So this happened

[Newdude]

To be fair to PB, I went in eyes wide open. When we sat down to sign, we 'caught up' first. He was beside himself and literally threw a stack of 10 or 12 loaded folders, one per stalled build, across his desk in frustration and made a mess. He detailed not being able to get anything of a plastic variety. The concrete company kept blowing him off for jobs that were worth more with their limited supply. The ship went sideways. No help was on the horizon.

Then I asked him if he'd make it 13 stalled builds.

Then it went exactly as expected at which point the winter was unfavorable for building and dragged on a bit longer than usual.

Not keeping closer tabs on a terrible GC was on PB, but I now feel he got hit hard enough also, and we're 'even'

What was awsome was TFP to the rescue again. I saw reports here daily from around the country that NOBODY was finding skimmers, PVC, liners , etc. I had moral support coming out of my ears knowing it wasn't just me and I had no need to pester PB. He'd call me from time to time and I could hear the worry/panic in his voice as he updated me with what I already knew.

This place is bloody amazing. I should probably start helping out one of these days for all its given me.

 

[kimkats]

I invented the term PB years like dog years for a reason. So far 3 PB weeks means 61 weeks.

OH like this one!

Then I asked him if he'd make it 13 stalled builds.

Because you are good like that! Here lets add on one more

This place is bloody amazing. I should probably start helping out one of these days for all its given me.

Feeling the love and thinking IF/WHEN you start helping it will be wonderful.....................oh wait it already is BECAUSE you HAVE been helping in so many ways!!!

 

[Newdude]

Oh wait it already is BECAUSE you HAVE been helping in so many ways!!!

It's been said to me more times by other members than I can count and I feel it to my core myself. It never feels like helping. It feels like I'm taking more than I'm giving.

This place is *that* special of a community. We laugh together. We cry together. We figure it out together. We ride together. It never feels like work.

 

[TampaKathy]

"PB years," I like it! Sadly, very accurate.

 

[Orion7319]

I still have this nagging feeling because I am 61 weeks into my 3 week build.

Seriously????

 

[Newdude]

Seriously????

For real. The liner was supposed to be in this week. Now it's next week. If it's not right when it does come in, it's back to square one.

Like I said in post #15, there has been waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much 'isn't' to believe any 'is' preemptively.

 

[kul]

He didn't imply weather

I hope it’s an ideal temp for them. They wasted a beautiful day last time!

 

[JamesW]

Like I said in post #15, there has been waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much 'isn't' to believe any 'is' preemptively.

You need the contractor translator.



What they say................................What they mean.



It will get done soon..................It will get done when we feel like it.

It will be top quality..................It is what it is. If you don’t like it, too bad

We need another payment......We want to have a big party instead of working on your pool.

We only send out the most qualified people..............We hire day labor from the Home Depot parking lot.

That problem was a onetime mistake............We do that all the time and you are the only person who noticed.

 

[Orion7319]

For real. The liner was supposed to be in this week. Now it's next week. If it's not right when it does come in, it's back to square one.

Like I said in post #15, there has been waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much 'isn't' to believe any 'is' preemptively.

Hopefully they measured it right!

 

[Newdude]

..We hire day labor from the Home Depot parking lot.

The last i heard they are getting $25 an hour and factoring the lack of taxes involved, it's officially my backup plan if my job goes south.

Everyday will be an adventure. Whattawedoing today ? Sprinklers ? Kewl !!!

 

[Newdude]

I hope it’s an ideal temp for them. They wasted a beautiful day last time!

 

[JamesW]

What they say.................................................What they mean.

We background check everyone...............For about half the people, we don’t even know their name.

Our people are extensively trained............They received a 5 minute demonstration from a person who had no idea what they were talking about.

Everything is designed and engineered to the highest standards.......We do everything by rule-of-thumb.

We will keep you informed about everything..........We will arrive unannounced while you are in the shower or eating dinner.

We will make good progress tomorrow.....................Two sketchy scoundrels will pop in and mill about aimlessly for an hour or two and then disappear.

 

[Newdude]

What I actually got was 'I'm slowing down but brought someone on who had his own company for over 30 years. '

When he came to go over everything in the yard and spent an hour with me, he was personable and seemed very knowledgeable. (Minus typical industry brainwashing of course).

I drew him plans, went over the big details and why it was all being requested as it was.
He called me two weeks later and asked if I was ready to go and I assumed it was someone else because I spent an hour with him going over the yearlong delay and he spray panted the lines himself. Same guy, no recollection of what transpired.

He showed up on dig day with generic internet plans. When I told him they were not what we were building he tapped them and said my contract said they were right. (Contract said nothing at all in regards)

It only spiraled worse from there.

 

[bertschb]

What they say.................................................What they mean.


We will keep you informed about everything..........We will arrive unannounced while you are in the shower or eating dinner.

We will make good progress tomorrow.....................Two sketchy scoundrels will pop in and mill about aimlessly for an hour or two and then disappear.

That's pretty funny right there!

 

[ajw22]

I drew him plans, went over the big details and why it was all being requested as it was.
...
He showed up on dig day with generic internet plans. When I told him they were not what we were building he tapped them and said my contract said they were right. (Contract said nothing at all in regards)

Follow up every conversation in writing from the first.

Assume there is no continuity between meetings. Start with "As we discussed last time...."

 

[kul]

Geez can they just get it together?! You’re so so close!! Almost first day of summer! It’s gonna happen soon!!

 

[TampaKathy]

Yep, no continuity and apparently expecting them to take notes is crazy.

 

[JamesW]

Start with "As we discussed last time...."

Maybe the builder has the same condition as Drew Barrymore in 50 first dates where she can’t remember anything and you have to explain everything all over again every time.

 

[kimkats]

and redraw the plans each and every time

 

[TKpoolOH]

Love it! Not all your troubles, feel bad about that…talking about how when you are gone 48 hours Dude has like 800 posts and it seems like you are starting his build thread all over.

This is definitely an amazing community! No idea where I’d be without all the guidance and fellowship on here. I’m pulling for Dude to get his finished before mine gets started. Although, in his PB years math, my dig is due to start sometime around the year 2102.