Anyone else hate construction?

[NurseLau84]

So.....the night we got back from our honeymoon (August 8th) there was a large envelope taped to the front door of our townhouse. What was inside, you ask? Oh nothing much......just a notice about how each unit owner owed $17,000 for a construction assessment.
Nothing like a congrats-on-the-marriage-and-now-im-taking-your-money. Being that we live on one income right now, we just bought a house and furnished the entire thing ourselves, just spent money to get married and have a honeymoon........this was NOT a welcomed surprise.
The assessment entails new siding, windows, doors, sliding glass doors, lighting, front stairs, and decks.
We have very little privacy as it is, being that we live in a condo community. Now, I have scary men peeking in my windows everyday. We're constantly dealing with noise and having people in and out of our home. It's been three months of headaches, and we have 2 more months to go.
Just pray that I don't lose my mind before all of this is finished!!:irked:

[WebLady]

Yikes, that stinks ... hope the remaining time goes by fast! At least it will be better when it is over right :)

[mitch]

Sorry You are gong through this. But it will be worth it in the end.

We've been bracing Ourselves for major construction behind Our house. They planned on moving the Swings and Paddling Pool from behind Us to across the road. Then on the land they were going to build a block of Flats (Apartments) on one end of the land. Then right outside Our back fence they were going to build Three New Houses.

Then Next Year they were planning on knocking down the Shops and Flats above them. Then build a new Shopping Centre. Building was to be completed in 2010. :bbeek:

Two days ago We got a letter saying the Council had cancelled the plans due to the Credit Crunch. So building was halted for ever.
But not after they spent a Million Pound going through planning and relocating the tenants from the Flats above the Shops. Great for those who used to live there. (They got Thousands of Pounds each to move out). But bad for us. I was looking forward to getting rid of the noisy park behind Us.

But Hey-Ho We continue to live without anyone overlooking Us. And with a South Facing Garden that is Brilliant. :D

[WBandMe]

My mom has had a lot done on her house since July, and the last like 3 weeks she's had a painter there every day. She's going nuts, she has to get up by 8 every day, she can't relax, she feels weird talking on the phone when he's there or going to the kitchen or bathroom if he's working in them. Top it off, she had new doors installed today, so there were a bunch of people around making noise and being in the way. I'm so glad I'm not home for this :)

[RosieAngel]

Eeek, that sucks soooo much! Congratulations on your wedding, now give us 17K! :bbeek: Like anyone has any savings left after the wedding.

I hate condo assessments! Since we moved into ours, we've had $10,000+ ones every other year! And that's in addition to a mortgage and an association fee! Because of this, we have a half-remodeled kitchen that will probably stay that way forever. :(

Oh well. At least we own, right?

[NurseLau84]

Haha you got it! I'd rather own than rent any day.

[WebLady]

I don't think I understand; maybe I missed something ... if you own the condo, how can anyone ask you for money for improvments that weren't your idea?

Is this something like a home owners association or something where things have to be a certain way in that area?

[NurseLau84]

They can do assessments anytime they want. The condo association takes a vote, and majority wins. We voted no on the improvements, but most of the unit owners voted yes. So...we lose...lol! It's one of the downsides of owning a condo. The only good thing is that it's coming out beautiful and will likely raise the value of our home.

[WebLady]

They can do assessments anytime they want. The condo association takes a vote, and majority wins. We voted no on the improvements, but most of the unit owners voted yes. So...we lose...lol! It's one of the downsides of owning a condo. The only good thing is that it's coming out beautiful and will likely raise the value of our home.
Ah, ok then; well at least it will be good in the end :)

What would they do if you just couldn't afford it?

[NurseLau84]

Good question. I would assume you'd have to put your place on the market or get a second job!:bbcry:
Our condo fee was $175/month when we bought our place, and now it's $361 because of the construction loan. Such a bummer.

[Tadswife]

I to own a town house condo! They slapped us with a bill for almost $400 dollars because they failed to budget for the snow fall we got last year. Mind you we live in Wisconsin..when it snows it can come by the feet sometimes.
We got over 100 inches of snow in our area last year. Not to mention th e14 inches that fell on Good Friday last year. Who ever was suppose to plow us, didn't till 11 o'clock at night! The association heard all of us loud and clear when that happened. We have steep hill that goes in to our condo complexe and can be VERY SLIPPERY in the winter. So atleast a dozen people got stuck a number of times because of the lousy job the snow plow compony they hired did. And then they just raised our condo fees to $166 dollars and we didn't get to vote on that at all! It's not the 17,000 you have to shell out, but I can understand the unexpected bill! And with the housing market so crappy, it's impossiable to sell! But you do have a light at the end of the tunnel, they are almost done and the value of your home will go way up, so that's a plus. Good Luck and hope you have your sanity when this is all said and done..:)

[NurseLau84]

Omg that's awful about the snow!!! I'll have to take some pictures of our place when it's finished and do a before & after type thing......
I just keep telling myself...2 more months.....:bbeek:

[NurseLau84]

So. This morning I walked into my kitchen in my usual coma-like state. I grab a mug and start to pour some coffee in, when suddenly I see a huge yellow thing in the window over my sink.
Yes, it was a man's crotch. It's raining today, and the construction workers are all in yellow plastic suits. Yellow crotch man is putting up the vinyl siding on the back of our house today.
I feel like I am on one of those reality TV shows where there's a camera in every room of your house.....I just can't seem to have privacy! Doesn't help that I love sheer curtains (I wanted as much light as possible in my home) so even when I close the curtains, the yellow men can still see in.
Alright, off of my soapbox now. Hope everyone is having a lovely day!:bbeek:

[NurseLau84]

They're not dressed in yellow today, thank goodness. But, I did wake up to find a man in a plaid shirt and jeans right at my bedroom window. I had to wait until he bent down to get something to hurry out of bed and put on some sweatpants. :tongue: Looks like they are almost done with the siding on the back of the house. They still have to build the new deck, though. Then the front siding and new steps/landing have to be built.