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Post by 3piggles on Aug 15, 2018 15:12:38 GMT
I remember the first time I checked out Ikea, and found they sold kitchens. Then I learned there lots of places in Europe where kitchens aren't included, returns/buyers buy their own, and take it with them when they move. Totally different from the US, where everything has to pass inspection, so we really can't even do a kitchen/bath remodel that moves plumbing and electrical, without getting the work inspected. I figure most places where people buy their own kitchens, they don't do any work except to hook up the water/sewer hoses, and plug in whatever needs to be plugged in. I've never heard of having to install your own bathroom, though, but for any new build, that would be the case, here.
Do previous owners/tenants take what they installed with them, or leave it for the next occupants?
It must have been cool, though, to be able to make it exactly what you wanted, even if dealing with all the tradesmen was difficult. In the US we have General Contractors, who can be hired to run the project. The GC hires all the tradesmen, establishes the timelines, etc. We pick the appliances, flooring, tile, whatever is going in, but don't have to deal with the tradesmen. Hearing from people, like you, who acted as their own GC, I understand why being a GC is big business.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 15, 2018 15:43:41 GMT
I am not really into documentaries unless it is about something I am really interested in but a while ago there was something on TV showing some the really bad builders up that are out there. I didn't actually see all of it but it made you very skeptical about hiring anyone.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Aug 16, 2018 8:55:25 GMT
Oh those sorts of programmes could put people off having anything done! I think the ones featured on the shows are the proper dodgy ones, but I have enough friends with tales of builders to know it's not plain sailing with a lot of the good ones either!
It definitely makes sense with a new home to get to choose your own kitchen and bathroom, whether it's part of the plan or something you organise yourself. What's the point in having it brand new if it's not your taste?
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 16, 2018 20:28:56 GMT
I actually like the shows about bad builders, because they taught us what questions to ask, what not to agree to, and how to choose what should be a decent contractor. That said, I won't hire anyone without reading the reviews on them, and knowing they at least did a good job for a number of people. The electrician we hired to install the generator was well reviewed, and he did a great job. He's also the one we can't get to bill us for the electrical work in the kitchen, and couldn't get him to return our calls to get that work done. He and his people do great work, if we can get them. I'm looking into other electricians, because I'd like to get the rest of the work done, and can't count on him ever calling me back. I need to call him, again, as even after talking to one of his people, we never got an invoice? Schools are starting in different places. My niece in Floriday started Monday. She looked so pretty in her first day photo her mom posted A friend in Texas posted pictures of her son and daughter, who started school Monday, too, so there are a lot of places starting now. Texas, Florida and pretty much any place likely to be hit be a hurricane starts early to get as much school time done before they might have to close for a while because of hurricanes. They also have air conditioned schools, so starting now isn't as bad as it sounds.
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Post by Bean on Aug 17, 2018 7:00:17 GMT
Oh that'd probably be a relief to start back at school if the weather was boiling and you were going somewhere with AC! We have a couple more weeks off here - it'll be gone in the blink of an eye!
Despite finding a roofing company who were well reviewed across the web, we got caught out as it turned out they'd been writing most of their own reviews (sometime later the reviews websites we'd found them on started flagging reviews that had come from the same IP address). They did a reasonable job in the end, but not without me having to give them a bit of grief! I think they had started out okay, but took on too much work and the quality of their service dropped. Unfortunately when the bad reviews started up for them, instead of responding to it by pulling their socks up, they changed the name of the company (or started a new one up anyway) to lose the negative reputation! We learned a few lessons from that one...
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 17, 2018 8:05:26 GMT
I don't think any of our schools have gone back yet, I have never heard of the summer holiday ending in August. It was always the 5 September when I was at school or the nearest date to it. That is typical of building companies Bean sweetie, unfortunately, it is allowed for them to just change their name and there should be a law against this when a builder has a bad reputation.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 17, 2018 19:19:26 GMT
It's really sad that they changed their name, though from a strictly business perspective, it makes total sense. Why lose business they need, if they can keep that business and get more, but prentending to be someone else? It only catches up with them when they don't do the best job, and bad reviews start appearing for the new company, as well as some customers possibly equating them with the old company. I'm glad the roofing is done, and to your satisfaction. That was the shed, right? I know you were talking about it needing to be done. We had the driveway(505 ft) paved by a company that was going around offering to do it for only about half the price an established company would charge. Of course, so many of us accepted, and ours was a budget breaker anyway, that they had to change the approach really quickly. We got about a $20K job done for $8K, but by the time the job after ours was being done, the company was charging full price. They did a good job. I think they just should have picked their discount offers better. One per neighborhood would have gotten them the business they wanted. Ours was the second. Our neighbor had his done, and liked it, so recommended them, etc. I think they learned that lesson the hard way. That was the house before the condo, and between the length of the drive and the parking area, we got an awful lot of paving done for $8K. Our weather is out of whack, lol Yesterday was supposed to have very low dew points, and be cool. Neither happened, but it seems to have happened last night, finally, which of course set off all sorts of aches and pains. Today, which was supposed to have higher dew points and rain, has been pretty decent. The a/c didn't come on until around noon. The inside parts of it are in the laundry/utility room, and I was putting sheets in the washer when it came on. Couldn't hear myself think, lol
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Post by shades on Aug 18, 2018 6:11:54 GMT
A great weekend to look forward too
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Post by Bean on Aug 18, 2018 6:44:02 GMT
Crikey, I hope you've got a brolley, Shades!
