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Changes!
My Dad warned me over and over. So, I can’t say I was totally surprised.
From the beginning my Dad has been telling me to get all my bids
up-front, tell them EVERYTHING you want & expect and don’t, under any
circumstances, make any “changes”. Never make changes!
Easier said than done.
 ELECTRICAL
Today, I received a bill from my electrician for extras. It totaled
$10,720!!! This is for changes, not light fixtures. No Waterford
chandeliers, crystal wall sconces or custom made lanterns for me - just
wiring, outlets, and recessed lighting!
In my defense, I had been asking for pricing. He has been “working on
it” for a couple of months. I should have pushed harder and allowed work
to stop until I had pricing. But, I didn’t want to hold things up. I
trusted that he wouldn’t take advantage of me. Some of the charges are
justified, some aren’t. It is just another battle that I wish I didn’t
have to dress for.
Why can’t this all be worked out from the beginning? I knew what I
wanted. I thought I was communicating that to my electrician. He did not
communicate back to me the costs that would be involved. He waited until
he had done the work. Would I rip it out because the cost was too high?
I wanted it, didn’t I? So what if I had to pay 3 times what I had
anticipated paying? It was too late!
My advice - "Look through your plans thoroughly."
How many recessed lights do you want? (I have 69 - Would I have 69 if I
had known what he was going to charge me per can?)
List every appliance & bath fixture that needs to be wired.
Walk outside, list all areas that need to be wired?
List all your utilities that need to be wired. Don’t forget central vac,
Jacuzzi, garage, computer networking, and bathroom fans (you don’t want
the cheap, noisy ones) wall sconces, under cabinet lighting, paddle
fans, landscape lighting etc…
PLUMBING
Many people warned me that my plumbing extras would be the worst. I
secretly thought to myself that they were crazy. A toilet is a toilet; a
sink is a sink.
On my first visit to the plumbing supply store my salesperson was
telling me a story of a man that had purchased a $799.00 FAUCET! The
buyer decided he didn’t like or want the faucet and wanted to return it.
It was a special order and the plumbing supply store didn’t want to
refund him, and so the story goes. I was horrified that anyone would
spend that amount of money on a kitchen faucet! I thought to myself, I
could get all my faucets for close to $799. Oh, the lessons I have
learned. How foolish and naïve I was. This was my first visit, I hadn’t
priced anything, was just looking at “what looked nice.”
After my first visit, I looked at other plumbing stores, catalogues etc…
(and still, no prices on anything) and then went back to order. When I
tell you that I am over budget, you have no idea! I am SO OVER BUDGET on
my plumbing! I don’t have a huge multi-person Jacuzzi; I don’t have gold
or nickel plated fixtures. I have nice, middle of the road, not top of
the line fixtures. BEWARE of plumbing fixtures! Perhaps, plastic bubble
faucet handles aren’t that bad; they certainly are durable and easy to
replace. And, that clear plastic matches anything!
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