Day 183: Squeky Wheel Gets the Grease

Maybe, just maybe, we accomplished some good towards completing the home last week when we met with our contractor. At least this week it appears that he is paying a bit more attention to the progress of our home. What have we accomplished let's take a look:



This week we have completed all of the tile work, installed a driveway and walkway, preliminary grading for landscaping, installed gas meter, installed power meter, completed the bead board in the lower bedroom, installed the Trex deck, and finally delivered the shelving materials for our cold storage room shelving.

In the upcoming week we can expect to completed the cold storage shelving and begin paint preparations and maybe do a little painting. As I said the squeaky wheel appears to get the grease and we are a bit more pleased this week with progress; but then again we look next door and ask the question: "Why did he start the stone work on the house next door before ours, if we are top priority?" Hm....

Day 176: Behind Closed Doors

Day 176:
We can label this week a week of activities behind closed doors. Monday, they stained our wood floors and so locked doors were applied for several days. Meanwhile, little activity transpired.

Thus another meeting with the contractor was held behind closed doors where we discussed additional pricing and the lack of performance. I think that our contractor was a bit disappointed in the lack of performance also once he had inspected what has been accomplished in the past two weeks, while he was laid up with hip surgery.

Friday, tile contractor floated the floors for the tile, of course no pictures to share due to locked doors. Saturday, our grading contractor showed up and graded out the driveway and walkway. Next week, I hope to have driveway/walkway installed, stone work started, tile completed and paint preps in the works.

Day 169: One Day More

Well after experiencing a somewhat frustrating week with no progress, we thought that it would be safe to assume (and everyone knows what assume stands for)that there would be no progress on our home over the weekend.

Wrong! I drove by this afternoon, to find our stucco was colored and completed and our banister railings on the stairwell were installed.
Amazing at what can happen in just one day! Of course I wonder with the one step forward if we have now taken two steps back; considering we have one broken window to repair, a split banister post, and a stone column without stone archway as planned.
I would just love to see one day's progress result in a what we expected.

But then again a wise man taught me that you don't get what you expect, you get what you inspect.

Day 168: 180 Days to build a home??

They say a home can be built in 180 days, hmm, we are fast approaching 180 days and our contractor only tells us that he is trying to complete by September 15th (203 days) and will guarantee that we will be completed by September 30th (218 days). Now remember our original promise was September 1 (Day 189). Hurray is all I can say!

Remember we close on our existing home August 31st with the original plan to move only once. Now we have to move our belongings into storage, find a place to live anywhere from two-four weeks, and then move our belongings out of storage into our new home. Needless to say an unexpected cost to endure.

Progress on our home? Hmm, this week, the finish carpenter completed his work on Monday. Doors and casings are hung, baseboards are completed except where the wood floor has to be stained, closet shelving is installed,stair banister is installed and the crown molding is completed. The rest of the week, Tuesday-Thursday there has been no progress. This is maddening when we were hoping to be completed by September 1.

The home is beginning to look nice and we are excited about how it is turning out despite all of the pain and misery that it has been to construct.
Speaking of pain and misery, this week we encountered the communication gap between owner and contractor again. "Wet Bar in basement that is an extra.", "No, that is included in furnishing a completed basement". "It's not in the contract document". "Why isn't it in the document it was included on our list of inclusions to be part of the final price". " Well we will re-visit the issue" "Hmm, looks like a compromise is in the works to me". Regardless, it will cost both of us some money.

Well as we near the end of the tunnel, I believe that is the light at the end of the tunnel and not the train coming at me. We have recognized that our budget to complete the home is going to exceed our original budget amount. We have really figured out how the allowance program works. Allowances only give you a bare minimum to work with. Oh, you want color tile that's an upgrade. Oh, you want light bulbs in those fixtures, that will be an upgrade. I'm beginning to feel like every time we talk to a supplier or subcontractor it'll be another thousand dollars. We have also been floored by some of the sticker shock of items and now I"m nervous to see those items that we approved to be installed without an established bid price. I'm sure we will jump with glee at how lost the price will be.

It'll will all be worth it, I"m sure when all is said and done.

Day 162: Progress??

Well we accomplished about half of what we had hoped for this week. First accomplishment is the stucco base course was installed. Now we get to wonder when will the rock and color stucco be installed. One week, two weeks, do I hear three?

Our wood trim subcontractor did show up for a couple of days this past week and hung the doors,reviewed the closet design with us,and began to complete the closets. Hopefully, he will come back soon. We haven't seen him for three days now. Another MIA if you know what I mean.


To just add to the plot, our contractor enters the hospital tomorrow for hip surgery. Yup, I'm sure that he will be up and pushing the work with a day or so. He ensures us that the work will continue to progress but also reminds us that he has more than one home he is building.

I'm looking at the work to complete and the progress observed in surrounding homes has me worried. Mid-September? I'm begining to believe that it might be October.