We started our build with Diyanni March 2021, framing good went well, drywall installation went well too We started seeing problems with our skill trades/sub contractors. Our color selection was wrong (inverted), when I attempted to ask them the response was, well you looked at the color sheet and there is nothing we can do about it. The estimated time to move in was so far off (we were told the house would be completed somewhere between the 2nd week to the end of September) so with that estimate, we sold our home and then paid the increase in price after signing the original contract agreement (YES, the price increase 15K after we begun construction), and we opted to stay in a rental for the month. The month turned into 2.5 months and we didn’t get the keys to the house until october 31. And even then we recieved a temporary permit. It was a complete and utter mess. The plumbers didn’t hook up our suppump and our basement took in water and the electrician( nice guy) has been the hardest to get a hold of to complete the extra’s we paid him for. So while new construction will have it’s share of problems, when you are dealing with sub contractors that you don’t get a chance to vett, there is little accountablity without your PM or the people who hired them keeping watch that the product is done correctly. So a word of caution for ANY builder who doesn’t do everything themselves with employees. I will add that we also had Jeff H on our project and while he was very busy, and he dropped the ball sometimes, he did try his best to recetify things. Was he the best ever, no…but he did try to have empathy and just flat out told us some of our issues were due to COVID, material shortage and just finding people who will work. I would hire Jeff again, but I would make sure to stay in constant communication as he doesn’t like buildertrend, which I use to document every issues in case of legal ramifications.

It is impossible to build a house without any mistakes. Building a house problem-free is an entirely different story. I think that a house can be built for a customer problem-free if that customer is not expecting perfection, is not all that detail-oriented, and is a passive type of personality. There have been many issues during our build that probably 99.9% of the world would have never ever noticed; however, we did notice and we had them changed/fixed. It's all a matter of perspective. As to your issues, I don't think that having two light switches covered during drywall or having to move a few cabinets here and there is at all a big deal. These are very easy fixes! (I'm not completely following your description of the kitchen window issue so I won't comment on that.) And, if four mistakes while building are all you've gone through, seriously...you're getting off easy! The foundation mistake though...that's inexcusable. I would have made them redo the foundation, and I certainly wouldn't have paid them to fix it. You filed your plans with the county right? Did you have to have a stamp to reflect the foundation change? I don't understand why you would be paying out of pocket to FIX labor mistakes. Surely you aren't paying the subs until the work is completed to your satisfaction, and or barring that caveat...at least until the work is done per the plans?!

Nope, haven't found anyone yet. I called a mason from the yellow pages that specializes in fireplaces. He came over last week to give me an estimate. I explained to him that I was looking to build a traditional wood burning masonry fireplace. The specs of the fireplace were as follows: I wanted the firebox to be 36" wide and at least 24" deep. It's new construction so it will have a new foundation supporting it. The chimney is going to be about 18' tall. On the inside I wanted the brickwork to be about 10' wide with a raised hearth. Oh and I was thinking of adding an alcove to store kindling. His estimate without mantle: approximately $30,000 It made me start looking into prefab again :-( Linda if you think your mason could do better price wise I would certainly appreciate his info.

To The Einsteins In The Group Who Can Not Spell Like Me But Can Perform Some Simple Research On The Power Factor Correction Issue. To Start With, I Have A High End Solar Panel On-grid System That Does Slow Down My Electrical Meter Nicely. Does This Mean That A Kvar Would Do The Same Thing? The Answer Is No. However, This Is Word For Word Out Of My Electric Company Contract When, Based On A Test Of The Customer's Power Factor, The Power Factor Is Below 85% Lagging, The Billing Demand May Be Increased By Adding 1% Of The Actual Demand For Each 1% That The Power Factor Is Below 85%. Now What Does The Above Statement Mean? It Means That My Residential Power Provider Will Charge Me More Money For Power That Is Produced Below The 85% Power Factor Mark. Thats Right Folks, Read Your Electric Contract Closely Because When The Power Factor Drops, Your Provider Has Every Legal Right To Charge You Extra Money. Will The Kvar Save You Money? Answer Is Yes. Why? Because It Is A Power Factor Correction Device. Would I Pay More Than $100 For It? Never, Because With At Least A Much More Costly Solar Panel System, I Can See My Meter Slow And Reach Net Metering Status, The Kvar Does Not Do That But The Kvar Does Perform Power Factor Correction Which Does Extend The Life Of Appliances, Which Does Save You Money. How Much Money Does It Save Is Literally Impossible To Determine, But For Under $100 I Will Give It A Shot, Especially In A Screwed Up Economy. see