00:00:18 Amanda Hester

Hi there.

00:00:18 Chris Moore

Hi. Do you have any of my business cards?

00:00:20 Amy Moore

I don't.

00:00:22 Chris Moore

Currently I don't either. But you've got my number.

00:00:27 Amanda Hester

Yes, I do. Is it the number that I called his?

00:00:30 Amy Moore

Yes.

00:00:31 Amanda Hester

OK. OK, perfect.

00:00:34 Amanda Hester

Sorry, I have all this drainage going on. So, thanks for meeting with me last minute. I got informed that we got your appraisal back. So, they're like, if you can meet with (inaudible), I'm so glad y'all are able to squeeze me in today for the short notice. So... there are... so you guys will be two tracks since you have your business and your home. So you do, I guess have your business license for the studio and stuff or?

00:01:04 Chris Moore

I don't have a business license. I've always been just a social proprietor outside the city limits.

00:01:07 Amanda Hester

OK, do you have like any kind of documentation, like filing with like IRS, or any... do you file your business stuff separately?

00:01:15 Chris Moore

We got, yeah, we got IRS going back, I don't even know how long.

00:01:20 Amanda Hester

Yeah, that will work. I just need some kind of form of documentation stating that that's business and then this is home.

00:01:25 Chris Moore

OK. Yeah.

00:01:27 Amanda Hester

So for the resident side, we'll start with that. That's kind of the easier one. I have a booklet for you guys to have, and I will flag some pages and ignore the personal property. I just had this my thing and I was like, if it will work as per...

So for the home, what we... so there's lots of buckets of money so once I do my stuff and get what's called just, you know, looking over the market to do comparable study, and get approved by ARDOT, the acquisition agent and myself, I'll come present your eligibility for relocation and they'll come present your offer. So then you can see exactly... I know what I say, it's just in one ear and out the other 'cause obviously having dollars in front of you, things make more sense.

00:02:16 Amanda Hester

So when we come present the offer and they will present only the land. The land, the buildings, whatever improvements. That's their side. That's their bucket of money. But with relocation I have what's the down payment assistance. So whatever I find, so I take square footage, the dollar amount of their stuff, and so I look at what's in the market. Obviously, right now, inflation, everything is higher.

00:02:44 Amanda Hester

So say, just using small math, say ARDOT offers you $100 for this home, but I find homes that are like $250. So then, Where I come in is I give you the extra $150 of wiggle room to go out and find a home that's in the $250 range rather than the $100 range. So, and you're allowed to go over it, but my side is spend to get. So if you go out and you find a home that's $200, then I'll give you the extra for the $200 home rather than the $250.

00:03:14 Chris Moore

So, quick question.

00:03:15 Amanda Hester

Yes.

00:03:19 Chris Moore

Is it up to us to find a place...

00:03:21 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:03:22 Chris Moore

OK, because when I first talked to someone, I mean the first meeting I went to was like 2 years ago...

00:03:27 Amy Moore

December 2022.

00:03:28 Chris Moore

Yeah, but they they said that they would basically be coming to us with like 3 potential places that we could move to...

00:03:38 Amanda Hester

So yes, so I have to look for three comparable homes. I only give you the listing of the most comparable home. And so yeah, and I have, when I present it it has to be on the market still that day. So when I present it, y'all can Google it, look it up and see if, like, oh, that's one we like. If not, you know, you're not forced to buy that.

00:04:01 Chris Moore

Right, they said if we don't like the the three, then we could find something. But I was under the understanding that they were gonna come to us with say, here's option 1, option 2, option 3. Three different places you can move into. Done.

00:04:14 Amanda Hester

Well, they don't really show the other two because, say, #2 or like, cause one of the homes, what if it's worth more or worth less? I don't wanna... 'cause I find something that is just comparable. I do my best to go with the higher one to give you more wiggle room. But sometimes ARDOT will come back and say, "why did you choose this one when this one's just as comparable as this one?" So obviously if it's $5000 more then, that's up to you guys to, you know... We only give you a certain amount, so if... Do you guys have a mortgage on this property right now?

00:04:52 Chris Moore

Yes.

00:04:53 Amanda Hester

So you will have a mortgage on the other one, and we'll get to that a bit too. But then, yeah, you'll just have to cover whatever y'all go over the amount of what we do for the replacement house study.

00:05:04 Chris Moore

So they're just giving us an amount of money?

00:05:07 Amanda Hester

So yes, you'll have the amount of money from the acquisition side, so that money, the $100 that they give you and then I bring in the difference of what the houses... the market shows right now. So you'll have that bucket of money that you'll have to put towards the house, and then my side spend to get so whatever extra funds you need to purchase the next home is where the replacement house study comes in.

So, and obviously in your studio, so, whatever they value that in the appraisal as, I will pull from my money. You don't have to... and I'll be honest... I think it was... it was... hmm... I forgot...

I quickly looked, but, say, $20,000, I know it's, it was more than that, but I pull that from my fund, so it doesn't even go towards your RHP. So you have the funds for that building, since your business... to use for getting your other business going, whether there is... and I also will be looking for structures that might have a second, you know, good size home on it.

00:06:17 Chris Moore

Right.

00:06:18 Amanda Hester

Since it's a comparable, I wanna find something that's comparable to this land and obviously the land...

00:06:20 Chris Moore

Yeah, 'cause, we want to... I like working 10 feet from the house.

00:06:25 Amanda Hester

I bet.

00:06:26 Chris Moore

So I want to keep doing that.

00:06:27 Amanda Hester

But then also, what I do like carve out methods. So obviously if I find something... 'cause you all have three point something acres right?

00:06:31 Chris Moore

Right about three.

00:06:35 Amanda Hester

So obviously if I can't find something, but only two acres then I carve out the land. So that could be an extra $20,000 or so. So there's ways that we can help, and so obviously if you guys find something... 'cause also ARDOT doesn't... I can't look at Bella Vista. I mean, I can, but then they might be like "Amanda, that's so far away", and obviously you probably wanna be within here.

00:07:03 Chris Moore

They also told me that they'd move us up to like 70 miles too.

