Comments on: Construction Update http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/ Just tidbits about money and finance. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:22:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: lanea http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/#comment-194488 lanea Tue, 13 May 2008 17:43:07 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/?p=1122#comment-194488 Oh, that just sucks. We're over budget too--it's part of the process, I guess. Oh, that just sucks. We’re over budget too–it’s part of the process, I guess.

]]> By: Debt Daddy http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/#comment-194382 Debt Daddy Sun, 11 May 2008 06:25:55 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/?p=1122#comment-194382 The short answer is yes, it's going to take twice as long and cost twice as much. Do what you can to help your contractor (i.e make your decisions quickly so he can get the stuff ordered)and keep breathing in and out. Things happen. A contractor (and I am one myself) will give you an estimate based both on what he can see and what he can foresee. A leak from the unit above is unforseen, unavoidable and not his fault. He was probably just as frustrated as you were that the ceiling got trashed. Hidden concrete in the walls - also unknowable. But it sounds like you have a decent guy doing your work - hopefully he'll work with you on some of the numbers. Try to keep your sense of humor, remember to breathe, and go for the granite. You'll be glad you did. The short answer is yes, it’s going to take twice as long and cost twice as much. Do what you can to help your contractor (i.e make your decisions quickly so he can get the stuff ordered)and keep breathing in and out.

Things happen. A contractor (and I am one myself) will give you an estimate based both on what he can see and what he can foresee. A leak from the unit above is unforseen, unavoidable and not his fault. He was probably just as frustrated as you were that the ceiling got trashed. Hidden concrete in the walls - also unknowable. But it sounds like you have a decent guy doing your work - hopefully he’ll work with you on some of the numbers.

Try to keep your sense of humor, remember to breathe, and go for the granite. You’ll be glad you did.

]]> By: mapgirl http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/#comment-194285 mapgirl Fri, 09 May 2008 20:26:15 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/?p=1122#comment-194285 efrain: Thanks for the advice. But I can't really hang out all day and watch them work at the house when there is no bathroom to use. :-) The contractor used to live in my neighborhood and a good guy. He wasn't going to pass on some of the extra costs on my project until I told him I would cover for it. (He uncovered some other stuff that took an extra day to remove.) I actually have done some drywall work and small projects with Habitat for Humanity. I've asked around and looked into pricing on things. I'm still way under what most ppl would pay for a remodel due to the small size. MsMiniDucky: The countertop I was going to order is not as nice as granite, i.e. plastic. It will be more because granite is more, whether it is scrap or not. Scrap means that it isn't a special order and I won't have pay ridiculously more for it and I will get it faster than the custom piece we were going to order. efrain: Thanks for the advice. But I can’t really hang out all day and watch them work at the house when there is no bathroom to use. :-)

The contractor used to live in my neighborhood and a good guy. He wasn’t going to pass on some of the extra costs on my project until I told him I would cover for it. (He uncovered some other stuff that took an extra day to remove.)

I actually have done some drywall work and small projects with Habitat for Humanity. I’ve asked around and looked into pricing on things. I’m still way under what most ppl would pay for a remodel due to the small size.

MsMiniDucky: The countertop I was going to order is not as nice as granite, i.e. plastic. It will be more because granite is more, whether it is scrap or not. Scrap means that it isn’t a special order and I won’t have pay ridiculously more for it and I will get it faster than the custom piece we were going to order.

]]> By: Msminiducky http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/#comment-194276 Msminiducky Fri, 09 May 2008 19:19:46 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/?p=1122#comment-194276 Oh my word. That's just phenomenally frustrating. I would think that if he's cutting the light grey countertop from scrap material, he shouldn't be charging $100 MORE. Also, if he didn't check for leaks, I think efrain's right that that was his responsibility to make sure it was ok to put in the ceiling piece. :( Good luck! Oh my word. That’s just phenomenally frustrating.
I would think that if he’s cutting the light grey countertop from scrap material, he shouldn’t be charging $100 MORE. Also, if he didn’t check for leaks, I think efrain’s right that that was his responsibility to make sure it was ok to put in the ceiling piece. :(

Good luck!

]]> By: efrain http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/2008/05/09/construction-update/#comment-194262 efrain Fri, 09 May 2008 15:37:48 +0000 http://www.mapgirl.net/mfc/?p=1122#comment-194262 Are you there when the workers are doing their work? Are you asking all the questions you have to the contractor, including what if scenarios with costs to those scenarios? Do you know as much about the project as you think you should? The contractor should have checked for a leak before he ordered to put the ceiling piece in. That's part of his job, to get the overall project done, in a timely manor, and work hard to keep within your budget. Make sure he's not taking you for a ride. Are you there when the workers are doing their work? Are you asking all the questions you have to the contractor, including what if scenarios with costs to those scenarios? Do you know as much about the project as you think you should?

The contractor should have checked for a leak before he ordered to put the ceiling piece in. That’s part of his job, to get the overall project done, in a timely manor, and work hard to keep within your budget. Make sure he’s not taking you for a ride.

]]>