Negotiating a Good Deal on a Car
Annegriet
7 years ago
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Negotiating a Good Designer Contract (Long)
Comments (15)Ok, the reason why I'm using a designer/project manager is that I'm sick and tired of the kitchen renovation rut I've been stuck in for nearly a year now! Enter the services of a certified interior designer who will now come in to put a plan together that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. He will find the materials and finishes I've been pining for and be able to purchase them at a designer discount. Then, as project manager, he will be able to explain that plan to the tradespeople who must execute it -- quickly, accurately and in their own language. He will have moderate project oversight (making an onsite visit to the project at least once a week) and will intervene with the tradespeople on my behalf should problems arise. At this point, I've lost way too much money and nerves by trying to go it alone on a project that started out being a just a "modest spiff up" but which has now morphed into a fairly significant reno project. (I blame that, in part, on having discovered the GW kitchen forum and then becoming TKO!) Not having enough trade and design basics at my disposal when I began has caused me countless plan changes and revisions, costly mistakes in purchasing of materials (including appliances and cabs), and frequent bad choices in hiring smooth talking subs who end up either doing mediocre -to- lousy work or completely botching the job. Enough! I now think I will actually SAVE money by hiring someone (designer/project manager) who will be paid to hear my desires and needs, translate them into a plan that is consistent with my heart and budget and then serve as the person who will convey his/my orders to a GC or posse of subs. I don't foresee any problem with the project manager working with the GC and vice versa. In fact, 2 of the GCs I've been talking with about the project have both stated that they would welcome working with the designer/pm. They know that the experienced professional who has designed my plan is going to be better equipped to instruct and assess its technical and aesthetic execution than me in most instances. Jejvtr, your question about liability is a good one. I have verbally confirmed with the designer/pm that no subs are to be hired who do not have required licensing and insurance. I'll make sure that condition is explictly stated in the contract. As to who pays the GC (or subs), that will be me! Again, the designer/pm will oversee the plan progress. When he is satisfied that each phase which triggers a payment has been satisfactorily completed, he will advise me that it's time to pay up....See MoreAnyone know of deals on car rental?
Comments (14)I too have been shocked by travel rates this year. You'd think with the state of the economy travel would be cheaper. Even our hotel was more expensive this year than last. Anyway, I found the best rate for a rental car through costco. Go on www.costco.com, then click on the Travel tab at the top, then on the Cars tab on the left. All the major car rental companies have Costco discounts. To find the best deal, you pretty much have to select each company, then click on each offer. When you click on the offer links, you will be connected to their websites, and then you price out your rental. It's a bit tedious, but you need to check all of the different offers. You should also try priceline. You might get lucky, but I found that once extra charges were factored in (e.g. adding my husband as an additional driver), the costo price was cheaper....See MoreIs this a good Toyota Camry deal?
Comments (13)Hi friends, I have decided not to buy this Camry (the one that had the accident). A Good Samaritan who looked at the CARFAX report pointed out the following: 01/08/2017 New Hampshire Damage Report Accident reported Involving right rear impact CARFAX began reporting this information on 08/16/2017. 01/14/2017 Damage Report Damage reported after accident Structural damage reported Damage to front Damage to rear Damage to right rear Damage to undercarriage CARFAX began reporting this information on 07/26/2017. Structural damage may impact vehicle safety and reliability. Get the unibody or frame of the vehicle inspected by a professional. 06/26/2017 New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Dept. Keene, NH Title #14355229 Title issued or updated Duplicate title issued Vehicle color noted as Black 07/24/2017 Seller Disclosure Vehicle sold at auction Airbag deployment disclosed by seller 07/24/2017 21,000 Dealer Inventory Vehicle offered for sale 08/02/2017 21,310 Toyota of Watertown Watertown, MA 617-926-5200 toyotaofwatertown.co m Fluids checked Oil and filter changed He then advised the following: "Based on above it looks like it was hit really bad in January and took almost 6 months to repair, then was sold at auction and trickled down to the dealer where its being sold now. Damage to undercarriage is not good. It should be real easy for a body shop to point this out and check alignment. I'd be very weary of buying something with those extensive of repairs and no documentation. "Also sketchy that this was being sold at a Toyota dealer just last month but now a corner buy here/pay here lot, it probably couldn't pass Toyota's certified used car inspection which is a red flag." I'm really grateful for the advice I got on this forum. The problem is that in my excitement to buy the car I chose to not look at the info in the CARFAX report which was very stupid of me, and not fair to the people I was asking for advice in this forum. I deeply apologize and realize that you were offering me advice based on an incomplete picture. If this is any excuse, this is only the second time I'm buying a car. I'm an immigrant and still learning how to do these sorts of things....See Moreundecided leave deal or negotiate
Comments (10)As you are an FHA buyer, I am assuming you don't have the ready cash for a conventional loan. If so, how would you expect to be able to pay for the roof in a couple years time? A roof job is going to start at $4,000 for a little one but more likely double or triple that or higher. You would be better off paying more for a house with the roof already installed. Lots of jobs are DIY friendly but roofing isn't. Talk to your husband and analyze why he likes this house. Is it the location, the layout, the size, the style, the price tag or the man cave? If he can't explain to you why this house is so desirable to him, then it is not a good house for you to buy. Every couple has their roles and we don't know how you interact. Perhaps he is being impulsive and you are being rational or perhaps he is being realistic while you are overly cautious. Every successful purchase needs someone being excited about possibilities and seeing the best side of the deal and someone else shooting holes in the balloon. I have bought a couple dozen houses over the years and I can tell you there is always another house for sale. My partner is usually the one seeing all the cool possibilities and I am the one saying hold on but sometimes he gets sensible and looks at it the amount of work required....See MoreUser
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agosephia_wa
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoElmer J Fudd
7 years agogyr_falcon
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoElmer J Fudd
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agomurraysmom Zone 6a OH
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