3piggles, we did the shed roof ourselves (I've already stuffed it full of random objects - don't tell my husband as he's planning to organise all his DIY stuff nicely in there!), this was the main roof on the house which we knew needed replacing when we bought it 8 years ago. So that not going entirely smoothly was a lot more annoying.
Glad you got a good deal and a good job on the driveway. It's great when things work out so well.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 19, 2018 22:32:35 GMT
Zoiks! Hot and wet, Shades. We finally finished our hot, wet month. Try not to grow fins Ah, I'd forgotten about the house roof. Glad that's done. Going to be a real hoot if Si actually gets around to trying to organize his stuff 🙄 Once again, hubby has said he's willing to organize the shed, in exchange for some cool storage 😁 I don't think I need to produce that cool storage any time soon, lol 😉 Speaking of forgetting, hubby's birthday was August 1. We have to get our cars registered and inspected during our birthday month. Daughter stopped by today, and mentioned he hadn't gotten his car done, and the month is almost over. First either of us had even thought of it! He registered it online, but has to wait for that before he can get the safety inspection. Oops 😋
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Post by Bean on Aug 20, 2018 8:13:18 GMT
I think I'm safe with my shed-spread - it's unlikely he'll look in there this year now. You snooze, you lose!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 20, 2018 14:41:40 GMT
The weather here at the moment would be thought of as dreadful for August by most people. I am just glad that it is cool. Glad you have your roof sorted Shades love. You certainly need an umbrella, I have a really cute one with bunnies on it. What you are having with your cars sounds like our equivalent of the MOT Piggles love. It has to be done yearly if you drive a car which is over 3 years old. In this life, we are grateful for every little thing which goes according to plan because nine times out of ten it doesn't LOL!
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 20, 2018 21:42:26 GMT
It is the equivalent of your MOT, Jo. Every year we have to reregister the vehicles, which is paying a tax to the state and town, and we have to pass the safety inspection. His car should pass, no problem, but he can't get it inspected until he get the new registration. Cutting it close, but he should make it. Talk about totally losing track of it. Niether one of us thought anything about it, until daughter mentioned it We're having a few really nice days, low dew points, nice breeze a lot of the time, sunny. Rain Wednesday, then back to some decent if warmer weather. We have to watch the overnight temps, which are now falling below 60F, as the Mandevilla plant can't take temps below 60F. We can cover it at night, and uncover it in the morning for a while, but it will be the first to come in out of the cold I feel badly, as it's just beginning to climb up the trellis, so I'll have to get it a trellis to climb on indoors. We had the windows open overnight, which was really nice. I'm still using the a/c, but it's not running as much, as it cools down earlier at night, and is cool later in the mornings I love this weather, so totally understand you liking it, Jo Granddaughter starts school in 9 days, 3rd grade I hope she has a great year
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 21, 2018 8:00:37 GMT
Oh that is so sweet Piggles love, you put his little duvet on at night so he doesn't get cold Dear little thing has to climb no matter where he is. It is so nice when it is cool isn't it hunni although I have to admit that for August here it is pretty grim? People planing beach holidays must be very disappointed. Is your granddaughter looking forward to going back to school? Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Aug 21, 2018 8:32:37 GMT
We certainly got our British beach holiday in at the perfect time - just as the heatwave was ending so we didn't have to worry about getting burned, but while it was still warm and sunny. Rarely works out quite so well, but bad weather has never spoilt a holiday - I think us Brits know what to expect when holidaying at home by now, so we always go with lots of board games!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 21, 2018 19:53:50 GMT
Vic totally forgot to cover the Mandevilla last night, and it's okay. Not worse for the wear. We're approaching the covering the flowers overnight season, anyway. We have to consider where to keep the Mandevilla over the winter, if it needs room to climb. Glad you got the pick of the beach weather, Bean. We had the same heat waves you had, but I think our beach businesses did okay, anyway. Not many days of total washout rain, but many days of outrageous heat and humidity, so people flocked to the beaches. I'm glad you beat the averages of getting a lousy week
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 22, 2018 7:55:59 GMT
It is ages since I have been on a beach sunbathing. I used to really love having a tan. I have always enjoyed holidaying here Bean sweetie even though you can't rely on the weather. I was in Cornwall and that is all I cared about but we have had some wet holidays in the past. I am glad Mandeville is alright Piggles love. I don't know what they are but I bet they are cute.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by shades on Aug 22, 2018 20:56:21 GMT
It's 4.45am.
I'm really thirsty. Water! Water!
Remember that "4am in the morning" video? Hope nothing bad happens to me!
It's dark outside, a handful of apartments are showing some signs of life. It's too early for the buses and trams. I hear cars and motorbikes passing by, people going to and coming from work. There are some voices in the air.
And in the distance, the feint sound of a rooster telling everyone it's time to wake up!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 22, 2018 21:04:49 GMT
I remember that, yes, but I can't remember what it was connected to, or all that it was connected to. 4:45 a.m. is time for me to go back to bed and try to get more sleep, though hubby will be up in an hour or less, at least he'll wake up, though he may go back to sleep. He used to work construction when he was in school, and so did his dad, so he always got up at the crack of dawn, and still does.
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Post by shades on Aug 22, 2018 23:38:16 GMT
I must admit I went back to bed but couldn't sleep Now it's 7.30, had my breakfast and all, distinctly cooler now that we've reached the end of the hottest period. Current temp is about 25C, will get up to low thirties today, I guess.
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