00:07:03 Amanda Hester

50 miles.

00:07:07 Chris Moore

50 miles now.

00:07:14 Amanda Hester

Yes, yes, and but it can be past. It just has to be approved by ARDOT to move you farther. So that is an option. It's just getting permission from the the state. They always have the bottom line.

So once I find my comparable, I send it up to ARDOT get that approved, so you'll get this first bucket of money, which is to find another home with this comparable house study. And then the next bucket of money is moving. You can either do a self move or you can hire commercial movers. They'll come in, they'll box everything up, they'll pack it and unpack it.

00:07:46 Chris Moore

We've already started packing, obviously.

00:07:48 Amanda Hester

Yes, so don't start moving it. Obviously you know where to move it to, but yeah.

00:07:51 Chris Moore

Right.

00:07:52 Amanda Hester

So... Or if you wanna move it yourself, I would still go the commercial bid route, because you guys have a lot of stuff, and we'll pay the lowest of the bids either way, either if you use the commercial mover ARDOT will pay the lower of the bids, or we'll pay you that dollar amount. If it's $20,000, $30,000, We'll pay you to move it.

00:08:13 Amy Moore

Do we need to get those bids?

00:08:18 Amanda Hester

Yes, and I can, I can text, is that a cell phone number? Can I text you or e-mail?

00:08:24 Chris Moore

Yeah, both of our numbers.

00:08:26 Amanda Hester

OK. I'll get yours at the end.

00:08:27 Chris Moore

In fact, if you want to, we can start a group message and then that way we're both in on.

00:08:31 Amanda Hester

I like that idea.

00:08:34 Chris Moore

'Cause she's she's the brains of the operation.

00:08:36 Amanda Hester

I like that idea. We can do that. I'll start a group text and I can send you guys moving companies that we've used. You don't obviously have to go use them. You can call... you're welcome to use whoever. I'll just send you people that we've used. They'll come out, give you a bid. If it's over $25,000, then we'll need a third bid. And then, since that's your business, obviously just let them know. That would be a separate bid because we'll take your business as one and your house as another.

00:09:10 Amanda Hester

Just writing some little notes for you guys so you're not...

00:09:21 Amy Moore

So under $25,000 is two bids, over is three.

00:09:25 Amanda Hester

Yes, and I will jot that down for you 'cause I know it's a lot of information, especially when we get to the business side. There's that information too, so. Me, if I wasn't in this, I would not have any idea. It'd be in one ear, out the other.

00:09:43 Chris Moore

Yeah, it's all kind of drinking from a firehose right now. Especially since the other stuff that I thought I knew is different now.

00:09:55 Amanda Hester

And there's been some federal regulations that changed, and I think the girl that came out, she was... she's fairly... she was fairly new at the time with the relocation stuff. So it was a learning process. And now we're... but I'm here. Help guide you, help make sure that this goes as smoothly as possible. I know it's probably not, because it's a... it's a...

00:10:20 Chris Moore

It's a little stressful.

00:10:20 Amanda Hester

Yeah. No, I get that. Especially the unknown of waiting until this time.

00:10:24 Chris Moore

Right, ok so, timetable. What kind of timetable are we looking at?

00:10:30 Amanda Hester

So, once I... this is just like a little initial interview, and then so I have to come back out and say hey, this project is gonna happen. Obviously, we know it's gonna happen, so I'll mail you a general notice. It's just saying that ARDOT's gonna come through and then I will start the comp study. Once I get the comp study done, the agent and I will come out and present your eligibility notice, which makes you eligible for relocation. So right now you're not eligible. So, like, don't move anything, Even if you wanna, you know, clean things out and get rid of things, I wouldn't clean anything out or get bids until you're eligible.

So once I present that, it's called your first vacancy, that's at least 90 days. ARDOT cannot come in and tell you to get out within 90 days like you have, at least 90 days.

00:11:19 Amy Moore

OK. So 90 days from that initial meeting?

00:11:24 Amanda Hester

From when I come present your eligibility with the fund, with the money.

00:11:28 Amy Moore

OK.

00:11:28 Chris Moore

'Cause here's something else that I'm dealing with. Besides running the studio, I also teach for the Community College in Bentonville. But the students come here.

00:11:37 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:11:45 Chris Moore 

Having to shut down halfway through the semester wouldn't be great with my bosses. They know that this is coming, but I at some point have to go virtual with the class.                and so I like right now. I don't know if I need to do that for.

00:11:51 Amanda Hester

I get that.

00:11:59 Speaker

I do that.

00:12:03 Chris Moore

And so, I don't know if I need to do that for spring semester, or if I need to do that for fall...

00:12:05 Amanda Hester

I think you're fine. And also when the business side, they have questions, like I'll ask to see like when's your busy season? Is there any like downfall time? So, we... 'cause, yeah, we wanna make this transition as easy to keep your the business going, to keep things flowing, and not disrupt your everyday lifestyle.

00:12:26 Chris Moore

Yeah, 'cause the thing about that studio is basically like, 90 days? That be tough to get it all torn down and cables pulled and everything ready to move. I mean basically as soon as the process starts, I gotta shut down then, because it's gonna take that long to do everything.

00:12:49 Amanda Hester

And...I'll ask that question when we... I don't want to confuse you with all the the business and the residence 'cause there's... yeah... I got lots of questions for the business cause we've never relocated the studio before. This is a first.

00:12:59 Chris Moore

OK, yeah, we'll go out there and you can see...

00:13:06 Amanda Hester

I know, I saw pictures. I'm like this is gonna be interesting. I'm ready to learn.

00:13:12 Chris Moore

I don't know that I am.

00:13:12 Amanda Hester

I understand that.

So the first bucket is find another house, the comparable house. Second bucket of money is the move, which if you move it yourself we'll pay you. We can pay you some if you need, you know, up front, like with renting a U-Haul, if you decide to not use commercial movers. But we'll pay you the full amount of the lowest bid once everything's moved, and I verified. And then the third bucket of money, you guys said you do have a mortgage. So, we do what's called a mortgage differential payment. So obviously when you all bought this house, you're probably at a really low interest rate and obviously now they're not so low.

