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23 June 2010

I had to tell AH that we cannot work with them. The "not less than" estimates are too much for us. In the meantime, last week, we interviewed an architect that we liked and found a contractor that I think we will work with. Amazingly, the architect charges a lower design fee than our AH designer. Of course, she is running a very small business and we get the benefit that she has no overhead. She also seems to get my aesthetic. I am not saying that AH didn't, but she did very quickly, including recognizing that my back hall was inspired by Susanka. I am hoping that she can come up with a more pleasing design. These days we are thinking about staying within the footprint of the house -- we flop back and forth on this. Today, we seem to agree. The challenge is still how to fit the bathroom in and we'll see how our architect does on this one.

This is a journey all right.

10 June 2010

First estimates

Last Thursday, Mike, money arm of AH, emailed their initial bids on our project. Oy is the most appropriate title for this entry. Strangely, the estimates did not include some of what we have clearly communicated, and the range of estimates started with a version that we have absolutely no interest in -- like linoleum floor in the kitchen and cheap countertops. I also don't know if they are including new windows and all the built ins we want. So . . . .

House renovation without touching the "garden room" will be not less than $85,000. If we can't incorporate the "garden room", I have no interest in this project!

House renovation, including "garden room" and the stoop out back will be not less than $125,000.

Addition and renovation will be not less than $168,000.

This does not include appliances which will be between $10-20,000, and no allowance for furniture (I was giving myself $10,000), and then I planned to keep a bit in reserve ($20,000) just in case. Way beyond the chunk of money that we contemplated spending.