Lessons along the way

This past week has left me a little disappointed. I fully anticipated being able to get so much done. It just didn't work out that way. I look at those home design shows on TV differently. They are some kinda crazy, factory, robot producing crew. I have NO IDEA how they work and finish off makeovers so quickly! SERIOUSLY?! I'm constantly running into new problems or dilemmas and then on top of that sitting and waiting for the workers to finish what I've hired them for so I can get in and do what I NEED to do.

What I have learned...Kitchen counter replacement is a lengthy job. Two full days for the tear out and installation. And just as everyone said it is a MESSY JOB! I have an inch of dust all over EVERYTHING in the garage!

When you have other workers coming into your house to work, you won't be able to do what you planned on because they need in the space you also need in. :)

Peeling wallpaper is a tedious task and takes much longer than anticipated. I've probably got a good 3-4 hours left to finish off the kitchen. Then only 2 more rooms...YIPPEE! Lesson Learned...Wallpaper is EVIL. Today I vow to NEVER put wallpaper up in a house in my life! I hope the wallpaper trend from the 80s and 90s NEVER comes back! I don't care if you think that design is so cute...it's NOT! Get some fabric of it and make a pillow, but DO NOT put wallpaper up in your house!!! If you need to learn this lesson, I'm more than happy to let you come over and peel some wallpaper so you can learn that lesson REAL GOOD! :)

CraigsList is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I posted my washer and dryer on there and within 30 min. began receiving phone calls and less than 24 hours later had them sold and picked up. And actually sold them for more than I anticipated. I set my price a little higher fully anticipating having to negotiate down the price, but thinking by doing this I'd end up right where I wanted it sold for. But the guy came right in and bought it up at my listed price. YIPPEE! So another tip set your price right and people are more likely to buy! Some of the postings were a little ridiculous. It's a USED washer and Dryer...yeah I want to make a little money off them, but more importantly I want them outta here. Set a good price, you get the phone calls, and it's GONE. Some of those postings are still up a week later...uh you may wanna rethink your price!

Sorry no pictures of progress yet. I've got more to do. I can't wait to get all of these FABULOUS designs outta my head and posted on here for yall to see! :)

Hold me to it!!!

Alright so I had quite the ordeal with the plumbing situation. I was able to get my warranty company to approve for me to get my own plumber out. I didn't have one, but wound up with a GREAT one. He was very professional came out on the weekend and got the leak fixed. Of course as I thought...once the leak was fixed it was very easy to get the water dried up. I bought a box fan and have kept it running for a week...moving it to different locations. Everything is all dried up. Cost...$30 for the fan plus electricity...compared to the $1400 the company wanted to charge me...are you CRAZY?!

So this week I'm not working and have vowed to spend time on things around the house. A week ago I finalized all the payments on my kitchen counters so hopefully in the next week or so I can have those installed! :) So what I'd like to get done this week is ALL the wallpaper finally off the kitchen walls. And if I can over achieve a little maybe the pantry sanded and painted.

I called a handyman recommended by my counter guys. He's coming out tomorrow to give me the estimate to replace my drywall and baseboards from the leak. So I'd like to have that finished this week if he will be able to get to that. If he gets it done early in the week, I want to have my laundry room painted this week!! :)

I have a lawn service and talked with one of the guys this past week about my front flower beds. They are in quite a mess. Now's the time to change that out. I'm not sure what I really want to do landscaping wise, but I need to at least get something started so the HOA doesn't hound me! So he's coming out this week and going to pull out all my shrubs and mulch the beds for preparation for whatever I want to do. So another task for me this week is buying some plants and getting my front beds spruced up.

So I've got myself quite the list of tasks to do this week. Be looking for pictures. I've got to get some of this stuff DONE! :) I'll be checking these sites... The Lettered Cottage and Nesting Place. These girls keep me motivated and inspired!! Hold me to it...Pictures this week of projects DONE! :)

**EXCITING UPDATE**
My counters for my kitchen are READY! They are coming to do the tear out on Wednesday and the install on Thursday! Oh this will be an exciting week FOR SURE!!!!

The Ugliness of Homeownership!

Let me start by saying...It's FRIDAY THE 13th!!! :( I believe I wrote about a leak a few posts before this. Well I got the plumber to come out again to detect where the leak was coming from and the source was found. This has been a slow leak for who knows how long. As a result I have water damage to baseboards, sheet rock, carpeting in the hall, and my bathroom vanity.

YIKES What lies behind this?!

What a MESS!!!There she Blows! Coming out the top of the copper pipe just a little gusher, but she sure makes a MESS!!!

If that isn't bad enough...check out this story....

So the plumber tells me that he can't fix the leak until the water is cleaned out. Sounds a little odd don't ya think? The plumber sends out a Water Damage Restoration Company. They quote me outrageous pricing and I'm not confident in their services. I call my plumber back to ask him a few questions about water still leaking, leaving water running in the house 24 hours a day, and why the hot water shut off valve was not turned off. I didn't get very good answers, and while on the phone I'm able to determine that...oh my hot water valve doesn't work! Who's the licensed plumber now?! The guy just kinda skirted around with answers and I finally hung up.

Today I have spent the day calling the plumber leaving multiple messages without a response. I contact my home warranty company and they inform me that the plumber turned in a claim that the work and job had been completed, no further repairs needed! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SERIOUSLY?! I have a feeling this plumber is in for a HUGE Problem with my warranty company! I'm in utter SHOCK over that!!!

Besides that drama I had a HUGE drama/Blowout with the Water Damage Restoration Company. Shotty service, changing of pricing and contract terms, and VERY POOR Customer Service and People Skills! I finally had to say PULL ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT OUT AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! And yes I yelled it! I am concerned about any further action from this company. I have zero trust in them. And the way things went I can only fear that something may arise from all of this!

As it stands right now...I still have a leak, I have NO Hot Water, I have debris everywhere from the pulling out of drywall, baseboards, and pulling back carpet. The warranty company is working with me to help get another plumber out this weekend. Only 2 1/2 hours until Friday the 13th is OVER!

I have a headache and I think a bottle of wine and maybe some girl scout cookies are calling my name! :) Too bad I don't have hot water for a bubble bath!