A simple rant..

Yip, its finally happened. We have been attacked by the builders virus and its not pretty.

Today was the last straw because for the last 5 weeks we have listened to excuses and promises that never seem to be fulfilled and yet we're once again in a position where we're going to be 3 more weeks behind schedule. Making a total of 6 weeks! With winter around the corner this really is worrying.

We had watched all the relevant DIY shows, we'd planned scrupulously to try and keep the disasters to a minimum and in the end, the problem lay with the people, not the property.

Basically our electricians have dumped us right in it by disappearing mid job. They were supposed to finish the first fix (sparky speak for running all the cables and chiseling out the necessary channels in the walls) by last week-end. They were on track to get it done when I made the fatal mistake of paying them for materials - they left immediately afterwards and we haven't seen them since. Several messages seem to have had no affect at all as I'm yet to hear what the hold up has been.

The installers for our kitchen arrived today with everything in tow, to a kitchen that they can't work in because none of the ground work has been done. In short, we will now have to wait 3 weeks before they have another opening in their busy schedule. *sigh*

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't the latest in a long list of builder ineptitude. I find it fascinating that there is no concept of time management or for that matter customer service in the English building industry (yes I generalise but this has been my experience so far). Surely word of mouth and repeat business are the staple for small companies and independent contractors? Work might be rife but so are the number of contractors to choose from. If I may be so bold as to use this forum as a mechanism for positive reinforcement, Dolphin Bathrooms and Magnet Kitchens have been wonderful - but then again, these are large companies with a lot invested in client satisfaction.

I itch to get my hands on the builders that are working on this contract (although violence is *never* the answer) to teach them a little bit about basic project and time management. Failing that, a simple lesson in communication and honesty wouldn't be amiss either.

The upside of all this drama is that the project is now going to be taken over by someone with a vested interest in getting things done, me! These poor builders aren't going to know what has hit them. I've had plenty of experience dealing with lazy, ignorant, dishonest workers and I'm perfectly willing to destroy any misguided impressions of saintly girliness that they might have.

Roll on PMS, this is going to be a wild week!

VP