ATTC: Episode 6, The end

It's never really the end, but for the sake of time and letting everyone know what's going on at the house, we'll make this the end of this story.  I was strongly leaning toward the Pete's.  I liked the effort they put in at the start and their willingness to work with me.  As the process went on, I was trying to hammer down all the details, no small task on a project this big.  I asked a few times for things to be added to or removed from the bid and there were some things that were consistently ignored.  After asking about the bathroom window three times without any acknowledgement of it from them, I was starting to lose faith.  The final straw was when I asked about the permits for the project and he told me that I would not need any permits.  Ok.  Done.  That's it, thanks for playing, but pass.  I believe the last communication with the Pete's was my e-mail asking if I really didn't need permits.  I didn't get a response, but I didn't press the issue because I was done with them and back to hiring individual subs.

I met with various subs:  electricians, plumbers, stucco guys, roofers, window guys, and got an idea of the cost (a lot).  I even met with another general who I liked a bit, but his round about refusal to let me meet with the electrician put me off.  He would not give me his name and said I would deal with him (the general) as far as the placement of plugs, switches, etc.  I was annoyed because I would much rather deal with the electrician straight up than have to go through a middle man, but also a little suspicious that his electrician might be one I already met with (who I had been referred to by the same guy as the general) whose bid was lower than the general's.  Ultimately, that and the fact that his overall number was too high brought me back to subs and I hired an electrician the next day.

Now most of the rough in is done!  He's just waiting for a few framing things that I need to do.  I will likely have the general I met with last do that work (that's what I called him for in the first place anyway).

I was hoping to have Christmas decorations there this year, but I don't think I'll be able to do that.  I'm still pushing for that, though.  We'll see how it goes and I'll let you know.