2 cars or 3 cars gone? Sounds to me like that $100k estimate is pretty conservative with the damage you mentioned. When there's a lot of damage, often it's cheaper to replace than to repair. I imagine there's smoke and water damage too so this could be spendy for the seller. Interesting situation. Raises a question or two, can you insure a house you no longer own? Can you continue your homeowners insurance when you live in a place without owning it or does it cover you until you've moved? The vehicles may be covered depending on their policy. Need an insurance agent to chime in on this one. Conceivably the buyer could have insurance on it and would have coverage then they would go after the seller for it who would have to be liable. Standard real estate contracts include a clause that you have to give it to the buyer in similar condition to when it was purchased. The buyer should be able to negate the sale if they want since the seller destroyed the property prior to giving possession but if they got a deal, they might want to go for the money instead and possibly other damages. In some communities, they can bill for the fire department services too. So there can be quite a bill generated from this. Not much of a way to shed responsibility, it's pretty clear who was negligent. Cause is normally withheld until the investigation is completed but from the info given, it's pretty likely what the cause will be. They'll investigate whether there was a coincidental arson, whether they set the fire intentionally and tried to make it look like an accident and of course other possibilities. And if there's criminal charges it'll be all the worse for the seller(s). The sad part is that people can collect insurance when they're involved in criminal activities. There's something wrong with that. I like fireworks but I realize the responsibility that goes with it and using them responsibly. It's people like this who screw things up for responsible people. FWIW, this is why I refused to close on my house until I had possession and did a walk through inspection. Sellers didn't like it but I wouldn't handle it any other way (then or now) no matter what the real estate agents tried to pull or claim.

I am, of all things, a construction defect atty, usually representing homeowners suing developers. (Before you ask, I don't often do remodel cases because homeowners are usually better off working things out unless they have a truly unscrupulous contractor -- but a lot of contractors just won't work with me for that reason alone.) I am thus a terrible snob about concrete and floors :) I recently settled a large case, realized that every single appliance in my kitchen was non-functional to a degree, and decided that I deserved a new kitchen. I fell in love with azul macaubas granite, obsessed about finding the right stone without blowing my budget, scoured the internet for pix of azul macaubas in kitchens, and thus found this site (thank you, theresab, cloudswift, and others). As my tastes evolved I realized that even though I've always lived in the suburbs, I'm a country chick inside. Thus, my dream kitchen has a farmhouse sink, beadboard touches, and schoolhouse lighting, along with that drop dead gorgeous azul macaubas. I want my kitchen to have a lot of blue without putting that color on every single cabinet, floor, ceiling, walls, etc. The first thing I did in starting the remodel project was to find a Thermador stove with blue knobs on ebay for half price. I'm making decisions, with the help of this site, on faucets, lighting, and floor tile while waiting for cabinets to arrive. In my spare time, I trail run and hike, quilt, and raise teenage boys.

Is he a licensed contractor? If so, notify your state contractor's license board and file a complaint. They may also be able to advise you about how to proceed to resolve this. Personally, I would explore my options there, as well as getting the advice of an attorney before I paid another penny. Regardless of whether or not your contract lists "quality of work," there are standards of workmanship that all contractors have to follow. You cannot just go into someone's home and do whatever you want and then hide behind lien laws. Lien laws protect contractors from non-payment, but there are laws to protect consumers as well.

Everybody has an opinion, which you asked for, but you have to do what is best for you in your neighborhood. If you are replacing the siding and thinking about doing all the work of painting brick, maybe you should just remove some of that brick altogether. If you leave some of it, have it be lower and even across...maybe 1/3 of the height of the walls instead of half. Keep the excess brick for edging or patio like someone else suggested. I liked the trim-work you added. Definitely do not paint the garage door the same as the front. Keep it in the lighter tone of your siding color choice. This way the front door is a focal point. Do not replace the garage door if it is not needed. There's no reason to add the expense ($1700 or more). I would use the existing shrubs as background to a much larger planted area. Allow budget for mulching that planting bed and, for what it's worth, consider using rubber bark mulch. It definitely is more expensive, but it is worth it in the long run if you're planning on living there. Rubber bark does not attract termites or roaches, it doesn't fade, it doesn't disintegrate, and it doesn't blow away so it doesn't need to be replaced every 2 years like bark mulch. It keeps tires out of the landfill! Anyway, updating is a great idea, but keep in mind why you are choosing to do so. If you are going to live there, spend what you want. If you are updating to sell, keep your budget as low as possible because you won't recoup much of it and expenses can only be subtracted from profits on the house. If you're losing money on the house then not even the realtor fees are deductible. Best of luck with your project!