00:13:54 Amy Moore

We refinanced January 2021. So it's like 3.25%.

00:13:59 Amanda Hester

OK. Well then y'all are going to come out really good. So yeah, we'll pay down to the prevailing. So I think the prevailing rates like 6.5 or something like that. And I say prevailing rate because some people don't have great credit scores, and so they get like a higher interest rate, but ARDOT will pay down to the prevailing rate. So obviously if y'all get a 4% or 5% interest rate, then we'll pay to that. So that's another pot of money that will be at closing. You'll provide me with your new mortgage or the loan estimate of how long the term is. So we pay, however long your mortgage is now, say, you guys have 20 years left on the mortgage, we'll pay the 20 years. If obviously, if you get a 30-year mortgage, we don't cover the last ten years. So we pay to what you guys have. Same with, it's the years and...

00:14:55 Chris Moore

That we're at 27 years right now.

00:14:59 Amanda Hester

So yeah, so then, yeah. So we'll pay to the length of it and the percentage wise. And then there's also...

00:15:07 Chris Moore

Is this making sense to you?

00:15:17 Amy Moore

Yeah.

00:15:19 Chris Moore

OK, good.

00:15:21 Amy Moore

I'm paying attention.

00:15:21 Chris Moore

'Cause I'm lost as a goose.

00:15:23 Amy Moore

That's fine. We're good.

00:15:24 Chris Moore

OK.

00:15:30 Amanda Hester

And then the 4th bucket of money is the incidental closing costs. So, appraisals, any kind of fees, anything that's just not reoccurring, like if you guys move into an HOA, we don't pay those. We don't pay the property taxes. We... there's one that's... we pay up to the comparable house study, so if we give you $250 for a home that you go with a $300 home, then we'll pay up to the $250.

I think that's... I can't think of the name of... on the... What is it called?

Sorry, I'm having a little brain fart. I'll think of it.

But pretty much everything we cover on incidental closing costs, and if we... 'cause it, obviously we get a preliminary, so whatever we don't cover at closing, you'll give us a... or... we'll talk to the loan people. They'll provide us with an after statement or post statement. And if we miss something, we'll reimburse you, or say the appraisal didn't cost $100, only cost $50, and if you don't use some of the money that ARDOT provides, then you'll just reimburse them for whatever you didn't use for that closing cost. So...

I'll flag these things in the book too.

So the comparable...

And then once you do so... Back to the comparable house study... Once you do find a place and get a contract of sale, I will come inspect it, 'cause ARDOT wants it to be decent, safe and sanitary. Which, it's not hard.

00:17:29 Chris Moore

Yeah, we do too. We're on the same page there.

00:17:32 Amanda Hester

So obviously we want you to have running water, everything working. So I'll just come and do the decent sanitary check, take pictures, show ARDOT that you're moving into a good home.

00:17:45 Chris Moore

Which that actually brings up another question.

00:17:47 Amanda Hester

Mm.

00:17:48 Chris Moore

So at the meeting we had two years ago. and this was, you know, this was the neighborhood wide meeting. But the lady I talked to said at that point, she thought it would be in the next six months. So we've been kind of in limbo for two years. But, she said "don't put any money into the property with this coming up." So basically, for the last two years we've tried to avoid fixing anything that wasn't absolutely necessary to fix. Is that gonna now hurt us as far as the value of this property?

00:18:41 Amanda Hester

Um, not really. Unless cause... when did the appraisal people... when did they come appraise the property? That's pretty much the...

00:18:45 Chris Moore

September.

00:18:50 Amanda Hester

Of this year? So then you should fine as long as after September, after they can appraise the property... If nothing major's happened since 'cause, obviously the appraiser is gonna... They do the inspection...

00:19:00 Chris Moore

Right. But if, and the example I brought up to her two years ago, at that point, I was thinking it'd be nice to put a new front porch on the house. And she said "Don't put a new front porch on the house."

But now I'm wondering if we put a new front porch on the house two years ago, would the house have appraised higher in September?

00:19:22 Amanda Hester

Yeah, that I don't know. I don't know how they do their study and what... it could have apprised higher, it could have been a waste of money.

00:19:30 Chris Moore

I don't know what all they take into consideration.

00:19:32 Amanda Hester

Know how much it would have cost for you to do that but... I... Sorry...

00:19:36 Chris Moore

I just wonder, when they were out, if they saw a janky front porch, then you know is that gonna hurt us?

00:19:46 Amanda Hester

No, I get that. No, I unfortunately, I don't know. It could have improved it or it could have been a waste of money depending how much you spent on items and stuff to build the porch.

00:20:03 Amanda Hester

So when you do find it comparable, just contract and I'll refresh you on all this. I like to try and jot down as much as I can. And then just... I'll go over all this stuff again at the eligibility date. It's just so y'all can kind of have an idea of what's gonna happen.

So yeah, these are your 4 buckets of money, and then these are just the steps.

So that is for the house side. So the bucket to replace your home, to move two bids, a third bid over $25,000, the mortgage differential payment, we pay up to the length or terms, and we pay down to the prevailing rate. And then the closing costs, we pay pretty much everything except anything recurrent and we don't pay for, since now the NARs thing, you guys are now to cover your own real estate costs or your agent costs, but you can obviously negotiate with the buyers to see if they'll pay for it. 'Cause yeah, I don't understand why they decided to change that law recently, 'cause it used to be the sellers would pay both fees, and they just changed it not too long ago that the buyer handles theirs and the seller handles theirs.

00:21:42 Amy Moore

Yeah, they can be up to six percent of the total cost of the house.

00:21:46 Chris Moore

Oh Jesus.

00:21:48 Amy Moore

Not cheap.

00:21:48 Amanda Hester

But yeah, you can negotiate with the sellers on them still covering it. I don't know why, at least not yet, ARDOT hasn't decided to make that their bucket of money. It could change by the time we get going, 'cause it just happened I think in like June or July and their...

00:22:09 Amy Moore

It was this year, yeah.

00:22:11 Amanda Hester

Yeah, we haven't had enough... We've only had one homeowner that has dealt with it, and as of right now they didn't pay it, but, obviously, we keep relocating people. It could change.

