|
Hate such builders
I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did
measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. |
"Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. Sue him in small claims court for damages. $3000 would take the sting out of it for me. |
On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 23:41:36 -0800, "Bob" wrote:
I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. You have to watch them every step of the way. I made specific arrangements on my house for them to leave 11 feet on one side. After they dug the foundation I went over and measured and it was only 9 feet. No reason for it other then their stupidity. Got them to swap the AC (ground mounted) location to the other side of the house to unclutter the area so I'd still have decent drive thru clearance. They also put one of the hose bibs on the wrong side of the house so I get a free hose bib out of the deal when they made that right. They skim on concrete strength and thickness on the driveway - at least 25% of the homes have significant driveway cracks as a result. They had to replace one of my slabs before we even moved in it was so bad. It's all just blow and go. -- Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts: "What, sir, is the use of militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. . . Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins." -- Debate, U.S. House of Representatives, August 17, 1789 |
"Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. This is Turtle. Most all contractor bid jobs by the amount of square feet of the house. You take the 1 foot wide area by the 22 feet long and you get the house being shorted by 22 sq. ft. . If the contractor bid the house at say $60.00 a square foot. Deduct 22 X $60.00 = $1,320.00 . You can get the valve of the shortage by deviding the price of the bid by the sq. ft. of the house and get the square feet verses the cost of the square feet. Like 2000 sq. ft. house and cost $100K will give you $50.00 a Square foot. $50.00 X 22 feet = $1,100.00 . Your house is 22 sq. ft. smaller than it should have been. TURTLE |
Do you believe heated sq. ft are estimated the same as unheated?!
This is a garage. "TURTLE" wrote in message ... "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. This is Turtle. Most all contractor bid jobs by the amount of square feet of the house. You take the 1 foot wide area by the 22 feet long and you get the house being shorted by 22 sq. ft. . If the contractor bid the house at say $60.00 a square foot. Deduct 22 X $60.00 = $1,320.00 . You can get the valve of the shortage by deviding the price of the bid by the sq. ft. of the house and get the square feet verses the cost of the square feet. Like 2000 sq. ft. house and cost $100K will give you $50.00 a Square foot. $50.00 X 22 feet = $1,100.00 . Your house is 22 sq. ft. smaller than it should have been. TURTLE |
"Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). Can I assume you also check the 22' width? I'm just wondering of you are talking inside dimensions and he is talking outside? If not, you got screwed. You should be able to recover something. |
"TURTLE" wrote in message Most all contractor bid jobs by the amount of square feet of the house. You take the 1 foot wide area by the 22 feet long and you get the house being shorted by 22 sq. ft. . If the contractor bid the house at say $60.00 a square foot. Deduct 22 X $60.00 = $1,320.00 . You can get the valve of the shortage by deviding the price of the bid by the sq. ft. of the house and get the square feet verses the cost of the square feet. Like 2000 sq. ft. house and cost $100K will give you $50.00 a Square foot. $50.00 X 22 feet = $1,100.00 . Your house is 22 sq. ft. smaller than it should have been. TURTLE That is a poor way to buy a house. The kitchen may work out to $250 a square foot, the garage that is little more than a shell can be $15. I don't want the builder to decide where the money should be apportioned. |
Tell the builder to add a utility room behind the garage and move the
utilities there. "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. |
If the house is brick you easily lose 8 or more inches.
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message m... "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). Can I assume you also check the 22' width? I'm just wondering of you are talking inside dimensions and he is talking outside? If not, you got screwed. You should be able to recover something. |
Builders usually talk "outside dimension", as do tax collectors. Homeowners
think inside dimension. |
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message m... "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). Can I assume you also check the 22' width? I'm just wondering of you are talking inside dimensions and he is talking outside? If not, you got screwed. You should be able to recover something. It was explained to me, by several realtors, that square footage is measured from the outside of the house. If the house is a block home, like here in the Florida, the difference could be substantial......Ross my .02! |
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message m... "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). Can I assume you also check the 22' width? I'm just wondering of you are talking inside dimensions and he is talking outside? If not, you got screwed. You should be able to recover something. It was explained to me, by several realtors, that square footage is measured from the outside of the house. If the house is a block home, like here in the Florida, the difference could be substantial......Ross my .02! |
Thanks for all the replies.
