Framing

Well, they worked on framing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. When we went out to the property tonight we noticed they didn't do anything today. We aren't sure why. Trying to remain patient. It's getting hard though.

I hope they are back at it tomorrow.

Game on!

And here we go. They started framing today. I drove out after getting Ryan from the bus and they were working. FINALLY! Mike won't speak to me, but Lonnie did. It will be a 10 - 15 day process. Then he said things would really start flying! Woo-hoo!!!! Pics to come later.

Let's see what Monday brings

It's Monday. The day that once again I was promised framing would start. Depending on what's going on at work, I plan to make a drive out there over lunch. I will admit, I'm a bit nervous to do so. I know if nothing is happening, that I'll just get worked up. I also don't care to see the builder so if he is there...if he is there I think I'll just drive by the property and not stop. I can then go back tonight to see what all was done.

Oh...and when I talked to him last Wednesday I asked him to call me today so I know what's going on -- that would save me a trip out there. Anyone up for a bet? He won't call me, unless it's to ask for more money.

No progress...still

Well, it's Saturday. We were just out to the job site and still NOTHING. It's a beautiful day out there. A perfect day to be framing a house. Yesterday it raining a little in the morning, but by 10 am it was sunny and another great day.

I don't understand how house construction people can not work on weekends if they have had weather hold them back during the week. It doesn't make sense to me. It's not an 8 - 5 job. I'd like Mark to call and verify that they are going to frame our house, but he said he won't do anything until Wednesday. He thinks all of this is my fault because I upset the contractor. I did indeed upset him but I keep replaying the events in my head and I didn't say anything out of line or wrong. All I wanted to know is why they hadn't started framing the house when he promised to start and why he insisted on being paid when he knew he couldn't start.

I'm ready to fire him and move on so I can get this show on the road. Mark says to wait. He's afraid if we upset him he'll contact every sub-contractor in the town and our names will be black listed. This is simply ridiculous. We can't let him control us like this.

When this is all over, I will post the name of the builder and the name of his "company" so that everyone reading this will know NOT to use this person. He cannot multi-task and he does not like anyone questioning him. He wants to be in control of everything. He's more of a spec-house builder than a custom builder. It's my house. He has no say over the specific things that I'm asking for in this house.

No progress

Last week our builder came to me and said he needed 1/2 of the framing payment ASAP so he could start framing this past Monday (9/21). I was a little apprehensive of paying for work that hadn't been done yet, and the bank was too. My loan officer told me though that this isn't completely unheard of with the smaller builders. So, in an effort not to let anything get held up I signed the paper to pay him.

Monday, I went out to the property to check on the progress and NOTHING. I called the builder but of course he didn't answer. I left a message asking what was going on and he never returned my call. In the mean time, I leave for my business trip to Chicago.

Tuesday afternoon Mark went out to the property and first part of the framing supplies were out there. We both figured things would start happening Wednesday. Wednesday Mark drove out there in the afternoon and once again nothing.

I called the builder again and once again he didn't answer his phone. An hour and a half later he called me back. I asked him how come he hadn't started framing when he promised to start Monday. He said he had a couple of set backs in Sherman but he'd start on ours on Friday! FRIDAY????!!!! He told me I was getting upset over things that were out of his control. I told him that he could have avoided all of this by calling me to tell me there is a set back. He said he was calling me now. I told him that he was calling in response to TWO phone calls I made to him. He didn't call on his own to let me know and he should have called me Monday to let me know of the delay. Heck, even over the weekend he had to know he wasn't going to be out to our house on time. I told him I didn't appreciate being forced to make a payment and then not have the service delivered. Well, that made him really mad and he told me I should find someone else to build my house. We left it that he would be out Friday. Well, it's Friday and it's now raining. And guess what? It's supposed to rain Monday too.

If he does not start framing by Wednesday next week, we'll demand our money back and then try to figure out something else.

Missing the dishwasher

I really miss the dishwasher. I bet I spent 45 minutes doing dishes today. I have so many other things I could have spent that time on.

First draw

Today I went to the bank for our first drawn. We had enough in our "cash account", but we still had the title company handle the disbursement as a form of protection. Foundation, flatwork, 1/2 of framing, and the driveway are now paid for.

Making that draw was painful. It was hard to let go of that cash.

