We both laughed. She then arranged for transport and on Thursday took all bar the desks which the Salvos will take so I was happy.  She even took the washing machine which I was going to advertise on Sat.  Thank you Lord for you rewards those who wait upon you. “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him”. Lamentations 3:25 (English Standard Version).

The flat really looked bare now. Just the fridge to be collected (I’ve receive an offer from a previous Gumtree buyer), then the vacuum cleaner, office desk and chair and a few lamps which the Salvo’s will pick up on Tuesday after I had left.  All I had to do was to pack my computer thing on Monday, to be sent to Perth and, do the last clean up and pack the car before leaving early Tuesday morning.

Thursday at 3:30pm my toilet suddenly started leaking and the plumber couldn’t come for 24hrs!!! Can you believe it!

As I write this as I wait for prospective buyers/takers from the Gumtree ads….. and for word from the business buyer…..waiting … in an empty house…. ready to leave this coming Tuesday… God willing 😉