Waiting and More Waiting

Waiting and more waiting is all I seem to have done over the last couple of weeks. I am waiting for construction to start. I am waiting for my emails to be answered and I am waiting for the inevitable call for more money.

I have been in contact with my builder about Air Conditioning, specifically a quote for installing what is called "add-on" air con. That is the installation of a cooling coil to the ducted heating just before the fan. I managed to get a quote from a 3rd party and I got a 1 line quote from my builder, and that 1 line was the cost. It was 55% above the quote from the 3rd party, so obviously I asked for a breakdown, and it’s this breakdown I am still waiting on.

As I mentioned in earlier posts my builder suggested we install Bamboo floors instead of our Tassie Oak floorboards. I said no worries, get me a quote and we will see how we go. Again my builder gave me a quote that contained just the cost, so again I asked for more information, like what type of Bamboo floor will be installed? How do you intend on laying the floor? In doing my research I discovered there are 3 types of Bamboo Floorboards, Vertical, Horizontal & Strand Woven. Vertical & Horizontal were of a similar strength and price while strand woven was stronger than Jarrah and all most as hard as spotted gum. I also discovered there are 3 methods of laying the boards, each with their own pros & cons. Guess what? Yep I am still waiting for this information.

It’s been over a week since I have heard from my builder and my most recent email is yet to be responded to, maybe it’s because I asked questions about my building permit and an estimated start date for construction.

All this waiting is starting to get on my nerves but one must remain calm and ensure the working relationship is not jeopardised as the builder holds all the power. He can stall and delay because until he starts construction his 220 day construction window doesn’t start and what incentive does he have to finish early if he has a frosty relationship with his client, as I said they have the power.

The reason I have asked about the building permit is that we settled on the land on the 27th of July, the building permit should take approx 4 weeks to be issued and the builder is obliged to commence construction within 21 days from the building permit being issued. So if I don’t know this date I can’t enforce the start of construction, as I said this waiting is starting to drive me crazy.

As a result I have decided this will be my final post until I see some action, be that clarification on my air con & floor quotes, notification of when construction will start, or even actual physical evidence that construction has started, because this waiting is doing my head in!