In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

On 22/02/2019 14:44, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
[...]

Totally normal for builders in my experience. It can be a real ordeal.
TW

R D S Wrote in message:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.




Tell me you didn't pay up front....?
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On 22/02/2019 14:46, Jim K.. wrote:

Tell me you didn't pay up front....?

No, thankfully.

On Friday, February 22, 2019 at 2:44:53 PM UTC, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

I have heard it suggested, but never tried it myself, of arranging to pay for
work such as this by having a (lowish?) initial price, but with a substantial
'completion bonus' if the work is done to your satisfaction by XXX date.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone had tried this sort of thing...

J^n

On 22/02/2019 15:00, TimW wrote:
[...]

Totally normal for builders in my experience. It can be a real ordeal.
TW


My neighbours had an extension built last year.
Their builder was a sociopath.

He broke their water main digging the foundation. I have an enduring
image of him stood there one morning nonchalantly watching the trench
fill up with water while he puffed casually on an e-cig with a hand on
his hip.
I went to work and when I got home my neighbour was sheepishly waiting
for me, builder had (rather than fix it) turned their water off from the
outdoor cock and ran a hose from my garden tap jubilee clipped to their
indoor 15mm.

The trench was emptied, but it was filling up again, this time with
water that didn't look as clean, he'd also cracked a soil pipe. A
complete fiasco.

On Friday, 22 February 2019 14:44:53 UTC, R D S wrote:

In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

.... one of several reasons we diy.


NT

On 22/02/2019 14:44:50, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

Did he provide a timescale for completion?

Either way I would demand a completion date with the threat you'll get
someone else and reduce his bill accordingly.

wrote:
On Friday, 22 February 2019 14:44:53 UTC, R D S wrote:

In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

... one of several reasons we diy.


NT


Exactly. Predictable disappointment, and a complete lack of trust.

On 22/02/2019 15:01, R D S wrote:
On 22/02/2019 14:46, Jim K.. wrote:

Tell me you didn't pay up front....?

No, thankfully.

Have a look at

http://viz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/..._builders1.jpg

--
Adam

On 22/02/2019 19:53, ARW wrote:
On 22/02/2019 15:01, R D S wrote:
On 22/02/2019 14:46, Jim K.. wrote:

Tell me you didn't pay up front....?

No, thankfully.

Have a look at

http://viz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/..._builders1.jpg

That had me laughing

Bill

On 22/02/2019 17:05, R D S wrote:
On 22/02/2019 15:00, TimW wrote:
[...]

Totally normal for builders in my experience. It can be a real ordeal.
TW


My neighbours had an extension built last year.
Their builder was a sociopath.

He broke their water main digging the foundation. I have an enduring
image of him stood there one morning nonchalantly watching the trench
fill up with water while he puffed casually on an e-cig with a hand on
his hip.
I went to work and when I got home my neighbour was sheepishly waiting
for me, builder had (rather than fix it) turned their water off from the
outdoor cock and ran a hose from my garden tap jubilee clipped to their
indoor 15mm.

The trench was emptied, but it was filling up again, this time with
water that didn't look as clean, he'd also cracked a soil pipe. A
complete fiasco.

There is often a reason why they have to work for themselves.
Which is that they would be unemployable.
TW

On 22/02/2019 20:33, Bill Wright wrote:
On 22/02/2019 19:53, ARW wrote:
On 22/02/2019 15:01, R D S wrote:
On 22/02/2019 14:46, Jim K.. wrote:

Tell me you didn't pay up front....?

No, thankfully.

Have a look at

http://viz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/..._builders1.jpg

That had me laughing

Bill

Viz is very informative

http://viz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...t-12.43.01.png
--
Adam

On 22/02/2019 17:59, Fredxx wrote:
On 22/02/2019 14:44:50, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the
ceiling he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead
of getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

Did he provide a timescale for completion?

Either way I would demand a completion date with the threat you'll get
someone else and reduce his bill accordingly.

If he has done the bit you didnt want to DIY then tell hime to F Off
dont pay and finish it yourself.

ss Wrote in message:
On 22/02/2019 17:59, Fredxx wrote:
On 22/02/2019 14:44:50, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the
ceiling he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead
of getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

Did he provide a timescale for completion?

Either way I would demand a completion date with the threat you'll get
someone else and reduce his bill accordingly.

If he has done the bit you didnt want to DIY then tell hime to F Off
dont pay and finish it yourself.


After wondering extensively if he's a) done it right; b) done
sufficient for it to be moved along....
--
Jim K


----Android NewsGroup Reader----
http://usenet.sinaapp.com/

On Friday, 22 February 2019 15:18:15 UTC, jkn wrote:
On Friday, February 22, 2019 at 2:44:53 PM UTC, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

I have heard it suggested, but never tried it myself, of arranging to pay for
work such as this by having a (lowish?) initial price, but with a substantial
'completion bonus' if the work is done to your satisfaction by XXX date.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone had tried this sort of thing...

J^n

Normal practice.
Called "stage payments."
Benefits both parties.

On Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 7:57:04 AM UTC, harry wrote:
On Friday, 22 February 2019 15:18:15 UTC, jkn wrote:
On Friday, February 22, 2019 at 2:44:53 PM UTC, R D S wrote:
In 20+ years of home ownership I can only think of one job I haven't
done myself and been glad.

Currently waiting for a builder to ring. I wanted the kitchen wall
knocking through and decided that this was outside the scope of DIY.
He knocked it through weeks ago and we've been living in a ********
since waiting for him to come and render/plaster and replace the ceiling
he removed.

I'll probably end up finishing it myself because after much putting it
off I made him promise to come Fri (today), which turned into 'I can
only do the afternoon' and now it's half past effing two with no sign
and I know for a fact he's out of town on Monday and the missus is
getting sick of the mess!


Is this normal?
Feel free to cheer me up with tales of how you thought you'd treat
yourself to chucking a bit of money at something for a change instead of
getting your hands dirty and it turning out well.

I have heard it suggested, but never tried it myself, of arranging to pay for
work such as this by having a (lowish?) initial price, but with a substantial
'completion bonus' if the work is done to your satisfaction by XXX date.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone had tried this sort of thing...

J^n

Normal practice.
Called "stage payments."
Benefits both parties.

Clearly different from stage payments, but never mind, harry...