Ripped off By Builder

miggy

It could be worth a letter to the MP in case he has had complaints from anyone else about this man?
You are doing amazingly - especially on top of a day's work :T:T:T When I look back I was proud of my Dad, who did so much of the work on our house with his own hands. Now your kids will be able to say the same of you.:)

JohnnyJet

miggy wrote: »

It could be worth a letter to the MP in case he has had complaints from anyone else about this man?
You are doing amazingly - especially on top of a day's work :T:T:T When I look back I was proud of my Dad, who did so much of the work on our house with his own hands. Now your kids will be able to say the same of you.:)

I guess we all want the best for our children, I don't want my mistake to ruin their childhood. I'm learning on the job, I had to fit the ceiling insulation at the weekend and hope to be doing the guttering next weekend. Been going to carboot sales to get clothes and a few toys for the children, I hadn't realised how many nearly new items I can find for a few pounds. At their age they don't care about second hand goods.

miggy

I love car boot sales! When we decorated my daughter's room recently, using a vintage theme (she's a teenager), all sorts of treasures came from car boot sales. She was delighted. It's a lot more fun than the dhops, too!
I think your 'mistake' could end up benefitting your children in the long run. You will pass on your skills and your 'can-do' attitude to them.
How are you doing with your wandering tradesmen? I can see you will be adding the skills of a project manager to your growing CV! (Seriously).

JohnnyJet

miggy wrote: »

I love car boot sales! When we decorated my daughter's room recently, using a vintage theme (she's a teenager), all sorts of treasures came from car boot sales. She was delighted. It's a lot more fun than the dhops, too!
I think your 'mistake' could end up benefitting your children in the long run. You will pass on your skills and your 'can-do' attitude to them.
How are you doing with your wandering tradesmen? I can see you will be adding the skills of a project manager to your growing CV! (Seriously).

I picked up a wooden trainset on Sunday, Biro I think, with over 300 pieces for £15. They haven't stopped playing with it since.

I'm keeping a very close eye on some of the tradesmen, work is progressing okay but have to act as peace maker sometimes. Currently have a carpenter, electrician, roofer and plasterer on site which is proving very difficult to manage. I am making sure they all speak to one another and I go on site twice a day. I have to make sure they all follow the plans which is harder than you think.
Also I am now acting as purchaser for all building materials so that I can always source the cheapest items.

MatyMoo

JohnnyJet wrote: »

I picked up a wooden trainset on Sunday, Biro I think, with over 300 pieces for £15. They haven't stopped playing with it since.

I'm keeping a very close eye on some of the tradesmen, work is progressing okay but have to act as piece maker sometimes. Currently have a carpenter, electrician, roofer and plasterer on site which is proving very difficult to manage. I am making sure they all speak to one another and I go on site twice a day. I have to make sure they all follow the plans which is harder than you think.
Also I am now acting as purchaser for all building materials so that I can always source the cheapest items.

You are doing a real great job as Project Manager JJ!

And an even better job as a Dad and Husband, you really are a great example to your kids.

I know you must be exhausted but just keep your eye on the finish line and how much it will mean to you, especially now that you have had so much direct input.

Don't forget there are people on MSE that would be happy to help or supply anything they can to help - you just need to keep posting and updating us so we know what the current need is.

Maty

welshmoneylover

I've had two lots of 'major' building work done and I was very lucky with my builders.

I have read this thread and I just don't know where to start.

OP, I feel so sorry for you and your family, I really hope all will be ok for you in the end.

As for the twit who did this in the first place, how he can justify sleeping at night is beyond me.

Good luck x

JohnnyJet

MatyMoo wrote: »

You are doing a real great job as Project Manager JJ!

And an even better job as a Dad and Husband, you really are a great example to your kids.

I know you must be exhausted but just keep your eye on the finish line and how much it will mean to you, especially now that you have had so much direct input.

Don't forget there are people on MSE that would be happy to help or supply anything they can to help - you just need to keep posting and updating us so we know what the current need is.

Maty

Thanks, I am tired and must got to bed soon, it's just nice to relax a bit before bed.

I have always found it difficult to ask for help, but on this I feel a bit guilty, partly because I am lucky enough to have some funds to make it just about liveable, which is more than most in my situation have and when I do eventually finish the house it will at least be an asset. Yes I will be in debt, more than at any time in my life, but I should be able to work my way out of it.

JohnnyJet

welshmoneylover wrote: »

I've had two lots of 'major' building work done and I was very lucky with my builders.

I have read this thread and I just don't know where to start.

OP, I feel so sorry for you and your family, I really hope all will be ok for you in the end.

As for the twit who did this in the first place, how he can justify sleeping at night is beyond me.

Good luck x

Thanks for the support.

I think he sleeps very well considering he has now sent me another letter. I'm sure he has some twisted reason why he is in the right.

JohnnyJet

A bit disappointed today, the builder says that he doesn't want to work on our property much longer as he has had to repair and get over so many problems that he has just had enough. Fortunately I am employing most of the trades myself but he is still needed to finish all the carpentry, some of the brickwork, guttering, insulation, plus a few other things. Not sure what I am going to do about it yet but I think I can do some of it. I really thought that we we almost there, but still feel that things are moving in the right direction.

MatyMoo

JohnnyJet wrote: »

A bit disappointed today, the builder says that he doesn't want to work on our property much longer as he has had to repair and get over so many problems that he has just had enough. Fortunately I am employing most of the trades myself but he is still needed to finish all the carpentry, some of the brickwork, guttering, insulation, plus a few other things. Not sure what I am going to do about it yet but I think I can do some of it. I really thought that we we almost there, but still feel that things are moving in the right direction.

That's frustrating JJ

Could you employ someone else to do the bits you can't do yourself? Certainly there are carpenters out there and brickies, or a different builder if you can get a recommendation.

Maty