Oh, KYgirl--Big hugs coming from me, too. I haven't been on his forum in a while because I've been dealing with our own build from He$$, and I didn't read all the responses in this thread, but I did read your original post. We've just gone through something very, very similar--different problems, but similar in scope, jerk of a builder, almost no on-site supervision, several horrible subs, lots of stress and tears. It has been horrible. We ended up moving into our house ten days ago while it was still unfinished because of having to be out of our rental, reaching our bank deadline for closing, etc. I just wrote you a long post, but realized that it ended up being about me, not you--and this is your thread! So, I guess I just want to say that I sympathize with you, and I think I understand a lot of what you must be feeling. It's a good day if I haven't cried more than once before 9 a.m.! This has been the most stressful, unpleasant experience of our lives. Friends will say, "Oh, you must be so excited to be in your house," and I feel like a spoiled brat if I don't respond positively. It has been a nightmare. There's still lots to be done here, dh and I are doing and/or redoing stuff that we've already paid contractors to do, but they either did a crappy job or haven't been showing up. It just sucks. As badly as I feel for you, reading your post at least made me feel as though I'm not the only one who has gone through this and I thought you might want to know you're not alone. The old misery loves company routine, I guess! Take care of yourself, and try not to let it get you down--I know how hard it is, but if we don't look at the positive side, we'll go completely crazy. Although, at least you could then plead insanity when you're charged with killing Mr. Peanut!

helenill: May I play devil's advocate here for a moment? Keep in mind that I am totally on YOUR side, but maybe I can help you develop a strategy. You earlier posted this: "But I am still thinking that we need an accounting. I'm drafting an e-mail asking in a very polite way because we need to be able to show what we have in our house if we ever want to sell." Is that the rationale you're going to present to him for why you want an accounting now? Because it's not true and he will know it. The market and a willing buyer will establish the selling price of your home. How many houses are bought without the buyer knowing the price the owner paid for it? A LOT, especially if time has passed and especially if no realtor researches it for the buyer. You do not need an accounting to sell your house; that is NOT a believable rationale. Further, you have all the proof from your cancelled check records of what you paid for the house. Few buyers would ask to see how much you were charged for the nails, the paint, etc. Your GC knows that too. Again, it's a BAD rationale because you already have a summary record sufficient to prove to a future buyer how much you have in the house. Answer the question to yourself: why do YOU want an accounting? (Yes you may be "entitled" to one; yes, most GCs will provide one; that's not why you want one.) Now, separate that answer out and look at it critically. Is it a good rationale in your GCs eyes for giving you one? What you want to find is the rationale that he might be able to accept. And you might not be able to find a good one. You might end up saying just because we'd like to look at a breakdown of what everything cost. It would just be interesting to us to do that. (Do bear in mind that he might be feeling cautious about somehow indicting himself if he's done anything he shouldn't have.) Now, the other part of your strategy is timing. It is everything. Given that you two had words on Friday, an email he gets on this touchy subject of an accounting right now will NOT be well received. He will read into it vindictiveness or anger on your part. So, today/tomorrow is NOT a good time. What is? The point at which you owe him a lot of money. So much money that he won't want to walk away from it. That's the point at which you delay payment and tell him that, just like a bank, you want to get an accounting to date so you can "see where you are" before making any more payments. Be careful with this because absent any provision in your contract, you don't have a legal leg to stand on. And he knows that. But he might, out of some good will or whatever, be willing to cooperate. Myself, before I had any communication with him about this, or paid him anything more, I would talk with an attorney. I don't know what the laws are in your jurisdiction or how case law has been interpreted. Maybe there's a legal argument to be made that he has some obligation even outside of such a provision in your contract. I don't know and you don't know. But even aside from the law, simply as a personal business strategy, this is the point at which I always hire an attorney and tell her what I'm trying to accomplish and discuss strategies that might work, as well as find out exactly where I stand legally. Just to keep myself out of trouble. I've had attys sit down with me and compose an email for me to send and help me make it sound "civilian" rather than "attorney-like." In this case, an attorney can be a valuable consultant as a strategist, even aside from any strictly legal aspects. Holding the money, making a reasonable request (asking him to do you a favor, actually, if it's not provided for in your contract), being polite, controlling your anger, watching your timing. Hiring an attorney. That's about all the materials you have to work with in developing a strategy. But you need one. An email now from an angry customer is not likely to produce the results you want. If you're just angry, and that's your real answer to my earlier question, I'd just try to let it go.

Bestyears, thanks for the mockup. I do know photoshop--DOH! I guess I should try that myself ;-) The blue gray that is the door is the same as the siding. So many of you like that color?? Like I said earlier, I had a couple of friends tell me they thought it was dated, so I guess that is why I was determined to go with another color. I think the taupe in the mockup makes the rock pop, but I'm not really a taupe person. I'll have to reconsider that. Finally, DO you think I need to add SHUTTERS to the bottom where the rock face is? Does it make it look out of balance to the top? I got this wild idea last night that I and my husband could make board and batten shutters--it's just 2x4s nailed together ;-) He is never going to agree to that. Here is example of the shutters I am talking about. Maybe that has to come later ;-) Please keep the suggestions coming. Off to the paint store. Susan

I would paint it all, or paint the door only. With the single sidelight, I think you have a chance of things looking a little off-balance if you leave the trim white, but contrasting the door only could work. I'd have the transom match whatever you do with the sidelight, painted dark or light. I think it would be great to paint the inside of the door black as well, because it works with the interior of your home. If you were going with a bright color that you didn't want to see from the inside, only as an exterior color, that would be different. But leave the interior trim, sidelight, transom white.