I know the sizes include the walls. On the drawing, the overall outside sizes of the foundation walls, as well as individual sections sizes, are marked. The overall width of the foundation is 54'. The depth on the side with two small bedrooms is 32'. The side with garage is 43'. The 54' and 32' are right on. But the garage side is only 42' so I went in and measured inside. It turned out all the heated spaces are all right, just as shown on the plan. But the garage is 1' short. The spec size 23x22 includes walls I know it. 22 is right (measurement includes walls). The inside depth should be a bit less than 22', taking 2x6 studs walls and 5/8 sheetrock (garage is fully sheetrocked by 5/8 and insulated - but not heated). But the actual inside depth is a bit less than 21'. So I know it is the garage that is short of 1'. At this point I don't think any change to the house is practical. Probably the only thing I can do is to ask for some credit for that mistake (I still don't think the builder did this intentionally as I know this won't save him a lot - only needs one more 2x6 stud on each side, and overall I think he did a decent job on other stuff). I don't plan to take advantage of this and demand $$$ or ask him to do outragous things - I would be mad if my current car does not fit at all. But I don't feel comfortable just swallowing it. I am trying find what to ask when I bring this up to the builder. This builder quoted just the total so I don't know his cost for the garage. I had bid from another builder for the same plan (back in summer) that quoted separately with $12,000 for the 23x22. If I take this figure the garage turns out $23.70 per sqft. 22 sf would be $520 (maybe a little more because the other bidder's quote is for the spec with sheetrock only on the walls adjoining living space, no insulation). Do you guys think this is the right amount to ask for compenstation? I do like the house and want it. I don't want to bust the deal. The local house price has gone up a bit during the course of construction. If the builder sells the house to someone else he may be able to get a few thousands more out of it. We do have the pre-sold new construction contract (this is legally binding) but I am not sure when I demand the compensation and he is unwilling what will happen. Can he refuse to sell it to me? Thanks again. Bob "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. |
"Bob" wrote in message I am trying find what to ask when I bring this up to the builder. This builder quoted just the total so I don't know his cost for the garage. I had bid from another builder for the same plan (back in summer) that quoted separately with $12,000 for the 23x22. If I take this figure the garage turns out $23.70 per sqft. 22 sf would be $520 (maybe a little more because the other bidder's quote is for the spec with sheetrock only on the walls adjoining living space, no insulation). Do you guys think this is the right amount to ask for compenstation? I do like the house and want it. I don't want to bust the deal. I'd start out with a polite question of "how did the garage come up a foot short?" He should then take out his tape measure and verify the error. Assuming he agrees, point out the original plans, acknowledge that it is a difficult (and very expensive) problem to fix and offer to work with him for some compensation. At that point you can ask for some upgrade in another area. Additional walkway? Landscaping? Finishing in the basement? Rather than a cash settlement it would probably work to the benefit of both of you to agree on and alternative method. -- Ed http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/ |
"Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. " Take some of the responsibility yourself! You use the typical I-am-a-total-helpless-victim terms such as "hate such builders" and "screwed me over" , "to my surprise", and "I specifically told him" . You further assume, likely incorrectly, that he "meant to" screw you over. The lesson is this. First, he has responsibility to follow plans, and this sounds like a verbal side agreement, which rarely stands up in claims court, if it not on paper. Secondly, there was possibly no swindle intent, likely just tape measure dyslexia, or absent minded error, both of which are common. Further, when we contract a home, I consider it my duty and responsibility as owner and de facto uber-supervisor to take the few minutes per room to actually measure, the day the foundation forms are up, or later, when the interior room 2x4 plates are nailed down, to check the measurements against any written agreement or plans. "Catching him" at the very end of the process is unfair to him and you as well. Such mistakes are easily rectified if you measure as you go, at the appropriate time of construction. Was the foundation already there when you made this agreement? If so, there may have been no option to move the wall further back. If you |
Before you ask for compensation, read your contract. there is a plus/minus in
there. Your compensation is after that is all taken into effect.. |
"curmudgeon" wrote in message ... Do you believe heated sq. ft are estimated the same as unheated?! This is a garage. This is Turtle. No i don't know exactly and don't have housing contractor wrote on my shirt, but i was give him a yard stick to estimate a cost of the short fall and just giving him a '' ideal '' to where to start estimating the short fall. Now I'm a HVAC contractor and if i put a 2.5 ton cooling system in your house and the contract called for a 3 ton cooling system. Would you tell me to forget about it because you was a nice guy and did not want to upset me? TURTLE |
|
On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 23:41:36 -0800, "Bob" wrote:
I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. Yeah, bummer. Guess you won't be closing and taking occupancy now, huh? Jeff |
"Roger T." wrote in message ... "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. " Take some of the responsibility yourself! You use the typical I-am-a-total-helpless-victim terms such as "hate such builders" and "screwed me over" , "to my surprise", and "I specifically told him" . You further assume, likely incorrectly, that he "meant to" screw you over. The lesson is this. First, he has responsibility to follow plans, and this sounds like a verbal side agreement, which rarely stands up in claims court, if it not on paper. Secondly, there was possibly no swindle intent, likely just tape measure dyslexia, or absent minded error, both of which are common. Further, when we contract a home, I consider it my duty and responsibility as owner and de facto uber-supervisor to take the few minutes per room to actually measure, the day the foundation forms are up, or later, when the interior room 2x4 plates are nailed down, to check the measurements against any written agreement or plans. "Catching him" at the very end of the process is unfair to him and you as well. Such mistakes are easily rectified if you measure as you go, at the appropriate time of construction. Was the foundation already there when you made this agreement? If so, there may have been no option to move the wall further back. If you I'm sure we'll all agree that it would have been good for the buyer to check the dimensions, but the _builder_ made the garage a foot short -- that's the bottom line. It's the _builder's_ responsibility to make the f##$*ng thing right! Does this buyer need to crawl and swing from the ceiling joists as they go up to make sure they are correct also? |
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:26:00 -0800, "Roger T."
