And, my latest update on the never-ending list of the unanticipated. The fabricator was out and told us that our floors and counters are not anywhere near level. If we want to keep our current backsplash, we need to take out the entire first row of backsplash so the fabricator can create a row of soapstone backsplash to fit under the current tile. This is the only way to get a level appearance and level countertops. And, because of the odd contifutation of our counters (they are of several diffenent heights) he told us that some of the existing backsplash, where the tile is cut to go around the current countertop, might need some replacement tiles........... So, what are the chances that we can actually take out that row of tiles without actually breaking tiles above them? Probably pretty low. So, this may now also mean an all new backsplash. More work and more money. All because I said I just wanted to do a quick upgrade to our counter tops.......

Total newbie without experience to back this up, but in my view, they did you wrong. And yes, they did stain the counter. Granite sucks up liquid. We moved into a "freshly renovated" apartment and had to take 900 photos (literally) because the paint guys went nuts. Really, really nuts. And they dinged the counter. And the cabinets. And, and, and. Who paints a ventilation fan (on a ceiling!) completely shut? Seriously, it's a one-bedroom efficiency apartment. There's not much you can do now except try to get some of your money back. Doubt any repair would be effective, but, you never know. I wouldn't pay for THEM to repair it though. Pay the top end guys and lesson learned. :-)

I appreciate those who have stuck with me though this ordeal. I’m happy to report that the shower is done and I hope to never have to revisit this in my lifetime. I’ll let the next owner deal with tearing it out (that would make 3 times) and renovating to their taste. From this experience I’ve learned that my DH thinks I’m much too picky. Last week it got to the point that he was mad at the world and I was unfortunately the one who took the brunt of it. As I feared, he ended up in the hospital with chest pains and sky rocketing BP. I honestly think those 3 days took more out of me than when he had by-pass surgery while we were building this house. Wine is my friends. Grouting happened on Thursday and caulking on Friday. Plumber came Monday along with the painter. Today the shower doors were installed. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get my frameless door, but this is better than a shower curtain and more than half the price of the door I wanted. I’ll probably never take a shower or bath in this BR, so I’m okay with the result. And more importantly, DH is happy with the finished product. So I promised photos. Certainly not Houzz worthy, but it works. DS will be happy to have his BR back

I want someone who has never purchased a home to fully understand the process. I was counting it up the other day. Thus far, I've purchased nine homes. I've purchased homes in Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New York, and Georgia. I've renovated historic properties, built from the ground up and purchased new construction. I've appraised in Georgia and Virginia. I've acted as my own GC. As an appraiser, I've reviewed thousands of purchase contracts. I've overseen hundreds of construction to perm projects. That's a lot more experience than the general home purchaser will ever experience. Because every home is unique, every purchase and sales experience is unique. You encounter lots of very honest people, lots of very clueless people and a few outright crooks. People spend more time selecting their next car and cell phone than they do when selecting a home. Because of the size of the expense and responsibility, it is incumbent on the buyer to be very careful. They should always be willing to withdraw their offer to purchase and walk away after they determine that something isn't to their satisfaction. This is why they should be advised consult a subject matter expert if an issue appears. HVAC is the most complex system in a home with lots of moving parts. It involves plumbing, electrical and engineering. Typically, a home inspector will not have sufficient expertise to fully diagnose an issue and project a cost to repair or replace. I generalize when I say that that a home inspector won't have this type of expertise, I'm sure that there are exceptions. If water or foundation issues are identified, an inspection and advice of a structural engineer may be a prudent move. The same goes with plumbers, electricians and roofers. It's good advice to get good advice before the sale, not after. Once all that is done, the buyer will know whether to proceed or not proceed. I've walked after inspections. I've purchased after getting expert advice, too. As long as you make this a business process and not an emotional decision, the buyer will be in good shape. In this particular example, an issue was identified and the seller attempted to provide a temporary solution. That R22 that was pissed into the wind was expensive. It's hard to find. I know, I had to make a similar decision on my current home last summer. At 20 years, it was time to replace rather than fill up with refrigerant and calculate the rate of loss over time. I've got a second unit that is on it's last year or two. I'll replace it when it goes DOA. The buyer had questions. We educated them and advised further actions. It looks like everyone is satisfied with the outcome. There will be little buyer's remorse. That's a good thing.