Comments on: faq’s of renovation: estimate and budget https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/ The Handmade Home is a full service rehab, construction and design firm with an exclusive product line, at The Handmade Home Studio. Fri, 19 Apr 2019 01:58:56 +0000 hourly 1 By: ashley @ the handmade home https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757474 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757474 In reply to Kelley.

So glad these posts are helpful, Kelley! I can’t wait to see where your adventure leads you – so excited for you!

]]> By: Kelley https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757456 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757456 Like others who have commented, I really love this series! My husband and I are in the process of slowly moving toward purchasing our first home (really slowly… we’ve been turned down by banks for years because of our student loan debt, but finally we’re getting somewhere and it feels really good). We’re pre-approved now, but the houses in our price range will inevitably need a lot of work. Both my husband and I like to do the work ourselves, and handily he worked for several years laying tile, doing drywall, building cabinetry, etc. But this series is helping me understand the scary parts, like contracts and cost-plus bids and everything in between. While I live in northern Michigan, and so am a loooong way away from you, just wanted to say thanks for doing this series! (And while you’re at it with the being so helpful business, send a little warmth this way, will you?)

]]> By: ashley @ the handmade home https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757355 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757355 In reply to Rebecca.

Hey Rebecca – I am SO SO SO sorry for your awful experience. For lack of a better reaction… What a psycho. He totally sucks.

I think that the most frustrating part is that unfortunately our “legal system” doesn’t give us many rights, when it comes down to it. You spend so much money on a lawyer, and the time it would take to actually bring someone to court… it doesn’t leave you with much to work with when you’re trying to get into a house and your entire life is tight anyway. Total side note, but we’re kind of in that very situation, with the way we’ve been treated in finishing up our own house, here. Local codes and another person we agreed to work with in another aspect have been a total nightmare. There is actually someone in a situation similar to ours in Franklin who IS suing, so it should be interesting to see what happens on their end. It’s been the most frustrating experience ever and in our opinion, the entire system here is totally corrupt. I’m rambling because I feel your frustration and can’t imagine how upsetting all that has been on your end. I guess because we’ve been there in our own way, we don’t want anyone else to have to experience something so ridiculous. No matter what that situation looks like.

It kind of blows our mind how people can treat others. Jamin and I both tend to assume the best in people, to a fault. So, it’s super frustrating. That aside, we’re proud of you for subbing it out and going through with it to finish! That’s awesome. Hang in there… you’ll be so glad you did it ;}! Thank you for your sweet words and stay the course! This too shall pass. And other things I say to myself when rocking via the fetal position in the corner… ;}

]]> By: Rebecca https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757349 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757349 We are in the midst of building our dream home. We have waited 25 years to afford a beautiful lake lot and we set out getting bids. We had 2 great guys give us bids. We have known both for 20+ years. We got references, etc. We choose to go with the guy 100,000 less thinking we could get it done for close to that amount. Well, 5 months into the build after things were just not moving (only studs) we began to question him. And boy, did that set him off. He told us we were acting like his parents questioning how he was building a house. This house is the most we have ever paid for something. So yes, we want to be involved. He couldn’t meet us after 5:00 which is the only time my husband is available due to working 11 hour days 50 minutes from our area. He told us that we family time. And he couldn’t meet on the weekends. We explained nicely that my husband couldn’t take time off and could he please work with us. Well, even though we had a signed contract, 5 months later he sent us a letter and said he was leaving the job. We had a 38% complete house. We did consult an attorney and she said he couldn’t leave the contract and we could force him to stay but at this time the relationship was quite sour. He had yelled at us multiple times (so much for the great guy we knew from our kids playing soccer together… and the great guy from church). He had banged his finger at me at our home on the counter, he had removed my husband from a group chat one day to communicate with only me because he didn’t like the way my husband’s text read. We decided he just wasn’t our type. We are now subbing it out. It is slow. And our dream of getting in there before our 25th wedding anniversary is down the tubes. It is hard. We are just so scared to trust anyone after this great guy obviously had a totally different persona in a work situation. I will add he has only built about 8 years and has lost and changes occupations over the years. Maybe we know why. Whew. WHat an experience! We are hanging in there! Let me say I LOVE your blog and have followed you a long time. I learn a lot from you guys. THanks for all you share! You have an amazing home!

]]> By: ashley @ the handmade home https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757338 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757338 In reply to Jennifer.

Thank you so much for the sweet words, Jennifer. We are so glad this is helpful! I am so sorry about the fire – I do hope everything gets underway quickly for you guys. Hugs to you!

]]> By: Jennifer https://www.thehandmadehome.net/faqs-renovation-estimate-budget/#comment-757337 https://www.thehandmadehome.net/?p=50173#comment-757337 What a great series this is! We are just getting started on an after-fire renovation(our house is down to studs) after searching for a year for a contractor willing to come “all the way out” to our small town right on the edge of the SF Bay Area. You would think being less than 30 mins outside 3 major metropolitan areas this wouldn’t be an issue, but I digress… This series is AWESOME! Im so glad I found it, hopefully we’ll be able to finish within the {very small} budget insurance gave us, and have a beautiful quality home again! I’ve loved tagging along on your renovation and blog quietly for years, thank you for the continual inspiration!!!????

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