Dad being funny when measuring windows for shades :: Logan Square, Chicago
I meant to write this down a while ago but never got to it. Been buuusssyyy. You know how that goes.
I just wanted to comment on my expectations on going buying a new construction versus something pre-owned. I went in thinkging that when you bought new that everything inside would be fresh and untouched and ready for immediate use, but the truth is that if no one has used it before then how do you know if it even works. For example, we didn’t have hot water for the first 3 days in our place because no one was living there to know if it was turned on correctly. Our laundry wasn’t operational for a week. We plugged something into a kitchen outlet and it just didn’t work. I’m sure they hooked it up and then never plugged anything in. Our door buzzers don’t work. Our tub is all nicked up. I don’t know why I thought when we moved into a new construction that everything would be perfect, as opposed to if someone had been using it and may have broken it. It’s like now we have to go turn everything on because we don’t know if anyone has ever tried before. (on a side note, does anyone know how a gas-igniting wood-burning fireplace is supposed to work?)
Also, not everything was finished in the construction when we moved in. Some has been done now, but not everything. And the whole place was covered in construction dust. Luckily our builder got a cleaning lady to come over and clean last weekend. We’re working with our developer to try to get everything fixed, but I don’t know… I feel kind of like naive because I thought with a new construction we’d have less issues to follow up with our developer on. Guess not. Also, when stuff is new… it’s tough knowing you’re the one who messed it up! That mark on the wall… that scratch on the cupboards.. that was YOU, dummy!
Anyway, I’m not saying I don’t like our place or am not happy with our purchase, I totally am. Just wanted to write this down. On Friday we’re supposed to get Comcast cable, finally. We’re not wired right and Direct TV won’t install. So long Sunday Ticket! When we were packing and planning at our old place, it seemed like the moving part was some sort of ending but really it’s just a new beginning of a long list of things to do and follow up on. And buy. I never before had to stand in front of 298 bathroom towel rack fixtures at Home Depot and decide which matched the faucets the most. Home Depot is a major money pit and is to be avoided at all costs. At least our cellular shades are all on order now and due in at the end of the month. Then we can take down those classy sheets that are hanging in the downstairs den windows! Upstairs we’ve just been exhibitionists. Without a television, we have eaten more dinners at the dinner table in the last 2 weeks than in the whole time we’ve known each other.. although a few times we were watching our shows on my little laptop using Hulu.
Before we were unpacked upstairs - Rachelle, Mom, Dallas :: Logan Square, Chicago
12 responses so far ↓
1 Ray // Nov 12, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Hi Rachelle — you know that you can convert that gas-ignited wood burning fireplace into just a plain old gas-log burning fireplace? Less muss, less fuss…..if the gas line is already run to your fireplace, you can go to any gas fireplace store, pick out your “fireplace logs”, and have a plumber hook it all up.
2 Sue // Nov 12, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I bought new construction also. Since I live in a big unit of condos…there was a “pick” list of things they had to complete before I could move in. So…most of my stuff worked (hot water, etc) because they had to test it and clean it before I moved in. I did have a rough time getting Comcast also…my worst part has been the carpet (which I didn’t really want but I took over a unit that had already been contracted so I had to take everything as it was) which my evil cats pull up. There are always headaches…BUT what I wanted to tell you about were temporary shades! I got them at Lowes, Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens N Things and Walmart. They’re called “redi shades” They are like post it notes…you stick them up on your windows. They are SO AWESOME!!! They wouldn’t work on your big windows…but they would upstairs. If you want cheap coverage…LOL. Congrats on the new place..
3 Aaron Bailey // Nov 12, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Don’t scare me like that! I should be closing in less than 2 weeks on a new construction and I also assumed there would be no problems. When you did the final walk through did you test everything like faucets?
I don’t want to be a crazy newbie homeowner and be meticulous but I suppose it might be worth it.
4 jeannette // Nov 12, 2008 at 8:08 pm
dude - your new place is SWEET! can’t wait to come see it. :)and i’m with you - seems like a new place should be perfect, but like you said, there’s always some issues. we weren’t the first to move in but some of the early gang didn’t have hot water either, water pressure issues. our developer was good and fixed almost all of our punchlist items.
it does suck everytime i nick the wall or put a ding in our floorboards. the joys of being a condo-owner.
5 Erin // Nov 12, 2008 at 8:25 pm
That window is amazing! But I know what you mean about new construction. Our last two apartments have been brand new, and while it’s very comforting knowing that you’re the only people to have ever lived there, it wasn’t so fab when we ran a load of dishes in the dishwasher and it emptied all over the floor. Oops! Someone forgot to hook up the drain hose … good times.
6 Richard // Nov 13, 2008 at 7:26 am
What someone else said is correct. The contractor should have done a final walkthrough with a punchlist to ensure everything was working properly, that shouldn’t be your burden to discover things that don’t work. And if it’s brand new, your tub shouldn’t be nicked up.
7 RachelleB // Nov 13, 2008 at 9:34 am
@ Ray - That sounds like something to look into, but I noticed on the installation paperwork we have for the fireplace it says not to use a gas log.
@ Sue - Dang! We were just at Home Depot on Monday to pay for our shades.. we should have looked @ temp ones.
@ Aaron - I’m sure it’s going to work out great for you! Our final walk through was with our realator and an inspector. We made our punch list and there wasn’t anything super major… but a lot of small things add up. Our closing was only a few days later so not everything was done.. but they weren’t big enough things that you wouldn’t buy the place.. it wasn’t like the foundation is cracked.. it was like the dryer isnt hooked up yet. Are you not going to buy a place because the dryer is not hooked up yet? but then when you have this multi page list of little things it gets on your nerves and you just have to keep after the developer to get the stuff done. And he just has to promise he’ll do it at the closing.
@ Jeannette - You guys have to come visit soon!
@ Erin - Heh, that’s funny. Well, not really… but. .. luckily nothing major like that has happened.
@ Richard - Our bathroom is kind of a mess. We’re missing a lighting fixture, have an incomplete closet, nicked tub, cracked tile. Our dev said he’s coming over next week to take care of a bunch of it. We do have a punch list, it just couldn’t be completed by closing so now we’re working off of it, plus anything we found after we moved.
8 James // Nov 13, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Same thing happened to us. It stinks for a while, but eventually you get settled in to your place, and all that is a distant memory. I know it’s hard, but just try to be happy that you have such a great place!
9 RachelleB // Nov 13, 2008 at 9:13 pm
thanks, james! sometimes i need to remind myself of that.
10 Ray // Nov 14, 2008 at 9:27 am
Rachelle — I believe that any gas-ignited fireplace can be converted to a vent-free gas log fireplace…..there are several sites that I tried to send yesterday, but my post did not take. Whatever you do, don’t go to Home Depot for advice — there has to be a “fireplace” store you can visit to ask questions (e.g., American Sales (sp?)).
11 Mary // Nov 14, 2008 at 10:52 am
Congrats on the new place, Rachelle! Sorry for all the headaches - but it looks really lovely, all fresh and great natural light. Enjoy!
12 tien // Nov 17, 2008 at 9:00 pm
the worst part about owning is that if something breaks, you have to pay for the repair! booo.
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