🚀 go-pugleaf

James Leatherwood wrote:
> 
> In article <32925c93.90541252@nntp.ix.netcom.com>, From
> petex@ix.netcom.com (Peter Bucy), the following was written:
> > As a Builder, I often find that the prospective buyer is the one who
> > wants to cut costs. Prior to signing the contract they "don't want any
> > frills," or  they "just want the least expensive construction that
> > they can get away with." We constantly hear the line, "I want a big
> > house, but I really don't want to spend a lot of money."
> 
> When having our house built, my wife and I actually went the other way.
> Our $160K house (of which $50K was lot cost) wound up costing us
> $200K+change. My biggest problem is that, even though we told our
> builder, the job-site foreman, and every sub we talked to that we wanted
> to get good-quality materials, and have everything done right, we still
> have difficulties. We moved in Nov. 8...three weeks after the
> "projected" settlement date set when we signed the contract.
> 
> For example:
> The door from the mud room to the garage is poorly hung. It won't latch
> unless you lift *hard* on the knob to line the latch up with the strike
> plate. As a result, the knob and the door itself are taking a beating.
> Mr. Builder has promised to fix it...last week.
> 
> The trim crew caulked up to about eight inches from the top of every
> cased opening. Then stopped. None of the tops of the moldings are
> painted, though they *did* come back and finish the caulking when I
> pitched a fit.
> 
> My plumber had never heard of a "gravity convection loop," and when I
> explained it, he said he'd never done such a thing and was not willing
> to try it. Mr. Builder wouldn't let(!) me get a different plumber.
> 
> The water line to the fridge (a change order written just after the
> studs went up, but long before the drywall went in) comes up thruogh the
> kitchen floor. For the $75 upcharge, we got a $4 spike tap valve and 15'
> of plastic line.
> 
> Three of the exterior doors have no suport under the metal thresholds,
> so not only do they flex when you step on them, they (probably) leak.
> Mr. Builder promised to fix them..last week.
> 
> We got ceiling fans roughed in (with code boxes for support, wiring, and
> P&S controls), but Mr. Electrician didn't terminate any of the
> wires...they're just cut off. The final (township) inspection was
> ugly...my wife was there, and the inspector about died when he saw nine
> sets of wires deadended in the boxes.
> 
> We had to beg to get a piece of trim to cover the 3/4" gap under our
> $800 front door and sidelights...on the inside. The door was beautiful.
> The hardwood floor was beautiful. The gap was hideous!
> 
> None of the little plastic plugs used as screw covers were put in on the
> Anderson sliding door, the Peachtree front door, or the Anderson
> Frenchwood slider to the sunroom. Yes, it only takes a minute apiece,
> but I *thought* I was buying a finished house!
> 
> There are LOTS of places where there are irregularities in the drywall
> and/or paint. Wavy spots, obvious brush/roller marks, poor sanding of
> mud patches, etc.
> 
> There are even more spots where the framers missed the joists with their
> subfloor nails. Or missed the studs with their frame sheathing nails. I
> asked Mr. Builder to make sure they were taken care of. Several times.
> but I didn't want to halt production to force him to comply. Now I wish
> I had.
> 
> There is certainly much fine work out there. Our kitchen is
> beautiful...the custom cabinets are everything we'd hoped for, and the
> $600 we put into lighting the kitchen was worth it. Our upgraded Berber
> carpets (with upgraded pads) are beautiful, and comfortable. But when I
> consider that we added about 40% to the price of the house in extras (of
> which less than $500 came in after-start change orders), *I* think our
> desire for fine work should have been obvious. And there were MANY spots
> where the builder (his subs, actually) cut corners to save a nickel or a
> dollar. Not only would I gladly have paid the extra to cover their
> nickels and dollars, I told everyone I talked to that I would. And they
> still cut corners. And I have no recourse, since the state laws don't
> *define* "workmanlike quality."
> 
> --
> James Leatherwood jamesl@godfrey.com
> 11/20/96 08:38
> ---------
> Using: OUI PRO 1.5.0.2 from http://www.dvorak.com

The irony is that they hurt themselves.  I would never do an addition to
my home or a significant project (roof) unless NO MONEY is paid until
the job is finished and I am satisfied.  Prior to doing business with
Petersen-Dean Roofing of Fremont California, I would have thought I was
being unreasonable but not anymore!  Now, of course, I will get 10
e-mails from contractors rebuking me and stridently informing me that
they will never do a project under those terms - THAT'S THE POINT, BOZO,
IT'S A LOSE-LOSE PROPOSITION!  I don't get the improvement and you don't
get the business!!!...think about it! 

Why did't I cancel the reroof immediately when, on the 1st day (Jun 3),
2 carloads of guys pulled up at 7:05 AM and asked if I had a ladder they
could use so they could begin work!...I guess I am kind of slow. 
-- 
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"You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life.
Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?"
                       Clarence Odbody, Angel 2nd Class
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