So then for the business, you are eligible, so same thing. Move. We'll pay to move everything. Third bid if it's over $25,000. And then there is... business area... flag these pages...

OK, business. So we pay for the move, but then also there's this thing, reestablishment, which you can claim up to $50,000. 'Cause it changed just recently and then along...

00:23:26 Chris Moore

And what determines the amount?

00:23:29 Amanda Hester

So you'll provide me two bids for re establishment, and that's just if when you find a new place, if it needs any repairs or improvements to make the the business function, operable, so obviously, yeah...

00:23:48 Chris Moore

There's a lot that goes into the structure of a studio.

00:23:51 Amanda Hester

Yes, and so thankfully also there's the moving cost, which does not have a cap, 'cause obviously the reestablishment is capped at $50,000. So we recently have discovered that moving so... for us... we found out... so we're moving a woodcraft shop, and they needed a certain kind of air ducts and ventilation, which we thought would cover under reestablishment, but to get them the parts of his equipment functioning and running properly up to code or something, then we were able to cover it in the moving cost which does not cap. So there's certain things, which I'm sure out there in the studio that you might need certain cords or certain like electrical work done for you to work... I don't know, like the soundproofing stuff...

00:24:40 Amy Moore

The actual building acoustics...

00:24:40 Chris Moore

Yeah, that's the big thing.

00:24:42 Amanda Hester

So yeah, that can be covered under moving, so obviously if you moving... if it doesn't... if it's not able to be moved because of... it just wouldn't be the same...

00:24:53 Chris Moore

Right.

00:24:53 Amanda Hester

So, I don't know how that stuff works. Then we can, yeah, that'll be covered under moving. So majority of your stuff, I feel like will be covered under moving even if it's bids of getting electrical work done to get it up to the electrical... or if there's any kind of codes that we you need to make for it to be functioning. We can cover a lot under moving, I feel like.

Yeah, I feel like it'd be mainly if, you know, there's soiled floors and you need a new carpet or something, or any repair or construction, if it's like a one big area and you're like, I want an office, we can, under reestablishment or, under reestablishment... If you want signs and logos or like something like a sign saying, you know, the studio, then we can cover that under $50,000. So there's a lot of flexibility that we have learned to wiggle under the move cost since there's no cap.

And then there's also the site search, which is, it says $2500 but now they've changed it to $5000. So I can send you this log. It's just you filling in if you go and look at different places for, even when you're looking for your your home, if you're looking for like a house that has another building on it for a studio... Whatever has to do with looking for a studio, you can log it and you can get up to $5000 for site search. So I can send you that once I, once we get going.

But, yeah, that's the main two, it's just the move, the reestablishment, and then site search. And then if there's certain things like that need to be moved, I don't know if like, for installing, if there's a certain kind of equipment that you're like, only this person can handle, like it's very, like they know how to do it, they installed it, or certain installation or things like that, make sure that's noted in the move. Even in your house stuff, if like washer and dryer need to be unhooked and reinstalled in a new place by a certain company, then make sure that bid's included and... 'cause we've had people that have ellipticals and they're like we didn't think that we needed a certain person to come out and move our elliptical and get it reprogrammed or something like that or...

00:27:25 Amy Moore

Our hot water, it's a tankless. So, we purchased it from a specific plumber here in the area, so yeah, if we got a house that's natural gas. Then yeah, it'll have to be moved by them.

00:27:35 Chris Moore

So as long as we go someplace with natural gas...

The pianos. Pianos require piano movers.

00:27:42 Chris Moore

The pianos. Pianos require piano movers.

00:27:42 Amanda Hester

Yeah, we've had that. Yeah, well, so if... We can try and make one bid work, but we might need 2 bids for different piano people to relocate them.

00:27:55 Chris Moore

OK.

00:27:56 Amanda Hester

But the water heater, I don't know if that's considered real structure for the home, so I don't know if that would be able to be relocated. That's... I have to look in the appraisal and the acquisition side. But I can figure that out.

But yeah, just anything that's specialty, that you need specialty move, just consider that. But I think that's pretty much it for home, and this book has it all so if you can't sleep at night, and you wanna fall asleep real fast, read this.

00:28:33 Chris Moore

Or have nightmares.

00:28:36 Amy Moore

We got the December 2022 version of that. What you're saying does not line up with with what that version had.

00:28:45 Amanda Hester

OK. Well, this is for you.

00:28:46 Amy Moore

Yeah, no, it made it sound like the moving cap was $25,000, and you're saying there is no cap.

00:28:54 Amanda Hester

On moving no, and there... for the reestablishment was capped in the book at.... 25, maybe 30, or something like that. Yeah, but yeah, it's up to $50,000, so that's changed.

00:29:07 Chris Moore

Good. Because I was looking at 25 and thinking, oh, there's no way.

00:29:12 Amanda Hester

No. Yeah, they upped it to 50 and then we've learned that we can obviously move a lot of things in the move costs where it's just not capped. So that's... 'Cause even when I was looking at this, I'm like, I can see a lot of things falling under the move just to make, 'cause to have the everything functioning and up to running like it... We'll make it work.

So just a few things on back to the residential side, so you also said you work at the Bentonville College?

00:29:44 Chris Moore

I work for them. I do all the work here. The students come here.

00:29:46 Amanda Hester

Oh, OK. Students come here. OK.

00:29:48 Chris Moore

I go to campus once a semester for a meeting and then everything else is here.

00:29:51 Amanda Hester

OK, OK.

00:29:54 Chris Moore

Which is why I've been worried about, you know, having to shut down.

00:29:57 Amanda Hester

Yeah, no, I get that.

And then Amy. You... where do you... Where do you work at?

00:30:07 Amy Moore

Three days a week from home, and then two days a week in Rogers at the address on the card.

00:30:17 Amanda Hester

OK, perfect. And then your son. How old is he?

00:30:18 Amy Moore

Nephew, is visiting.

00:30:21 Amanda Hester

Oh, nephew. OK. Visiting. OK, I they don't say those things to the appraisal.

00:30:27 Chris Moore

We've got 2 nephews, both of which are planning on moving in with us.