Siding and brick colors

The siding and brick colors are chosen. The siding will be "clay" and the brick will be "Olde Towne." This wasn't the cheapest brick. Quite the opposite, but we decided it was worth it since that's one thing on the house that will never change. No reason to compromise on what we really want.

Decision on the shingles...

We decided the color of the shingles. We are going with "Driftwood." Should look nice. We've seen two houses with this color and they both look nice.

Decisions, Decisions...

Today we went out to RP lumber to look at the siding and roofing choices. Mark and I actually picked the same siding as our absolute favorite one, so no negotiating there :) The shingles...well they all just look so different on those small samples versus on a large roof. We have a couple that we will pick between and work out fine. Next week sometime we need to go pick out brick/stone.

Who DOESN'T have a garbage disposal???

So remember how I didn't know how to use a top loading washing machine? You have to admit, that was darn funny!!! Well, tonight I have a garbage disposal story. This fits in line with the "spoiled" Kari.

So I was making some gourmet County Market powdered mac n cheese. Don't judge. It's soccer night and mac n cheese is quick. In the process of this move, things have gotten misplaced. I cannot find my pasta strainer so I was just using the pan and the lid to strain the macaroni. Well, I slipped with the lid and the entire pan of macaroni went into the sink. I thought "at least it's the garbage disposal side." Well, now the sink is clogged. Yep, I forced all of the macaroni down what I thought was the disposal, only for Mark to tell me this pot-shack doesn't have a disposal and I've clogged the drain. Ooops!

You've gotta admit though...that is a little funny :)

"It's only temporary"

Some days I feel like this "only temporary" thing is just not working out. For once, I want to come home and just rest or do what I need to with the kids. On days where there is no soccer or extra activities, I would love also not to have a house full of extra kids.

We have basement floors!!!

Saturday when I looked at the forecast it did not look promising to have the basement floors poured this week. It looked like there could be rain Tuesday - Friday. Well, the forecast changed and it was beautiful outside today and should be the same tomorrow. They poured the floors and we are ready to start framing. The builder needs to finish framing in Sherman first but within a week or so he should be putting walls up at our new place.

Shower and mold fixed, I think (and a much needed nap)

We can now shower again! YEA!!!! I also think they have the mold issue resolved...or resolved as well as it's going to be while we are living here.

Today we went to the Labor Day parade in Edinburg and then came back to the temporary house for a quick lunch. Then we all needed to go to the bathroom and at the time it was still being worked on. We all loaded up in the car and went to the park and used those bathrooms. Then we went to Lincoln Memorial Gardens for a walk. After the long walk, we came back to the house. The guys worked on mowing and pulling the weeds and Lauren played with her Polly Pockets. I laid on the bed and got a MUCH needed nap! It was super-fantastic!!!

Tomorrow starts another work week. Praying for good weather so some decent progress on the house can be made.

Another temporary place

Last Tuesday the plumber came and finally fixed the shower. Now on to issue #2 -- the mold! Our landlord had two mold remediation specialists come out and their views on the situation were quite different. On guy said to just bleach it. The other person said tear down the wall etc.... Of course the landlord heard "just bleach it" and he figured that would be good enough. I didn't necessarily agree with this approach, but there wasn't a lot I could do.

Apparently the plumber and they guy that the landlord brought out to actually bleach the wall explained to him that the mold was much worse that bleach could handle, so this weekend we were forced to find a temporary home for the temporary home. UGH! We ended up just going to Peoria for the night on Saturday. We cam back home yesterday and we still do not have a shower, but the moldy wall is gone.

We went to the movie in the park and when we got home from that is looks like everything is almost ready to go so we should be able to shower again tonight. I sure hope they clean the bathroom when they are done with repairs because it is a mess!!!

The sad part is, this post is about issues with the house we are renting...our temporary house. This really should not have caused us this many issues. We've tried to stay positive but we are just ready for our house to be done.

Quick update on the construction...nothing has changed. We got rain on Wednesday when they were supposed to pour the basement floors and Thursday it stormed really bad, leaving it too wet to do anything Friday. And of course this weekend was Labor Day weekend so no one was going to work then. This coming week is not looking promising either. Tomorrow there is a chance for rain in the morning. So far, Wednesday looks clear but Thursday - Saturday calls for storms again :(