Ending Relationships

This weekend we went to visit the house site with very low expectations. The builder had not been returning phone calls and had refused to provide an update on progress all week. It was not until Friday night after many requests did a minor update via email come through with a request for money. The builder said he had been working on electrical and plumbing during the week. Electrical and plumbing had indeed been started, a door hung, and about 100 sq ft of tile had been laid. The cabinets weren't complete, the dryer vent wasn't in, the bathroom was not trimmed out - all the things the builder kept talking about doing still weren't done. We knew going into the weekend, we were probably going to have to terminate the contract with the builder if we were ever going to get the house finished. After much deliberation, we came back Sunday and sent the builder a termination letter. We feel much better about the project knowing we can hire people who want to do the work and will complete the job and get paid. We gave the builder 17 months and 2 weeks to complete what started out on the contract as a 6 month job. We hope to finish the balance of the work in 4 weeks and be in by Thanksgiving.

First Sign of Fall Color

October 1, 2011.

Cold Weather Arrives

It was 41 degrees when we arrived on Saturday and there was a light mist in the air. As we pulled off onto Spring Valley Road, we saw a few neighbors crossing the road and stopped to take a pic. (click on pic to view larger.)

Progress????

Its been a few weeks since I have posted about the progress on the house. I've not really felt like there has been much progress. I have to say its one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. Living over 2 hours away and only going up on weekends to check out what's going on takes its toll after over 16 months and counting. After having been told the house would be ready in two weeks a little over a week ago, we went up this past weekend with high hopes there would be a lot of progress and that the builder had kicked it up a notch. Not true. The electrician/plumber did not show up again and the builder basically worked on a few projects around the house completing not one. Here's what got done this past week: the master bathroom was finally grouted after having been started over two months ago, stone was laid on the main entrance landing and one of the landings of the french doors (the other landing was started but not completed.) The screen porch and side door landing are still to go. Shelves were put up in the kitchen but not really completed with supports, etc. Check out the pics...