00:30:27 Amanda Hester

Oh OK.

00:30:32 Chris Moore

His older brother is probably gonna move in next month, and then basically as soon as he graduates high school...

00:30:40 Amanda Hester

All right. You know what? I did not hear that. They live here now,

00:30:40 Chris Moore

OK.

00:30:44 Amanda Hester

Alright, And what is their name and how old?

00:30:50 Amy Moore

Ashton Moore. And he's 25.

00:30:58 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:30:59 Chris Moore

We just had lunch with him.

00:31:07 Amanda Hester

And then what's your name?

00:31:08 Isaac Moore

Isaac Moore.

00:31:12 Amanda Hester

And how old are you?

00:31:14 Isaac Moore

17.

00:31:18 Amanda Hester

17, perfect. Because yeah, then I can say they lived here, so the number of rooms will change. So make it easy for safe and sanitary.

00:31:25 Chris Moore

Yeah.

00:31:30 Amanda Hester

And then there's also gonna be a... I'll just leave this with you and I will... when I when I come or... I will... hmm... 'cause since Isaac, no, since Ashton is 25, I'll need him to sign this or I can send him an E-sign one. He can E sign it. Just 'cause he's over the age of 18. Just to be, it's just his federal funds, it's just saying that...

00:31:56 Chris Moore

And he'll actually be here tomorrow if if you want to leave it for him.

00:32:02 Amanda Hester

I can do that. I just, we have prepaid envelopes. I don't really have one with me, so I didn't wanna...

00:32:08 Chris Moore

We can afford a stamp.

00:32:09 Amy Moore

A stamp is fine.

00:32:11 Chris Moore

We probably have some laying around.

00:32:17 Amy Moore

We're grown ups.

00:32:19 Chris Moore

Isaac, can I borrow a dollar?

00:32:22 Isaac Moore

I don't carry cash.

00:32:23 Chris Moore

PayPal's fine.

00:32:26 Amanda Hester

Yeah, I can leave this here. It's just saying that y'all are lawfully present in the US to receive federal funds for the state.

So your most frequent destination I'm assuming is work?

00:32:41 Amy Moore

Yes.

00:32:48 Amanda Hester

You don't obviously need any public transportation or anything. Y'all don't do the bus or... OK. Yeah, they have always random questions on here.

00:32:55 Chris Moore

We can't even get pizza delivered out here. We're not catching the bus.

00:33:01 Amanda Hester

And how long have y'all lived here?

00:33:03 Chris Moore

Bought it in '99. OK, so almost 25 years exactly. It was December of '99.

00:33:10 Amanda Hester

December of '99. Perfect. Next question was purchase.

And y'all still have existing monthly mortgage payments? Roughly how much is your every month mortgage?

00:33:27 Amy Moore

It's between $800 and $900. $860?

00:33:32 Chris Moore

Let me double check.

00:33:39 Amanda Hester

And then do you guys have a copy of your existing mortgage? Or can you e-mail it to me or something? Just to show ARDOT that you guys do have a mortgage and y'all qualified for the mortgage differential payment.

00:33:53 Chris Moore

$765 is the current mortgage.

00:33:57 Amy Moore

That's not how much we pay every month, though.

00:34:00 Chris Moore

Yeah.  Unless I'm late.

00:34:02 Amy Moore

OK.

00:34:07 Chris Moore

Yeah.

00:34:09 Amanda Hester

So then, whenever y'all can just send me just your current, the current statement so I can send that to ARDOT.

So, number of rooms you guys will need is at least three, but I think isn't this a three bedroom?

00:34:28 Amy Moore

It is.

00:34:31 Chris Moore

Three bedroom, but 1 1/2 living rooms? Or a living room and an office? I don't know how you look at it.

00:34:40 Amanda Hester

OK. And then preferred location, do you have...within this area?

00:34:45 Amy Moore

Ideally within Washington County.

00:34:51 Chris Moore

Yeah, but I mean, you know, we're open to looking at anything really.

00:34:55 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:34:59 Chris Moore

If we 'cause you know, if we find something, you know, closer to Rogers, that's close to her work and, you know, has a building that's great for studio, then yeah.

00:35:11 Amy Moore

I get that. How far is the college from here?

00:35:12 Amy Moore

About 30 minutes.

00:35:16 Chris Moore

Yeah, thereabouts.

00:35:17 Amy Moore

OK. So the students are traveling pretty far, so maybe close...

00:35:20 Chris Moore

Yeah. So, moving south, it could end that job for me.

00:35:27 Amanda Hester

Gotcha. Nope, I get that.

00:35:30 Chris Moore

Yeah, because we're probably at about the limit as far as, you know, they can really expect the students to travel right now.

00:36:04 Amanda Hester

So now switching over to business, does your business have like a certain name?

00:36:09 Chris Moore

East Hall Recording.

00:36:10 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:36:19 Chris Moore

And actually, yeah, if we go out to the studio, I've got cards out there I can give you that has on my information on there.

00:36:22 Amanda Hester

OK, perfect. And then does it have a different address?

00:36:24 Chris Moore

Same address

00:36:26 Amanda Hester

OK. Just same address, OK. I saw it was built in 2000?

00:36:34 Chris Moore

2003 was when we started building, and then I opened January 1st, 2005. So we're coming up on 20 years.

00:36:46 Amanda Hester

And then I guess you own the land and the building.

00:36:51 Chris Moore

Yes.

00:36:52 Amanda Hester

Don't sublease any portion of the property, right?

00:36:54 Chris Moore

No.

00:36:55 Amanda Hester

OK. So business, that building, do you have any employees?

00:37:03 Chris Moore

No.

00:37:04 Amanda Hester

Just you.

00:37:08 Chris Moore

Just me.

00:37:11 Amanda Hester

Seasonal business?

00:37:12 Chris Moore

Random.

00:37:13 Amanda Hester

Random.

00:37:14 Chris Moore

It depends entirely, you know, except for the college stuff, which obviously is spring semester, fall semester... But the rest of it depends entirely on the discretionary income of local musicians, so who knows.

