We have bought several homes and only sold one and in each transaction, there was a walk through day of or day before closing. We close on the purchase of another house next week and the sellers have been super nice and accommodating in letting us see the house multiple times thru out the 7 weeks after contract signing. They even allowed us to store our new sofa and cabinet in their garage last week. (We‘re moving from a townhouse two miles away to a SFH.) I offered to sign a statement waiving their liability for damage to my furniture but they were ok without it. We close at 11am next Monday, and I know we can’t get the house keys until after all the paperwork is signed and settlement check passed to the title company. I’m tempted to ask the seller if we can move some boxes of household items (not high value) and keep them on the covered back porch one day before closing when we go to do walk thru, but don’t want to take advantage of their generosity any more than we already have. i may have my contractor come with me to the walk thru so he can get measurements and evaluate the powder room for a total remodel.

A dry climate = gapping. It sounds like you may need to increase the humidity (which is part and parcel of 'shrinkage' in wood). The new floors will be as happy as the old ones. You simply have to wait it out. Remember: the OLD floors went through the same concerns...but it sounds like you weren't around when they acclimated. Some floors take several years to sort themselves out (this is how it worked in the early to mid part of the 20th Century). Sometimes it took a full sand/refinish before the floors looked "happy". If you weren't around to see the acclimation/movement, then you would not remember what it looked like after just a few months. I would not want to see anything 'replaced' or 'fixed' when these are freshly laid floors. You will simply be replacing one plank for another. The replacement plank needs to acclimate for a few weeks, it has to have the moisture measurements read to ensure it gets to the right level. You have to be willing to deal with this acclimation while you live in the house. Please check with your installer and ask about acclimation (both length of time AND moisture readings). And while you are waiting for them to return your calls, go ahead and take several humidity readings per day....for about a week. Get an average. And the GC is YOUR contact not the subcontractor/flooring guy. Whomsoever you paid DIRECTLY is your contact. It normally works this way: You pay GC and the GC pays the subs. Therefore you only contact the GC...not the flooring guy. The GC/flooring guy is responsible for the physical laying of the floor. The HOMEOWNER is responsible for the INTERNAL living conditions. If you live in a dry climate, then you will have shrinkage such as you mentioned. Increase the humidity to healthy levels and this will probably go away. Let us know the humidity readings you have been getting - it's the best way to figure things out.

I take it you dont have a new home warranty? (They are required where I am up in Canada, but let me tell you, that 'warranty' isnt all its cracked up to be either). If you dont have a warranty, best bet it to get a 3rd party expert (or two) and serve your builder with copies and politely ask him again to remedy. If not, pursue small claims. (Sadly these are workmanship, not code issues, or I'd suggest you sick your building inspector on him). Good luck, I get what you are saying about yoru house - I'm waiting for a new home warranty claim to be resolved - spring came and my drywall got ruined due to a water intrusion issue! The warranty rep and GC are speaking to each other, but refuse to speak to me. (I have to wait for 'paperwork to come in the mail', grrrr...)

I prefer the second plan, but fear that you won't have room for a dining table unless you make the house wider. And I still prefer a side-opening garage. I still cook and when I was younger cooked a lot, and I typically do as you do - refrig to stove area, not often to the sink first. But then I don't use a ton of fresh veggies that must be clean/peeled etc. I buy frozen and have since my children left home, as it's easier to control the portions and involves less work. My refrigerator is at the opposite end of the kitchen from my sink - the room is 15 ft wall-to-wall. There is a narrow island cart in between, but since it's one 17" wide, walking past it is far from an onerous task. It was the best place in my house (built in 1948, kitchen remodeled 2 years ago) for the refrigerator. I'm a very organized person so I take everything out at once, and either place it on the counter near the stove where I do my prep, or on the island where it can easily be reached later to take to the sink if needed. We all have different cooking styles and I would never attempt to impose MY style on others. It would be the same as telling a man how to arrange his wallet, and a woman, her handbag. It's a very personal preference.