Perpetual Plan B

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Too Optimistic Too Soon?

Maybe I was, because I have had nothing but headaches since my last post. Everything is going to take longer, be more complicated, and cost roughly twice as much as anticipated.

No new countertops for this girl any time soon. Instead I have a shiny new water softener. And even it cost more than originally estimated.

My head hurts too much to go into detail, but it doesn't always pay to have "friends" in the business. It especially doesn't pay to have more than one friend in any given specialty. Then they have to compete with each other for certain jobs. Friends don't like it if you don't end up hiring them to do the work. What's really bad is if they both think they are doing the work and you don't know how to tell them they aren't. I am especially traumetized by the carpet "friends" who gave us an outrageously expensive bid on inferior carpet that the other guy said they pay $8/yard for. There's a whole long story, but I don't feel like telling it. And don't even get me started on how many realtors we are related to, friends with, neighbors with, etc. We need to make a decision on that one soon to get the house officially on the market by June. I'm just dreading the reaction of one of the realtors who has campaigned for the job and probably won't get it. I just keep wishing we could find someone on our own, but so far that hasn't worked out so well. I can't get the exposure a realtor can.

I have officially dubbed the kids' bathroom the Rubik's cube. There are so many things that need to be accomplished in such a small space, which is fine. I'm just having a problem figuring out the order of what needs to be done. Tear out pink cultured marble trim and install new, white trim, or paint first? Install new baseboards or board and batten first - or at the same time? (The painter and carpenter talked me out of beadboard in an area that will actually get wet.) Board and batten before painting? No, we need to wait until the trim is up so we can evenly space the boards. Catch 22. And when do we tile? Before the baseboards, of course. Well the tile is backordered so now everything else is on hold!

Let's also not think about all the wallpaper I need to rip down very soon. I need to get the kids over there to let out some of their pent up aggression toward us for making them leave the only home they've ever known. I'm starting to feel it myself. I didn't realize how attached I was to this place. I always figured that as long as we were moving somewhere a little better for our family, I'd be fine. I might have been wrong.

There is something good that has come out of all this. I haven't watched any t.v. or been on facebook all week. Last week I kept wasting a lot of time, just waiting for the second they were done moving out so we could get started.

Need to run for now. The Excedrin is calling my name.........

At least it's cheap. (Relatively speaking, anyway.)

4 comments:

Lacey said...

Hang in there! It will be a lot of work, but totally worth it in the end! Good luck!

Tennille said...

Time to take a deep breath, sit back with a piece of chocolate to calm your nerves, and don't hire anybody else that you know to do ANYTHING!!! It's like going into business with family, BAD IDEA!!!!!!

dreamofjean said...

Oh, Holly, I feel for you. This gives me a headache just reading it, so I can't imagine what it's doing to you!
Wish I was physically able to help you a little more. I don't know if it would help, but I would give you a free zone. Maybe it would relieve some stress:)
(I've had a little more practice since the last time I zoned you, but don't feel obligated. I'm just trying to think of something I can do to help.
Good luck with it all. I hope things go better this week.
P.S. I don't think it would hurt any one to be upfront with them. need a lesson in
Jeannie

dreamofjean said...

whoops. That last line got messed up. What I meant was don't worry about hurting anyones feelings. You have to do what is best for you, and if that affends anyone then they need a lesson in better friendshipping skills:)