00:37:28 Amanda Hester

So the busy time of year, would you say spring and fall? Or just random?

00:37:35 Chris Moore

Busy time of year would be... not the holidays.

00:37:38 Amanda Hester

Not the holidays.

00:37:39 Chris Moore

So, like February through November is probably the busy time. And then December and January it slacks off.

00:37:54 Amanda Hester

Do you have certain hours of operation?

00:37:57 Chris Moore

Typically noon to 9pm.

00:37:59 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:38:01 Chris Moore

That's what I tell people. If they have to come in at different hours then I'll accommodate.

00:38:10 Amanda Hester

Yeah. Then obviously, I'm sure you plan to purchase, but just ask, do you for the replacement preference? Do you wanna lease or purchase?

00:38:19 Chris Moore

Purchase. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want the overhead of leasing and not actually owning something.

00:38:26 Amanda Hester

Yeah. If you're not able to find another building like on site, is there a certain area that you would look to purchase a building or something, or are you just...

00:38:34 Chris Moore

Just as close as possible to where we are.

00:38:35 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:38:46 Chris Moore

But yeah, if we don't find something with a building on site, then the next best option would be finding something with enough land that we can put up a building.

00:38:57 Amanda Hester

Yeah. Is there a certain amount of floor space needed?

00:39:03 Chris Moore

Right now I'm at 1000 square feet out there, and that is absolutely bare minimum.

00:39:08 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:39:08 Chris Moore

I outgrew that a decade ago. So, I'm hoping to, you know, at least double it. Triple it would be nice, but we'll see.

00:39:19 Amanda Hester

Yeah. Are there any replacement site requirements? Like with the building? Like, is there anything that you're like, obviously things could be the reestablishment side, but I just didn't know there was like any requirements.

00:39:34 Chris Moore

Not really, because, I mean, a studio is so customized that whatever we find, I'm probably gonna have to start from scratch on the inside. I don't know that we would have to tear down walls that are inside, but it's entirely possible.

00:39:52 Amanda Hester

I was put unknown to it. Won't know until we get there.

00:39:55 Chris Moore

So yeah, just give me a warehouse. Just give me a warehouse and we'll go.

00:40:00 Amanda Hester

Are there any zoning requirements?

00:40:03 Chris Moore

I mean not here. I mean where we go, they probably don't want somewhere where they worry about noise.

00:40:09 Amanda Hester

True. Do you have any kind of inventory that, I don't know if you keep... like obviously you have a lot of equipment...

00:40:20 Chris Moore

Oh, do I have it all written out?

00:40:20 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:40:22 Chris Moore

Not yet.

00:40:23 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:40:24 Chris Moore

So, that was actually gonna be part of the process of whenever I have to shut down, then as I pack, I was gonna do a complete inventory of everything. Unless I need to do that earlier?

00:40:39 Amanda Hester

I'll talk to my project manager to see what ARDOT wants.

00:40:43 Chris Moore

We can send pictures...

00:40:44 Amanda Hester

Yeah, if you don't mind, I'll go over there and take pictures. I'm gonna take pictures of the house and over there just to show ARDOT. You know, this is their... you know, they have things... and so I don't know, it's just ARDOT policies taking pictures.

00:41:01 Chris Moore

And do you work for ARDOT?

00:41:02 Amanda Hester

No. So I work for Universal Field Services. We get contracted by ARDOT to be the middleman.

00:41:10 Chris Moore

Yeah. Which is probably best.

00:41:11 Amanda Hester

Yeah, I don't mind. I'm a people person. Like talking. I like getting out there.

Is there gonna be any need for any outside specialists, like someone to come in, like the way we were explained is like a restaurant. Like obviously you have to have a certain flow in the kitchen to make the things run. Do you need an outside specialist to come in and make sure everything set up like in a perfect flow?

00:41:35 Chris Moore

In an ideal world, yeah, I would love to hire an acoustician to work on the acoustics of the building.

00:41:42 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:41:46 Chris Moore

I don't necessarily plan on that. You know, as far as workflow I know I need.  I know what the limitations have been over the last 20 years. So that's that's not a big deal. And I'm, you know, I pretty well know the acoustics too.

00:42:03 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:42:03 Chris Moore

So I haven't planned on hiring an acoustician. If there's money to do it? I'd love to!

00:42:08 Amanda Hester

Yeah! Yeah! If ARDOT's gonna pay for it then, yeah!

00:42:12 Chris Moore

Because they know more than I do. But yeah, I can get it going. A lot of fiberglass insulation.

00:42:26 Amanda Hester

What would the specialist... acoustic...

00:42:30 Chris Moore

Acoustician. "Acoustic. I. A. N."

00:42:43 Amanda Hester

Type of building desired? Warehouse? or just something...

00:42:47 Chris Moore

Yeah, warehouse... something on a concrete slab. Yeah, it needs to be on a concrete slab. Like I said, ideal would be a big empty warehouse. And then just build it out from there.

00:43:06 Amanda Hester

OK...

And then...

I will...

I think this is...

So same thing...

So I will leave this one here. This is just...

And y'all can...

I typically make adjustments and more lines, but if you need to like...

Just someone sign here, and then someone, you know, you can even write signature, print, signature, print, and just, you know, for different areas cause for the residence side.

If you all just wanna squeeze three people somehow in areas and do that, I'll leave this one with you guys. And just check, sign and date, and print name, and then I'll sign it down there once I get it back.

And then for you, the business side. I will just have you down here...

Check that you know you're lawfully...

Your business lawfully present in the US, and then sign and date for the business.

00:44:06 Chris Moore

Just check it, or initial it?

00:44:09 Amanda Hester

You can just check it, yeah.

00:44:10 Chris Moore

OK.

00:44:32 Amanda Hester

Yeah. The business side...

00:44:33 Chris Moore

Do I need to check the second one too?

00:44:35 Amanda Hester

You can. It's... it doesn't make sense.

00:44:36 Chris Moore

I'm not incorporated though.

00:44:38 Amanda Hester

OK. Then you're fine just doing the first one.

00:44:40 Chris Moore

OK.

00:44:40 Amanda Hester

Yeah.

