Blood sweat and tears.

[Bubba]

Family and I finished a big project today. Bank is releasing the final 10% of the loan to our contractor in less than 2 months. We went $ xxx,xxx over our buget and had to beg and borrow for it. For months we couldn't sleep with worries of how we can make ends meet and how to pay back the extra money.

Tears from everyone in a nightly basis. Fears of getting sick with ulcers and other sickness that comes with stress. Finally it's over and we are all relieved.

Have any of you been in a situation that just when you think you cannot make it, you find a way?. Have any of you quit half way through a project because of low on funds or mentally you could not cope with it?.

 

[Hugojoe]

Congrats Bubba.

 

[Like a rolling stone]

Most big projects end up costing 20% more than expected. Perfect example is our Governments' projects. Did it not cost over a billion for the G-20 summit ?

 

[SillyGirl]

In 1991 I moved to a small town, and on one of the back roads there was a log cabin being built. By the owner, himself.

Last year I moved out of that small town, and that cabin still didn't have a roof. Now I'm curious, I'll have to do a DriveBy the next time I'm out there and see if it ever got finished. :neutral:

 

[Skip Tap Slip]

I have been through a similar situation. My contractor did not realize there is a 45 days window that he had to post in the newspaper etc... that the work was finished before getting the rest of the money. We went through hell because of his inexperience.

Word of advice to others. Never settle for the cheapest quote. Better to pay more for experience and good word of mouth referral.

 

[Cycleguy007]

I started renovating my basement in October 2001. It was about 1100 sq ft of living space I was converting from bare concrete walls... I was adding an office, a billiards room, a recroom/ home theater room, a home gym, a bar, a bathroom, and a playroom for the kids....

I was doing all the work myself... and beings that I have a full time career, a wife and 3 small children at the time, the only time I could work on it was in the evening for an hour or 2 and on weekends... PLUS we had all sorts of STUFF (kids toys, spare furniture, miscellaneous boxes etc.) in the basement I had to work around! So you can imagine it was a long and drawn out process. :shock:

I was moving along nicely, starting with the outside walls, electrical, insulation etc, then the inside walls, electrical, home theater cables, and central vac rough in, then the bathroom, did the plumbing etc over Christmas holidays and started dry-walling in the new year... Then I hit a brick wall during March break, I hate taping! LOL! :grrrrrr: I did the first coat, and then the nice spring weather hit and I started working on outside projects... The basement project just stayed that way all summer and was put on the back burner until October. :shock:

When the weather turned crappy again, I retreated back to the basement and finished my mancave. It was finally finished by mid-November 2002.

The hindrance wasn't money... because I did all the labour myself my project came in just $350 over what I budgeted... time however was a big factor. :arf:

 

[Bill The Pirate]

See Silly's log cabin story............. I could send you pictures. I am in year 7 of my 3 year renovation plan.