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.