Learning to walk before I run

Karmacat

It really does sound stressful, Ed, I'm so sorry this is happening.  The flooring fitter sounds the only bright spot.

shellstar

Withholding final payment until snagging list is complete sounds reasonable to me. I did this for my kitchen extension in my old house. It was the builder's suggestion so it must be common practice. I can't remember the amount, it was a % of the full bill. I think it was £2-£3k ish, which would have made it about 10%. 

Baileys_Babe

edinburgher said:

No final bill/revisions have been received from the builder in writing and they are supposedly finishing on Thursday (I won't be there until Friday at the earliest). My current plan is to write a full snagging list, ask them to check off each point and confirm in writing when this has been completed so that the final payment can be arranged. Does that sound sensible?

Yes, I would also include producing an itemised revised final bill as one of the items on the list. Additionally, I would give the builders a copy of the list and keep a copy for myself then when the builders have "lost" theirs you can recreate it or produce your copy.

savingholmes

Good luck with it all. You sound like you are dealing with it very well despite the trials.

edinburgher

I have buried the hatchet with (not in) the builder by apologising for being rude, while retaining my stance on all the things I disagree with him on. 

Ultimately it was more important to me to get the house finished than to continue feuding with the builder and I didn't want him dragging his feet on finishing as a result.

I feel a bit grubby (I think I was perfectly entitled to be rude in the circumstances), but also relieved as I said everything I wanted to.

Have asked him to revise the last bill, but accept my expectation might need to meet his in the middle. 

World's most expensive electrician still hasn't finished 

Cheery_Daff

Well done. Good to keep your eye on the end goal, even if shouting a bit would be more satisfying in the short term
 Fingers crossed the electrician materialises!

edinburgher

I think it's time to rename this diary the trials and tribulations of a cursed man!

As well as our clutch being gubbed, it now appears that the brakes are failing. The garage have cautioned against driving it, they're recovering it this afternoon but can't look at it until next week at the earliest.

Work colleagues had suggested flogging it to one of the car selling websites, but I've been on to update our valuation and had a bit of a shock I did not realise that once a car has been in an accident and has been repaired, it basically halves the resale value. In retrospect that should have been quite obvious

So our car is rooked to the extent we've been told not to drive it, I'm expecting a 4- figure bill (recovery, clutch and brake repair, MOT and service) and the supposed value has fallen from £6,000 nominal a few months ago to £3,000 today.

Onwards and upwards!

edinburgher

MIL has added us to her car insurance temporarily for the mighty sum of £11, we'll be back in the car seat from tomorrow

We have booked a 4 night stay at a little holiday park with lodges for the October break, which is when our stairs are getting finished. We've stayed there before - it was attractive and quiet and there is a hot tub. Just the thought sounds like bliss at the moment and I'm sure it will carry us through the next month. It has surprised me how much the lack of a summer break has been felt (even a cheap staycation).

In other news, my boss was successful in applying for his promotion and his job will be getting filled, I will be applying and hoping

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, fingers crossed!! Sorry about the car 🙄 Good news about the holiday though 😊😊

savingholmes

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, fingers crossed!! Sorry about the car 🙄 Good news about the holiday though 😊😊

Same from me. 

I'm not surprised you feel 'grubby' but at the same time you just want the job finished at this point.