east valley
Volume 1 Issue 29 Mesa, AZ
March 3, 2019
‘Tweener’ service aims to take stress out of home sales
Nick Calvi and his TweenerHomes.com service helped Norma Ramirez, daughters Mia and Liana and husband Andy (not pictured) find a temporary house until they could move into their new home. (Special to AFN)
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor
N
IN THE BIZ
orma and Andy Ramirez were full of dread at a time when they should have been brimming with excitement. They had made a decision to sell their Chandler home and find a new one, but Public Notices ........... page 2 © Copyright, 2019 East Valley Tribune
they were dreading the constant interruption by Realtors and prospective buyers and the need to keep the house immaculate and clutter-free. A hotel seemed out of the question, especially given that their teenaged daughters Mia and Liana had been accustomed to a room – and bathroom – of their own. (USPS 004-616) is published weekly
Mailing Address: 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 898-6500 Steven Strickbine, publisher Paul Maryniak, executive editor
Enter Nick Calvi, the founder of a real estate brokerage called Tweener Homes, which helps sellers in the East Valley rent a full furnished home until they can move into their new house. “It was so smooth,” Norma recalled. “We were able to move everything out into storage. Our house was always clean and open anytime for people to come through.” Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: East Valley Tribune, 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 291, Tempe, AZ 85282
And, best of all, the girls still had their own space because the temporary home was just about the same size as the one the Ramirezes were leaving behind after 17 years. Even better, Norma added, there was no pressure to find a place ASAP, so they could leisurely entertain offers while looking for new permanent digs. “It was almost like we packed a suitcase for a vacation,” Norma said. Calvi calls his service of providing fully furnished temporary quarters – complete with even dishes, kitchenware and bedding – the “match.com” for homes. But it’s more than a dating site in that it fills a need that’s been the bane of sellers everywhere, he said. “There are numerous vacation rental companies and websites that allow property owners the ability to rent their home as a vacation rental for short-term rental stays less than 30 days,” he explained. “There are also plenty of options for those seeking a long-term rental with a minimum 12-month lease. “Unfortunately, those in between short- and long-term stays, no good options existed. I wanted to provide a comfortable home for ‘tweeners’ and connect them with people who own homes and do not use for personal use the whole year, thus creating a winwin situation.” The Chandler-based business serves the entire East Valley, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee. Though his company is fairly new, the Realtor has been thinking about the situation it addresses ever since he and his family moved to Arizona in 2008 to escape the bitter cold of Chicago. “Six years after we moved here, we entered into a contract to build a home in Chandler and a few months after that, listed our home for sale. Within a few weeks of listing, we received an acceptable offer with a close date that would leave us with a threeto-four-month wait time until our new home would be ready. We wanted to move our belongings into storage and find a comfortable furnished
home to move into. “This is when I experienced firsthand the difficulty in finding one,” he continued. “There were plenty of short-term vacation rental sites, but the cost to rent for months at a time was exorbitant. We also saw numerous properties, mostly unfurnished, that were offered for rent with a minimum one-year lease. However, the in-between time. I thought ‘It shouldn’t be this hard.’” Over time, Calvi found out his experience was hardly unique. “The good majority of agents and brokers I talk to have had or know people who have been in a jam when it comes to monthly, furnished rental homes,” he said. “I want to be a resource for these agents and brokers so they can concentrate on what they do so well: provide excellent service, dedication and communication to their clients to help them sell their home for top dollar and find their new, permanent dream home.” Then one day, the 10-year Realtor had a client who was in the same situation he was when he moved here. “I was able to find a family who wanted to sell their home but were concerned they would sell before they had found their new dream home to move into. I knew a person who only used his Arizona home a few months in the winter season and was pleased to rent out and make money on the home while helping out this nice family. We subsequently listed and sold their home and were able to then find them their new dream home, which they are living in today.”
