1) Powerwash and stain fence and shed. Install hooks to hang family of bicycles, thereby proving viability of architect's plan (as improved by builder) for all 3 bicycles to fit in shed and disproving husband's disbelief on this point.
2) Plant 2 ginormous trees. Prune trees and shrubs in front, plant annual vegetable crop.
3) Plant tree and 10 shrubs for neighbors to thank them for putting up with the crap they've endured for the last 3.5 years.
4) Run all audio wire and cable for addition.
5) Installed new microwave (okay, we really only helped our friend on this one).
6) Scheduled repairman for new microwave's terrifyingly squealy and smoky convection setting.
7) Called animal control on neighbors regarding feral cat problem; first response from City in years to delight of entire neighborhood.
8) Tried to schedule inspection of fireplace only to discover that permits expired 10 months ago for lack of work. Pleaded with City Code Department to not force us to reapply all over again lest I end up in insane asylum. Pleas heard; permit reinstated; asylum avoided. Scheduled fireplace inspection. Passed inspection - we are now batting 1000 for inspections in 2010!
9) Freecycled all the tile samples getting in everyone's way to the delight of all.
10) Finally picked and ordered wood flooring.
11) Left several (unreturned) messages with HVAC guy to please, please, PLEASE come finish this project.
12) Demo'ed the stairs. Again, not us, but amazingly kind friend. (For all the woes of this house, the one positive constant is the warmth and love our friends have shown us over the years in pitching in. Warm fuzzies to all of you!)
13) Called City to challenge new tax increase clearly based on a finished addition which clearly does not exist. City appraiser kindly came out for a look and voluntarily retracted increase.
14) Replaced old potrack that required a wall with much improved new potrack which dangles from ceiling. Figured out how to hang new potrack from steel beam. Problem solved in 4 days, start to finish (this was entirely husband's handiwork, so kudos to him).
Here's the special i-beam clamps we found on the interwebs:
And here's the final product:
That's a pretty long list if you knew the hours we were pulling at work, too. So I am very proud of all these accomplishments! YAY US!!
On the downside (because apparently, with this project, there's never just an upside), our actual contractor has put in less time on the project over the last month than we have. And, apparently, we can't get him full time until August because he has a client he was hired by in January whose basement he gutted 2 months ago who he just can't keep putting off. He said this as if to evoke our sympathy, but we stood there speechless, as we hired him a year ago, he knocked down our wall 6 weeks ago, and our entire house is a total wreck...
Sometimes I think I should quit my day job and go into contracting. Here is what you would get from me if I did:
1) A full cost estimate and realistic timeline before the project. You wouldn't have to double anything, because I already would have, and I'll tell you that. So odds are high that I'll come in early and under budget, but if I was still wrong, that's my problem, not yours.
2) I would work solely on your project until it was done. Other people, even if good clients, would just have to wait, unless it involves Rule #6. Everyone would be willing to wait, because my policy will be clear and they will benefit from it, too.
3) I would clean up after myself everyday.
4) I would give you status updates at least twice a week on my own initiative and would not avoid you even if the news was bad.
5) My employees will be treated respectfully and everyone will have health insurance. Also, I will not hire anyone whose work isn't as good or better than mine even if I'm not looking. Which I will be. Good people will work for me because I will pay them appropriately. This means I will not be as cheap as others, but I will not be unfair either, and what you get will be worth every cent.
6) If it breaks afterwards, I will assume that it was my bad and fix it toot sweet.
7) You'll get some homemade cookies to celebrate at the beginning and at the end. And to console you if there's a hiccup. And if you're not happy with my work, then I'm not done yet.
There it is: Seven Steps to Highly Successful Contracting. Now if I only had all the necessary skills...
