I was fuming yesterday. As I posted before, the kitchen is going way over my $5,000 budget, even though it seemed like basic changes-- new cooktop, new counters.
As I mentioned, I was forced to buy a new sink because the contractor said my current 1957 cast iron beauty can't be reused. So, I bought a Kohler stainless steel one for $150. I also had to buy a $150 faucet because my current one only fits my current sink.
THEN, the counter people called back with the final bill based on their measurements, etc. They added another $285 to the bill. Even though the rounded edge of one counter was in my original diagram, they "forgot" to include the special circular edge charge. Get this: $99 for each 1/4 circle, so one half circle costs about $200. Who has 1/4 circles??? I was very livid. They also are making me take the backsplash behind my cooktop out for some reasons about the new counter not adhering to it. I had planned to keep this, so that's more money for ripping out and more money to replace it with something new.
This is not a major construction project, and yet it is more expensive and complicated than I feel it needs to be.
I can't wait until this is finished. If I didn't have two small kids I could save some of this money by doing the demo and stuff myself, but with two little ones, it will be next to impossible.
I'm steamed, but feel I am in too deep to back out.
Kitchen still MORE over budget
March 10th, 2010 at 09:24 pm
March 11th, 2010 at 12:43 am 1268268187
They told me how much I needed for the down payment and I borrowed it from my dad. Then a week or two from closing, they told me how much I needed for closing costs. I was like, did you miss the part where I said I had no money? Why didn't they include that in their calculations for what I needed to borrow? I told them I couldn't borrow any more from my dad, so if they didn't figure something out, the deal wasn't going through. They figured some way to get the place assessed at the value plus closing costs, and those costs got rolled into my mortgage. I was so mad. How can people be so casual with their customers about large purchases? I wouldn't put up with that buying toilet paper at the supermarket, let alone a kitchen remodel or a new home!
But I, like you, was in too deep to back out. I guess that's why they don't care; they know people will come up with the extra funding somehow whether they like it or not.
March 11th, 2010 at 01:06 am 1268269612
March 11th, 2010 at 06:26 am 1268288769
It sucks though, that lots of people think that they are too expensive at the start, and go with a cheaper quote, only to come back later when they aren't happy with the people they went with.
Hopefully everything sails along more smoothly now for you. *hugs*
March 11th, 2010 at 04:58 pm 1268326684
I feel like I made a mistake and would have been better off with the other guy. Although, he probably would have made me replace my sink, too.
March 12th, 2010 at 01:37 am 1268357878
They ended up sending me a check for three months of payments instead of taking the vehicle back.
I was a total idiot for buying that thing, but they did send me the money because that salesman was fired for doing similar things before.