Work in Progress

So it’s the tail end of Week 9 of my renovations.  I guess the time really does go by quickly.  Overall, I’d say it’s gone rather smoothly.  No major issues with the people I’m dealing it.  And by major, I mean they’re not doing things wrong.  However I’m still unhappy about other issues.

Dealing with my contractor is rather easy going.  I’d say he’s on the more expensive side, but I do know that things will be done correctly.  Some things though weren’t done exactly the way I want.  Sometimes I argue my point and then he’ll do it the way I want it done, other times he’ll argue his point and I’ll just give up and let him do it his way.  The biggest issue as of late is probably the bath tub.

To replace my tub wasn’t too big a deal.  But he had to special order a tub that would fit the space which went over budget by around $250.  That’s a $500+ tub, way too much to really be spending on a simple tub.  But whatever, to get a tub that’d fit, I guess I had to pay up.  However, the tub he ordered turned out to have incorrect dimensions, so he had to hunt for another tub.  This new tub for whatever reason was delayed by quite a while.  So he ended up doing all the drywall and paint for the bathroom.  Today he called me up to tell me that he needs a second person to help him get the tub into its spot because if he were to do it himself, he’d end up damaging the drywall.

The thing that bothers me is that that’s not my problem.  He should have foreseen that issue and it should be up to him to find a buddy to help him out instead of asking me to find someone to help him.  He told me that if he were to hire someone, I’d have to pay for it.  Again, should not be my problem.  Prior to starting the project he said that if knock on work were to come up (I guess to an extent), but he didn’t consider it when providing the estimate, then he wouldn’t charge me.  I think this such situation is a perfect example of that.  I brought it up with him and he explained that it was only for work provided by himself and not if he has to hire a sub.  But he doesn’t need to hire a sub, he should find a buddy to help him out.

It bothers me a lot because I don’t really stand up for what I think is right.  I don’t really know how to do that effectively, nor do I want to piss anyone off.  So I kind of just grit my teeth and pay the money.  It’s costing me a lot too.  I had an accountant do my personal taxes, this guy was recommended to me by my parents’ friends.  I failed to do much research on how much an accountant charges and ended up paying the guy $600.  Re-fucking-diculous.  I knew it didn’t sound right, but I didn’t argue with him.  I really should have.

So aside from dwelling on this, I have no idea how to work up the courage to tell my contractor that I don’t think he’s right and make him deal with it without charging me extra.  I even got the guy a Keg gift card just for doing good work so far.  I regret that decision now since he lacks a little bit of common sense when it comes to ownership of a problem.

Posted by tastethehappy April 2009

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