wrote: "Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. " Take some of the responsibility yourself! You use the typical I-am-a-total-helpless-victim terms such as "hate such builders" and "screwed me over" , "to my surprise", and "I specifically told him" . You further assume, likely incorrectly, that he "meant to" screw you over. The lesson is this. First, he has responsibility to follow plans, and this sounds like a verbal side agreement, which rarely stands up in claims court, if it not on paper. Secondly, there was possibly no swindle intent, likely just tape measure dyslexia, or absent minded error, both of which are common. Further, when we contract a home, I consider it my duty and responsibility as owner and de facto uber-supervisor to take the few minutes per room to actually measure, the day the foundation forms are up, or later, when the interior room 2x4 plates are nailed down, to check the measurements against any written agreement or plans. "Catching him" at the very end of the process is unfair to him and you as well. Such mistakes are easily rectified if you measure as you go, at the appropriate time of construction. Was the foundation already there when you made this agreement? If so, there may have been no option to move the wall further back. If you Read your contract. You have rights. |
"Bob" wrote in message ... I have the new home about to close (in about a week or two). Today I did measurements of the house. To my surprise the overall depth on the side with the garage is one foot short. It turns out the builder made the garage depth one foot less than the plan/spec (23' depth x 22' width but now it is 22x22). I have the furnace, water heater and a chest freezer along the inside. My extended size vehicle will still fit but very tightly. During the planning/contracting I specifically told him I want 23x22 because of my extended car and it is marked on the floor plan drawing. WTF he wanted make it 1' less!!! How much he would save on the cost by cutting that 1'!!! But I guess I don't have much to do with it, house is nearly completed. I kept watching the jobsite from time to time but it still screwed me over. Is the garage connected to the house from an inside door? With that extra foot you could walk around your vehicle to get something with out going outside. I think I would be really pist about it. Can they bump the door out maybe? |
This is just another example of the tragedy that could be averted if
the US would get with the program and switch to the metric system. |
"Matt" wrote in message ups.com... This is just another example of the tragedy that could be averted if the US would get with the program and switch to the metric system. Yes, instead of being a foot short, it would be 304 cm short. While I'm all for the metric system, I don't see how this would have averted the error. Can you explain this? |
If I take this figurethe garage
turns out $23.70 per sqft. 22 sf would be $520 (maybe a little more because the other bidder's quote is for the spec with sheetrock onlyon the walls adjoining living space, no insulation). Do you guys think this is the right amount to ask for compenstation? That's the bare-bones minimum, assuming the legalese of the contract allows any consideration. At the maximum, you may be able to demand "specific performance" of tearing down the wall and rebuilding to meet the contract. It all depends on what the contract actually says. Tim. |
If I take this figurethe garage
turns out $23.70 per sqft. 22 sf would be $520 (maybe a little more because the other bidder's quote is for the spec with sheetrock onlyon the walls adjoining living space, no insulation). Do you guys think this is the right amount to ask for compenstation? That's the bare-bones minimum, assuming the legalese of the contract allows any consideration. At the maximum, you may be able to demand "specific performance" of tearing down the wall and rebuilding to meet the contract. It all depends on what the contract actually says. Tim. |
Well shore I can, partner!
Pretend you are a home builder. Now, someone comes to you and says: I want my garage to be 23 feet deep. So you build the house, and screw up and make the garage 22 feet deep. OOOOOPS! Now, pretend you are a different builder, and the buyer asks you to build his garage 8 meters deep. Now you build the house, and because you are making the garage 8 meters deep, instead of 23 feet - it gets built properly. HOORAY! |
"Matt" wrote in message oups.com... Well shore I can, partner! Pretend you are a home builder. Now, someone comes to you and says: I want my garage to be 23 feet deep. So you build the house, and screw up and make the garage 22 feet deep. OOOOOPS! Now, pretend you are a different builder, and the buyer asks you to build his garage 8 meters deep. Now you build the house, and because you are making the garage 8 meters deep, instead of 23 feet - it gets built properly. HOORAY! Maybe, but I do work with metric and I do prefer to use it. I still see errors made. I've seen 12 mm holes where they should be 13mm What is to say it would not have been built 7 meters or 7.5 meters? Or 9 meters. People that do not read in English do not read in other languages also. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:21 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 DIYbanter