00:44:42 Chris Moore

I was for the first few years, but then I realized I was just better off doing a sole proprietorship.

00:44:49 Amanda Hester

So this is pretty much all. And then if you don't mind, just, walking me around, take pictures, and outside and then I'll just need some kind of proof of business for your business side and then just a current mortgage.

00:45:09 Amy Moore

Federal income tax statements? OK, how many?

00:45:12 Amanda Hester

Yeah, that will, yeah.

00:45:15 Amy Moore

How many years or how far back?

00:45:18 Amanda Hester

Just do two. And then, oh yeah, which I don't see you wanna do, I forgot getting all... a lot of information overload. There's the in lieu, which is now... 'cause I think it still says the old dollar amount on there too. But this would... but honestly if the move and getting things for your equipment up and running, and making sure everything is good, 'cause the in lieu here was $40,000, so but now it's $50,000. No, I think it's $53,200. So it's gone up to $53,200, but that would cover everything. The move, the reestablishment, the site search. So if you think that moving your equipment and also that's also your tax documents... the average... so if you go over $50,000 and your average equals that dollar amount, then that's what the in lieu will pay. So that's also something for you to look into if you think that, oh, I'm not gonna hit $50,000 on reestablishment and the moves not gonna be but $20,000. Then maybe the. Yeah, I'm sure it'll be over. I'm sure it will be with all the equipment.

00:46:55 Chris Moore

Yeah, it's probably moot point.

00:46:58 Amanda Hester

So, doing all the other steps, if that's where you think, you know, ARDOT, you know, will pay the best and all that. Then I would stick with doing all the different steps rather than the in lieu. But that will work. So I'll just...

00:47:14 Chris Moore

OK. What do you want to see first?

00:47:17 Amanda Hester

We'll start here at the house. I'll just snap some pictures and show...

00:47:22 Chris Moore

You want some lights?

00:47:29 Amanda Hester

If you want. I don't care. I just snap away.

00:47:30 Chris Moore

OK.

00:47:35 Amanda Hester

Don't worry, I'm making sure you're not in it. Unless you wanna say cheese.

00:47:40 Chris Moore

I'm fine.

00:47:40 Amanda Hester

Yeah. No, I think everyone out, even myself.

00:50:18 Photos in the studio...

00:50:20 Chris Moore

We're set up for a podcast right now, so this whole setup kind of moves in and out. So actually I do have some floor space every once in a while.

00:50:30 Amanda Hester

What podcast do you do?

00:50:31 Chris Moore

This is for the students.

00:50:32 Amanda Hester

OK.

00:50:44 Amanda Hester

You have quite the equipment. Holy cow.

00:50:52 Chris Moore

Yeah, there's a storage unit too. Basically, move stuff back and forth.

00:51:03 Amanda Hester

That's the lot of equipment.

00:51:07 Chris Moore

Long time collecting.

00:51:11 Amanda Hester

Well you've been doing it for quiet some time.

00:51:20 Amanda Hester

Yeah. My project manager and I, when we found out we were doing a recording studio, we're like, OK, we're gonna be the next Morgan Wallin and post Malone!

00:51:32 Chris Moore

Yeah. And then we get into the stuff that's going to be the really delicate moves back here.

00:51:43 Chris Moore

That's basically storage right now.

00:51:47 Chris Moore

There's another room back there.

00:52:11 Amanda Hester

There's so much.

00:52:23 Amanda Hester

Yeah. You'll definitely wanna not do the in lieu.

00:52:29 Chris Moore

The board without the desk is 650lbs. And then the tape machine is 500lbs. So like those are the biggest things.

00:52:46 Amanda Hester

And then so when it comes to anything moving, reestablishment, you'll just get a bid. And wherever the new place is, I'll come out, take pictures to show, like, if we need the installation stuff, try to take pictures and note to ARDOT that these are the two bids. This is what's covering and get approved. And then we'll pay the company directly for doing it once it's completed, or you know... it's... yeah, There's many ways to do it, so. We will... Yeah, this will be a fun little process.

00:53:27 Chris Moore

Mm.

00:53:28 Amanda Hester

And I can finally say I moved a recording studio!

00:53:32 Chris Moore

You and me both.

00:53:33 Chris Moore

I moved it all in piece by piece, but I've never moved the studio.

00:53:37 Amanda Hester

Well, hopefully will make it as stress free as possible and...

00:53:44 Chris Moore

Yeah. And then hopefully it's a chance to...

00:53:47 Amanda Hester

Yeah, get a bigger space.

00:53:48 Chris Moore

Improve a little bit.

00:53:50 Chris Moore

Here's my card.

00:53:51 Amanda Hester

Oh yes. Thank you.

And then you guys think of any questions that pop up text me, email me, call me, whatever is needed, and I will send you guys, once I show ARDOT, you know, I have to upload the documents for you business, make you guys eligible for business, and then show the mortgage. You're already eligible for a residential, but., they want the mortgages up front sooner.

00:54:24 Chris Moore

The out buildings? You need to see those?

00:54:26 Amanda Hester

Yes, I will go ahead and see those too.

00:54:36 Amanda Hester

Yeah, I'll send you a general notice. Just so when the project's coming for both your business and the residence.

00:54:46 Chris Moore

Is that when we get like actual numbers?

00:54:48 Amanda Hester

No, that would just be saying pretty much what just said, hey project's gonna happen, and then I'll get... That will also give me the green light to start on your comparable house study.

00:55:05 Chris Moore

This is the well house.

00:55:33 Chris Moore

And then this is basically storage and a workshop in the back. Pottery stuff once I get the storage out of there.

00:56:04 Amanda Hester

You're a man of many hobbies.

00:56:07 Chris Moore

I try. I'd have more if I had more room.

00:56:11 Amanda Hester

Well, hopefully this move will make that happen.

00:56:14 Chris Moore

That would be nice.

00:56:18 Amanda Hester

Perfect.

00:56:40 Amanda Hester

Alright. Well, thank you so much.

