Plumber, Snow, and Contractors...Oh My!

Still no plumber... a week and a half, and he still hasn't even called.

Last week on wednesday, it was 65 and sunny. Ania had gone to the beach. Today, it is cold and snowing...go figure... all my bulbs are coming up so boy oh boy do I hope it doesn't get TOO cold... I'd be really miffed

And the contractor.

I was joking about the 10 grand...I knew it was going to be more than that...

He came on monday night with his estimate...

Here's the back story. Previously we had 2 contractors come out and give us estimates on re-doing the basement. Putting wallboard up over the existing panelling, fixing the current ceiling, door on the laundry room. And both gave us estimates of 10 grand.

Todd, of Handyman -N- More, came out on monday with his officially typed estimate (separate copies for me, Dan, and himself)...oh boy I thought, here it comes.

Todd is going to tear down the existing walls, seal the concrete and any cracks, fix any existing framing problems, drywall with special mold/mildew resistant wallboard (he said this was made especially for bathrooms/damp areas...um...ok, OUR PLUMBER SUCKS! there's no special wallboard in our brand new bathroom...it's just plain wallboard), he's going to dig a trench around the perimeter of the basement so that any water that comes in will flow directly to the sump pump, tear down the existing drop ceiling and replace it, new doors, new trim, new gas stove to heat the basement, everything perfect...

For $9,000

He's going to tear off our existing roof and replace it, new soffetts, new gutters with special gutter guards, install a special venting thingie in the attic to release heat and help insulate the house, put in special thingies that filters melted snow off the roof appropriately, etc.

For $5,000


He's going to tear off the existing siding, re-insulate and re-side the whole house, including new shutters, and painting our plain concrete exposed chimney

For $7,000

Yep, our whole house redone top to bottom for $21,000. Our loan was approved for $40g. We talked and thought we could either take out less money, and have lower payments, or strike while the iron is hot (hosing market is up, interest rates are down and we are capable of getting a loan), and get the garage that Dan wants and the central air that I want too. Unfortunately Todd doesn't do central air, but he recommended someone that does, and Todd is coming out tonight to give us estimates on different types of garages.

The BEST thing about all of this...His work time frame was June 1-July 15. A new basement, a new roof, and new siding, in a month and a half! WHOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!

So true, once we sign the papers for the loan, there is NO WAY I can be a full time SAHM (until Dan gets a big raise LOL). BUT the whole house (pretty much) will be redone, the value will skyrocket, and we will have livable space again. YIPEEE!