A good rule is that if they can start quickly they are no good. If you have heard good things about the guy you want the waiting is the only thing to do. August is not that far off, still be finished by the winter.
I would strongly suggest you wait especially if he will be good with your dogs, as you rightly say it is their home as much as yours and they dislike change more than us humans do.
Is there room in the garden for a small caravan :?: You can pick up second hand ones quite cheap these days and maybe even sell it on after the work is finished, probably wouldn’t even need heating if it was August.
I know what you mean Mups, the building trade have a terrible reputation. I wondered if the architect can make some recommendations or even speak to some builders on your behalf, at least then they will know you are serious.
How the heck is one supposed to know what ‘bat droppings’ look like :?:
There’s lots of ‘droppings’ in our loft, I’ll be up there at some point with the hoover, bat or no bat they’ll be gone soon as I want to add another 12 inches of insulation and I don’t like the thought of any lingering ‘droppings’ up there
Losos, have a read of post 60. These 3 firms were recommended by the architects and surveyors!
I take your point about good workmen can’t usually start quickly, but what is annoying me most at the moment, is they do not keep their word, and that puts me right off someone.
I even said (twice) to the last one, that if he was too busy to come and look at the job, just say so NOW, don’t say you will come and then not show up. But all three firms have now done exactly that. They haven’t even got the decency to ring and let me know they can’t get here, so I am left sitting and waiting like a lemon for nothing.
I don’t treat people like that, and so don’t like it done to me.
What a wonderful age, provided she still has her toys and favorite places to sleep and most important YOU around her she will be OK. Dogs don’t like change but what they really do like is continuity of living things around i.e. other dogs and you.
Sorry Mups I hadn’t read the whole thread, I have now had a quick scan back and I see that Meg also suggested using the architect and that three of them have let you down is really bad.
Are they ‘small’ builders (One or two man outfits) maybe some bigger firms would be more proffessional ( I know they would cost more of course)
Have to go now but will try to look in tomorrow sometime.
Today I decided to drop a note through the builder’s door (the one I liked best), asking him to phone me and please let me know a price guideline and confirm whether he is still be able to begin in July or not. I said if he was too busy, just say so, and then I shall know to look for someone else. Then I spotted him outside his house, so stopped and had a word.
He said he hadn’t forgotten me, and explained what he had been up to, and it seems he had spoken to my architect as well. At least he seems to have given it some thought because he was talking about the depth he would need to dig, and the drains and moving my sink so I could still use it temporarily, etc.
I hope my gut feelings are right, because I have a feeling he might be alright. At least if he messes me around, he lives nearby so its not far for me to go and strangle him.
I do hope I’m not wrong. Time will tell.
He said he can definitely start early - mid July, just waiting for him to get his finger out and give me a price. He has phoned the architect and got the measurements off her.
I’m going to be in such a mess Patsy, because they’ve got to do temporary plumbing so I will still be able to use my sink and washing machine elsewhere, and somehow wire my cooker in somewhere else to make it useable too.
They will demolish the other half of my kitchen and board it up. The dogs won’t be able to get in/out of the back door because it will not be there anymore! I’ll have to take them out the front door and round the side to get to the garden every time. That will be a right pain.
I hope you’re not wrong as well I’ve just paid off the guys who did my shed / workshop. They did a good job but were way over the promised delivery date (End of Feb) because they were doing another job which turned into a bigger job and they didn’t want to let the other customer down (It was one of the well know churches on the North Norfolk coast)
So if you do go with this guy make sure all his other jobs are really finished and try to get him to agree not to start anything else until he has finished yours.
Sorry Mups, I could not help you, it takes me so long to get stuff just right, you would have gone bonkers, I have nine Spirit Levels I’ll have you know.
That’s alright Spitty - I forgive you. Anyway, its took that long to get a reply, I might be dead before the entire job was finished. Then you wouldn’t get paid!
I feel for you gal x
Try and be positive though I know its bloomin hard I would hate the prospect too
Harvey (Losos) is right, get definite times with him x
Just think, by Christmas, it will be done and dusted and you can then relax and enjoy -
Losos they look like mouse dropping If you are having building work carried out that requires a survey and planning permission and there is a hint of bats in residence a check will be carried out by an ecologist who it seems can charge what he likes :shock:
Hopefully Mups won’t need planning permission for her work or the expensive services of an ecologist :-).
That sounds promising Mups not long to wait really.
When I had my kitchen done I set up a ‘temporary kitchen’ in the garage with a kettle and camping stove and managed just fine with there being just me and not having a family to feed.
I haven’t got a garage though Meg.
Do you know, I was thinking today, that there were the 3 builders messing me about, a plumbing firm who was supposed to come and fit new radiator valves and never did, another builder who was supposed to mend the front wall and never has, and a gas man who left me with a gas leak, and later on 2 water leaks as well!!
I’m beginning to think I must attract 'em! http://yoursmiles.org/psmile/profession/p0114.gif
I’ve just paid off the guys who did my shed / workshop. They did a good job but were 
