Chop Chop

It's been a roller coaster week.  We have been trying not to get too depressed around the prices we've received.  But last night we got through some feedback on costs savings from 2 of the builders.

One builder has pulled out.  He has just won 3 jobs and wouldn't be able to start our job until March.

The good news is that the 2 builders came back with a bucket load of cost savings based on the list we sent them.  It really cheered us up to see that we are now getting very, very close to a price we can move on.  One of the big changes we've instituted is to remove the area along the side where we were building out to the boundary.  This is the wall that has caused all of the angst with the next door neighbour.  We have looked at how to redesign so that we work within the existing structure of the house.  It means a smaller laundry and cellar.  It also means the Butler's Pantry is really more of a walk in pantry.  The ensuite has changed (but I actually prefer it) and strangely the Walk in Robe gets bigger!  Overall, we are quite happy with the outcome and if it saves us money and we no longer need to deal with the neighbour then win-win.

After conversations with the architect today we have narrowed our selection down to one builder and we're now going to work with him to whittle the last few dollars out of it.

And guess what?  He can start at the end of October.  I can't believe that my October plan might actually come to fruition.