Work Commencing FInally!

ARRRGGGHHH... so frustrating... and its only just starting. One of my main stresses planning this is that we are working with new trademen. We aren't dealing with any of the guys that I've developed relationships and raport with over the last 6 years, doing renovations and repairs on our properties. I'm stressed because I don't trust these new people. Maybe I'd be happier if we had lots of quotes.... hmmm maybe I will get more quotes.

Anyway, on the weekend, I worked at clearing things around the site so that the tanks could be installed. I had to put the plumbers off again because there were no tanks! They were supposed to be at the property during the settlement process, or at the very least on settlement, but they weren't there. We requested them 2 weeks ago and were told 'in a few days', which came and went. I rung them (previous vendors) again a few times until they told me 'Wednesday', which came and went and then they promised me 'Sunday'. On Sunday, after numerous calls and messages, they returned my call at 2pm and said they would be here in 1~1.5 hours. Again, no show until I heard back at about 5pm when they said that it didn't fit their truck so they've hired a semi and it'll be there mid-afternoon the next day. I got to the property in the afternoon (again, a couple of unreturned calls) and surprise surprise, no tanks... I got hold of them this time at 5pm and they said they were on their way up to get the tanks... ... I waited for them for a couple of hours but went home in disgust at 7:45pm after not being able to contact them at all. Mobile ringing out and being ignored no doubt. I finally got the tanks at 8:30pm last night.

This morning the plumbers came. Alas, the job was bigger than the guys thought... or at least bigger than what they were told by their boss. Also, the existing stormwater drain system is crap (which I had thought, but the guy who inspected it and quoted the job didn't mention anything or have a problem with it)... So to cut a long story short, the job to install the tanks and finish the rain water drains have been re-quoted and its over double. From $1975 to $4213.5 !*?!*?! Anyway, needless to say, I'm peaved off. I'm still going to get them to do the job, because its ready to go. Tomorrow I have to run around and sort out valves and stuff which should be with the tanks but aren't...Arrrggggh! But unless Annette can convince me otherwise, I'm not going to get them for the remaining work which they've quoted about $7000 for.. who knows how much I'll have to spend! We were also going to get them to put in the solar hot water system (~$5000) and the greywater system (~$7000)... again, I don't want to use them at this stage... which is definitely a bad omen considering they haven't even started any work yet.

Oh well, lets see how it pans out. Catchya

Pete