CONTRACTORS!!!!

For the first time, I am experiencing what I've heard from so many other people -- the "renovation creep". I've had a contractor fixing some of the items which were found during the inspection -- items that were not structural problems or created a safety problems in the house (meaning the owner didn't have to pay for those), but more items that were very sloppy construction inside the house.

So I discussed with the contractor (Mark) which items I needed done now, and which I would wait to fix. As we discussed each item, he gave me an estimate as to cost, and it was about $1,000-$1,500. Imagine my SURPRISE when he presented me with a bill for $4,000. OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!!

Of course the explanation was, "Well Nanc (he likes to call me Nanc), when we took the tile off the jetted tub, we found that it wasn't framed to actually hold tile, and we had to change the location of the entry panel, and...and...and". I will fess up and say I did hear him say some of those things to me, but when he said re-tiling the jet tub would be $650 and it turns out to be $1120 -- I would have liked him to tell me the extra cost and let ME decide if I wanted it done.

Or the 4 louver doors that were replaced (the doors to both bedrooms were louver doors -- not real doors). Of course I wanted to replace them, and when he asked if I wanted masonry doors or real wood doors, I totally opted for real wood. I believe he also told me the doors ran $160 each. Okay, had that down. But guess what -- the cost of replacing those 4 doors also included tearing off all the trim and building it back -- for the tune of $1,685.

Now the work all looks great -- but I was never told of all of this expense. Apparently this guy thinks I am rich, which I am not. I planned to paint the outside of the house (because the Hardi-plank was not painted correctly the first time and some of the trim is starting to rot) this year. That was going to be $4,000. Guess where that money just went.

I've owned so many homes, but this home has presented me with many surprises that I never saw the 2 times I looked at the house. I was so mesmerized with the view of the Swan Mountains, that my eyes didn't see a lot of things. And I still have many things that will eventually need to be "made right", but it won't be this year.

The good news is that I still really like the house, can't wait to make it mine, and I'll be spending the bulk of my summer painting the inside of the house (while trying to find money to paint the outside of the house). And I just want my friends to know -- I'll give you free room and board, a beautiful view, and a tour of the area if you come to visit me. I only ask that you paint one room -- and I'll put a little plaque outside the room stating that it is the "Delores Delrez Guest Room". So please come visit.

We did walk the 3 1/4 acres, and it is beautiful. And here is a picture of what I saw standing right outside of the living room window -- this is what makes it all worth it.