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Calvin and I started getting concerned when, after the plumber and electrician were *mostly* done, work seemed to cease on our project. Commitment dates came and went. Two weeks went by with no activity. Excuse after excuse was offered. The latest (I just learned today) was that our GC had to fire his framers - who did an excellent job with our stuff, by the way - because of "insubordination". What really happened (we found upon some adroit questioning of the guys when they were on site) was that the check the GC gave the framers, for payment on our job, bounced. The framers refused to come back until they were paid with actual money. No shit, Sherlock. This made our eyebrows raise alarmingly - we'd given the GC three out of four draws from the loan, so he should have *plenty* of money to pay his vendors. We posed this question to the GC, who again fell all over himself making reassurances and more commitments. At this point Calvin decided a pow-wow with the GC was in order. So, the GC was invited to our "home" (feh) to walk the project and discuss details. Now, Calvin is a very blunt person (***WARNING*** Understatement!). Calvin pointed out all the missed details and missed commitments. He "expressed his concerns" (hah) over the quality of the service we've received thus far. He "suggested" (HAH!) several ways to improve said service. He "negotiated" (BWAAAHAHAHAHAAA!!!) new commit dates which *would* be adhered to. In other words, he practically had the GC in tears. One absolutely effing annoying habit the GC has is to talk over you when you're talking. You'll get half a statement out, and he'll start talking and already providing excuses. Then when you try to get him to *stop* talking so you can finish your statment, he talks *louder*. Calvin had to finally *yell*, "GC, shut the f**k up so I can finish what I'm saying. You can't hear me if you're talking!" It helped. Well, for that conversation anyway. I must say he doesn't try it on with Calvin nearly as much as he does with me. So, I try to get Calvin to do most of the communication with the guy. You're probably starting to see a trend here. Whatever parts of the project Calvin and I own get done quickly, efficiently and effectively (albeit with a great deal of hard work). Any parts owned by the GC are fraught with delays, missed details, aggravations, and more delays. So, now Calvin and I are thinking that, for the amount of involvement we've had even though we hired a GC, we should have just done the damned project ourselves. 20-20 hindsight. Anyway, the upshot of the pow-wow was a flurry of activity around the house. AC was installed. Eletricity was completed. Plumbing was completed. Stucco prep was accomplished. Drywall was begun. Trenches were refilled. The yard was cleaned up of materials. We are now, according to the GC, two weeks away from his part being completed. The drywall needs to be finished (tape & texture), the finish carpentry needs to happen, the wall penetrations need to be completed, the skylights need to be installed, the electricity and plumbing need to be hooked up, the stucco needs to be applied. Then we come in with the flooring vendor and paint. We've purchased living room and bedroom furniture, and a pool table for the family room. Now we just have to have finished rooms to put them in! What was supposed to happen in twelve weeks is now being drawn out into twice that long, and probably more than that if the GC's track record holds true. I'd like to try to benefit you all with what I've learned from this experience: * When you want something done right, don't hire a General Contractor. * When budgeting for a home improvement project, estimate your costs, then double it. * When going to Home Depot, allow enough time to make your purchase, drive all the way home, realize you bought the wrong thing, drive all the way back, wait in a "return" line fifteen customers long, return your item, search through the store until you find the right thing, and make another purchase. Lather, rinse, repeat. * Don't get a new puppy the month before beginning construction, if you plan on spending any time at all teaching it manners. * Allow room in your grocery budget for an increase in alcohol consumption. * DON'T ATTEMPT to live among a home improvement project of this magnitude. Word to the wise. |
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