I’ve been trying to build a carriage house. Or an addition. Or ANYTHING.
How’d that go, Daisy?
February 2021- First builder. Worked with them for three weeks on possible designs/budgets. Then they said, “Oh, well, we’re going to rip out the concrete in your laundry room to run a new water line, but you’re responsible for having new concrete poured and drywall replaced after we rip out what you have. We don’t do repairs.” Me: Buh-bye!
March 2021- Second builder. Kind, honest guys, but inexperienced. Worked with them for seven months before they sadly let me know that they couldn’t possibly do the project within the budget. They suggested I do an addition instead and recommended a great guy.
September 2021- Third builder. Best. Builder. Ever. Trustworthy, competent, clearly practical and economical, in the business for years. Worked with him for three months when… he suddenly had to quit construction for personal reasons. Clearly, I am cursed. He assures me the man he works with will take over my project.
January 2022- Fourth builder. Despite assurances from builder three that my project would be taken over by builder four, all email and phone pleas for a response that this was indeed the case went completely unanswered for weeks on end. Builder number four did eventually, weeks later, send me a budget for the project with no explanation for the ghosting, no reassurances, literally nothing at all but a budget sheet. But by that time I was already working with…
February 2022- Fifth builder. OK, forget these small companies. This is a HUGE company, awards, five stars, etc. I would pay out the nose for the security of a builder who wouldn’t bail on me, but so be it. Worked with them for two months. But- it’s all wrong. Layout is wrong, basic construction is wrong. Includes gas line extension from main house despite the fact that the main house HAS NO GAS LINE. Among tons of other mistakes. Their response? “Don’t worry about it, sign the contract saying that you are committed to this. We can fix it later.” My lawyers: “Run! Run like the wind!!”
April 2022, today- Sigh. We may just buy a condo. Yes, I’ve invested over a year of my life, nearly every spare moment, into this project. I let all my personal things go- fun stuff, website, even a lot of my normal exercise and self care. But maybe this is what it took to get here. Or, maybe, in a few months I’ll be back to trying to build this addition. Either way, for now I have a life again. And here I am!