Monday, January 17, 2011

Bad things come in two/three?

I have been having headache with the renovation. I thought that's bad enough, but today is worse.
My colleagues give me the tips of treating the contractor with food. So I head to Tesco to get some drinks and probably biscuits. However I am still pretty upset with the kitchen guy way of forcing the cabinet into my house. So my mind is pretty occupied with contemplation and 'things to do...'
After I park, I move my backpack to the seat behind, keeping my car key into my wrislet and walk, FORGETTING TO LOCK MY CAR!!! I sense that I miss something but not sure what.
When I grab a trolley and took some things, as I walk to another side of basket and back, my trolley is gone. The sense of something not right is stronger, I thought I am just having a bad day. In the same time I am aware that I forgot to take my just 3 weeks old HTC smartphone with me. And somehow I am reminded 'Have I locked my car?' hopefully my phone won't be stolen. Anyway, silly me grab another trolley and continue shopping.
As I walked back to my car, I felt something not right, there seem to have someone in my car! I walked slowly pushing the trolley, and check again from close distance...no...no one is in the car. I took out car key, as I try to press open, the sound " du..du..du..du" That's not right! It sound like one of the door is not closed properly. True enough I saw Xyn car seat was moved to one side, my bag drop to another side, smartphone was gone! I confirmed its being stolen instead of drop out when my ipod is gone too. The thief even got all the time and remember to zip back my bag somemore. sigh...
I put the blame to kitchen guy. The moment I put deposit, the following I was sick, have fever for 2 episodes at one week interval. Then my daughters and I had fever with cough and cold every month! That's terrible. I hope that the cabinet is ok and I am done dealing with the cabinet guy. and I pray the cabinet will remain ok even after chinese new year and not being dismantle, damaged or stoledn as I didn't put up grille yet. I am also warned that there are people wanting to steal copper wire when the wiring is up. I learn a hard hard lesson this time round of renovation.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Complication of renovation

I feel I am stucked. For all the survey that I have done, it seemed to be backfire, ended up I have too many ideas and when I discuss these ideas with various contractor that I have, most of time it is either sound silly to them ( then they will cannot do like that...like that will cause....), or ' we will just do what you want'... not helpful.
I think I have done a few mistake during this renovation process
1) Different contractor for different works. I have one doing wetworks for turning backyard to wet kitchen; one doing wiring, one doing plaster ceiling, and one doing kitchen cabinet, and another one painting.
I regreted this, I do this for obvious reason: I thought it can save cost. However... coordination is tiring and time consuming, the wiring service don't include patching work and smoothen wall, the plaster ceiling guy service don't include ceiling painting, then the wetwork guy ask why all the electrical fitting is up before the painting is done as it will affect the painting.
2) Engage cabinet guy too early. The very first deposit that I pay with regards to my new house is dining table and beds, next is kitchen cabinet at my dry kitchen area. After paying up deposit, the next weekend they come to measure, then the very next Monday the guy start doing my cabinet already. I haven't decided which fridge to get and probably eye on Fridge of brand S, rightaway they proceed to make the tall cabinet according to that size. Then they keep asking me when the cabinet can be installed. The cabinet is done in september last year, till today my wet kitchen is not quite done yet, wiring is not quite done yet, but the cabinet guy insist that the cabinet can be up despite there is no painting work, as they rush to deliver the cabinet out of their factory and get payment before Chinese New Year. 

I am upset, as it seem the cabinet guy and the wiring guy ( both handled by same contractor anyway) seem don't care about my house finishing, just want to get the so-called agreed work done and walk away. I can only pray for the after sale service is not bad if not good. My wetwork guy is good enough to concern for me, as he has engaged painting service ( though I am planning to engage another one which is much cheaper, more than RM600 difference.

3) Probably I focus on the cost so much so I end up loosing. I might have to pay extra to get another guy to finish up after one guy is done his work. All this make me Penny wise, Pound foolish.

I really feel like I have messed up.