EDL-001 — TRANSCRIPT 2024-11-26 Meeting with Universal (Amanda Hester).pdf

EDL-001 — Full Ingestion

1. File Information

Title: TRANSCRIPT 2024-11-26 Meeting with Universal (Amanda Hester)

Type: PDF

Length: ~30 pages of transcribed dialogue

Participants:

Chris Moore

Amy Moore

Amanda Hester (Universal Field Services — contracted by ARDOT)

Isaac Moore (nephew)

Date of Meeting: November 26, 2024

2. Full Text Extraction

Complete extracted text from the PDF has been ingested and is preserved in the Library.
(See parsed text in prior tool output; not repeated here per Library rules.)

3. Summary

This meeting is the initial relocation consultation with Amanda Hester from Universal Field Services, representing ARDOT in relocation matters. It establishes the framework, rules, timelines, benefits, and requirements for both the residential and business (studio) sides of the eminent domain taking.

Key systems (relocation eligibility, comparable housing study, moving reimbursement rules, reestablishment allowance, mortgage differential, site search payments, etc.) are explained — many of which differ substantially from what Chris and Amy were previously told in 2022.

Amanda also confirms several major policy changes, including:

No cap on commercial moving costs

Reestablishment cap increased to $50,000

In-lieu business payment increased to $53,200

Buyer now must pay their own realtor fee (due to NAR litigation changes)

She takes notes to prepare eligibility notices and states that you are not yet “eligible,” meaning you must not move anything until that notice is delivered.

She also confirms the project is happening and a general notice will soon be mailed.

Amanda collects personal info, mortgage details, business details, acreage, and requirements for both replacement home and replacement business.

She also indicates ARDOT has never relocated a recording studio before.

4. Key Findings

A. ARDOT Policies (Residential)

Four “buckets” of relocation money:

Comparable House Study: Bridges the gap between ARDOT’s appraisal and actual market prices.

Moving Costs:

Two bids required under $25,000

Three bids required over $25,000

No dollar cap on residential moving if commercial movers are used.

Mortgage Differential Payment: Pays the difference between your current interest rate and prevailing rates for the remainder of your existing mortgage term (27 years).

Incidental Closing Costs: Covers appraisals, origination, etc. (non-recurring).

Location Radius:

Standard = 50 miles

More allowed with ARDOT approval

Eligibility timeline:

After eligibility notice → 90-day minimum before ARDOT can require vacancy.

Comparable property selection:

Amanda presents one comparable

ARDOT approves (or rejects) her choice

You can buy a different home

If you choose a cheaper home, your benefit is reduced (“spend to get” rule)

B. ARDOT Policies (Business / Studio)

Commercial move has no cap

All equipment, pianos, tape machines, consoles, racks, electrical infrastructure, floor isolation, ventilation, etc., can be included.

Extremely important: Electrical work and acoustic modifications may qualify under moving costs (uncapped), not reestablishment.

Reestablishment funding:

Increased to $50,000 cap

Can cover:

signage

office construction

non-structural repairs

reconfiguration

But ARDOT prefers to route structural & functional items under “moving” because moving is uncapped.

Specialty movers are allowed

Piano movers

Technicians who must uninstall/reinstall your console

Certified techs for tape machines

HVAC/electrical-specific installs

Anything that requires a specialty contractor can be included.

Site Search:

Up to $5,000 reimbursed for searching both residential & business sites

Must log visits/viewings

In-Lieu Business Payment:

Now $53,200

Only makes sense if all move + reestablishment + site-search + equipment reinstall would total less than $53k.

Given the complexity of your studio, Amanda says you should NOT take in-lieu.

ARDOT has never relocated a recording studio before

Meaning you are setting a precedent

Many of your requirements will shape their interpretation

This gives you leverage due to administrative risk

C. Major Contradictions with 2022 Info

Amanda specifically acknowledges the earlier agent was inexperienced and that the regulations have changed since 2022.

Contradictions:

2022: $25,000 cap on moving

2024 reality: No cap.

2022: Reestablishment ~$20k–$30k

2024 reality: $50,000

2022: They would find you 3 houses

2024 reality: Only 1 comparable is shown

2022: “Don’t put money into the house”

Amanda: Unsure if this was correct. The real determiner is the appraisal date.

D. Business-Specific Leverage Points

Every aspect of a specialized studio environment can be classified under “moving” if needed, because the equipment cannot function without proper installation.

Because this is the first studio relocation in ARDOT history, they have incentive not to mishandle it.

The sheer scale and weight of your equipment (650-lb console, 500-lb tape machine, pianos, racks) provides justification for:

Multiple specialized contractors

Electrical upgrades

Acoustic isolation materials

Floor reinforcement

HVAC upgrades

Warehouse requirement and slab requirement are reasonable and must be accommodated.

5. Contextual Relevance to Case Strategy

This transcript is highly significant because it establishes:

ARDOT’s relocation obligations

Policy updates that dramatically expand your benefits

Evidence that earlier staff gave inaccurate or outdated information

Justification for extensive, expensive specialty handling of studio equipment

That ARDOT contractors acknowledge the complexity of your relocation

The first documented admission that they have never relocated a recording studio before

This transcript will be foundational in:

Negotiating for maximum allowable relocation funds

Structuring bids for movers, electricians, acousticians

Planning reestablishment strategy

Challenging any lowball interpretations later

Demonstrating reliance on state-provided instructions in legal disputes

It also anticipates the timeline where you must:

Maintain operations long enough to manage the semester

Brace for a 90-day countdown once eligibility is issued

6. Cross-References in Library

(As the Library grows, these will link to additional EDLs.)

References inconsistent prior guidance (future EDLs: 2022 meeting notes)

Connects to appraisal documents (future EDLs)

Connects to legal strategy regarding ARDOT obligations

Connects to relocation cost planning

Connects to future site evaluations

7. Recommended Next Steps

(Not part of EDL, but provided at the end of the entry as actionable guidance)

Prepare an exhaustive studio equipment inventory BEFORE eligibility notice arrives.

Begin identifying specialized contractors now (piano movers, console techs, HVAC, electricians).

Start collecting potential slab-built warehouses and land options.

Gather mortgage documentation for Amanda.

Upload any prior relocation documents from 2022 to cross-reference contradictions.