EAST VALLEY BUSINESS
2
As easy as his service is, it wasn’t all that easy to set it up, Calvi said. “I spent the better part of a year researching companies that offer shortterm and long-term rentals,” he recalled. “I then started working with a web design company to include best practices from both. I learned I needed to obtain my broker’s license, so I enrolled in classes and obtained an Arizona real estate broker’s license. I set up a corporation and a brokerage firm (Tweener Homes) with the Arizona Department of Real Estate.” After researching web design and marketing/branding companies across the country, Calvi picked Chandler-based Concept 2 Completion, owned by Chandler Councilman Mark Stewart and Russ Wall. “They have been a valuable asset and will be taking on bigger roles for the business,” he said. Though he admits “I greatly underestimated the time, the obstacles to overcome and the money required to get this going,” Calvi is happy now. “The response thus far has made it all worthwhile,” he said. “I look forward to helping people during what can be one of the most stressful times in their lives. In fact, one of the first promotional items I bought was a stress reliever shaped like a house. My hope is that Tweener Homes can take some of that stress away.” Norma Ramirez doesn’t disagree. “I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said. “In fact, I already have.” Information: TweenerHomes.com
MARCH 3, 2019
MESA
City of Mesa Public Notice CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: FIRE STATION NO. 221 Vicinity of South Ellsworth Road and Point Twenty Two Boulevard, Mesa Arizona PROJECT NO. CP0102
The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CM@Risk) to provide PreConstruction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CM@Risk for the Fire Station No. 221 Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be re-viewed with the selected CM@Risk and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping. Fire Station No. 221 will be a single story, 4-bay, 12,000 square foot fire station. The proposed fire station will have four (4) drive-thru apparatus bays, ten (10) Fire Fighter dorms, two (2) Captain’s offices, kitchen, dining room, dayroom, fitness area, offices, and the associated operations-based functions for a typical neighborhood fire station. Included in this station will be a Fire/EMS Training/Community Room. The estimated construction cost is $4.8 million. The total estimated project cost is $6.9 million. A Pre-Submittal Conference will not be held. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http:// mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/ construction-manager-at-risk-andjob-order-contracting-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited
on steel piping shall be 100% nondestructively tested per the City of Mesa Operations, Maintenance, Emergency Response and Construction Practices manual. There are existing gas valves that shall be used to shut down the existing 6-inch high pressure gas line near the existing regulator station for the high-pressure tie-in at Skyline and Circle Cross Ranch. There is an existing gas valve to shut down the 4-inch PE gas line at Hunt Highway and Kelly Drive. The Scada equipment shall be installed per the approved plans on the northwest side of the north vault of the new regulator station. The Contractor shall supply all electrical materials associated with the Scada installation up to and including the pressure transducers. The Scada installation shall include intrusion switches and associated conduit, seal-offs and fittings to both proposed vaults, pressure transducers, Scada cabinet, radio, pole, foundation, antenna, solar panels, solar charger, programmable logic controller, switches, relays and associated fittings to make a working system. The Engineer’s Estimate range is 4,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00. For all technical, contract, bidrelated, or other questions, please contact Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indir-ect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order.e-arc.com/arcEOC/ PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans. NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed. The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $24.00, which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com. One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are avail-able for viewing. In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c. If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific
to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide eight (8) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy (CD or USB drive) of the Statement of Qualifications by 2:00pm on March 20, 2019. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Delivered or hand-carried submittals must be delivered to the Engineering Department reception area on the fifth floor of Mesa City Plaza Building in a sealed package. On the submittal package, please display: Firm name, project number, and project title. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System ( h tt p : / / m e s a a z . g ov / bu s i n e s s / purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Publish: East Valley Tribune Mar 3, 10, 2019 / 19094
City of Mesa Public Notice CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA SKYLINE DRIVE 6” HIGH PRESSURE GAS LINE, 4” PE GAS LINE AND REGULATOR STATION PROJECT NO. C10376SRHP ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. All sealed bids will be received at Mesa City Plaza Building, Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, 5th Floor, Mesa, Arizona; except for bids delivered 30 minutes prior to opening which will be received at the information desk, 1st floor, Main Lobby of the Mesa City Plaza Building. Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration. This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work: Install 8,950 LF of 6-inch coated steel gas pipe by trenching and 2,270 LF of 6-inch coated steel gas pipe by horizontal directional boring. Install 4,130 LF of 4-inch PE gas pipe by trenching and 1,375 LF of 4-inch PE gas pipe by horizontal directional boring. Construct a new below ground operating/monitoring gas regulator station near Hunt Highway and Kelly Road. The City of Mesa shall supply all gas materials shown on the quantities list on the approved plans specified by “Gas System Quantities to be Furnished by the City of Mesa”. The Contractor shall supply all quantities shown on the cover sheet specified by “Estimated Asphalt Quantities” and all quantities on sheet C4 specified by “Electrical Quantities for Operating-Monitoring District Regulator Station (to be Furnished by Contractor)”. All welds
EAST VALLEY BUSINESS
3
Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.” Work shall be completed within 194 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed. Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System ( h tt p : / / m e s a a z . g ov / bu s i n e s s / purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Publish: East Valley Tribune, Mar. 3, 2019 / 19090
GENERAL Public Notice
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the under-signed intends to sell the personal property de-scribed below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to the Arizona Self-Service Storage Act, Arizona Statutes 33-1704, Section H, Enforcement of Lien. The Undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on or after March 22, 2019 at 9:00am using an online auction at www.stor-agetreasures. com, said property has been stored and located at US 60 Self Storage, 1661 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 102, Mesa, AZ 85210. Property to be sold as follows: Misc. household goods, personal items, furniture, clothing, toys and/or business fixtures and items belonging to the following: Tenant NameUnit # Lacey, Summer 136 Reyes, Israel 219 Avery, Rachel 1007 Martin, Maria 501 Duncan, Conner 653 Nixon, Beverly 126 Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Items sold “as is”, CASH ONLY, and Buyer must pay a security deposit and broom sweep/clean the unit. Go to www.storagetreas-ures. com to bid on nit(s). Publish: East Valley Tribune Mar 3, 10, 2019 / 18987
MARCH 3, 2019
the tickler
east valley 1620 W. Fountainhead Pkwy., Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282
PERIODICALS U. S. POSTAGE PA I D GOODYEAR, AZ 85338