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Buying a house for me was the same.
Roof - $6k
AC inside and out - $6k
Fence - $4k

That could have been a Evo8/9 racecar or truck and trailer.

 

and that's why I built a new house. don't have to worry about any of that crap for a few years

 

Yay for renting an apartment...

-Acree

 

That is why hard for me to go buy a house. Hummm maybe i should think about go learn fixing/maint house instead of cars. That could save me a money when i have my own.

 

You built your own?

 

buying a new house you just have to worry about foundation settling, builder grade crap everything and of course the home warrantys that wont cover anything.... the only exception to that rule is if you are your own contractor and make sure the workers use quality wood, take their time routing wires, AC ducting etc.. having worked at lowes through college, i know ALL contractors look for the "Specials" i.e. the warped twisted 2x4's that are half off and having replacing my AC right now, every single person who came in to give me an estimate laughed at the **** work the builders did when the house was built .

 

Sorry you had that much frustration. I custom built my home, I think Jake did as well. I personally came by everyday to make sure and got to hand select the lumber, brick, etc etc. It took 11 months to built my home and used no builder grade equipment. There is very little cost difference between builder grade and commercial grade; about 10%

 

Yes on all counts.

 

Just a heads up. A 4 ton ac system from Trane the 20 XLi, cost is right at 6k for the complete system. It's like another 800 bucks for install. Don't get any thing other than Trane, rheem, or carrier. If your ac is outside in the backyard and you have a male dog or dogs dont get Trane. Good luck

 

Apparently there is a Friday night car meet at the NE corner of 190 and coit. I headed up to check it out.

 

We signed the papers to build in August of 00 and move in in May of 01. We were here every day during the build (the workers thought we worked for the builder). We've had significantly less issues with our house compared to our neighbors.

We replaced the fence last year (with the pool install), both water heaters (10 year builder crap) and have had to deal with minor AC tuneups and plumbing things (toilet lines clogging from the hard water, etc.). Other than that, knock on wood, things have been pretty good.

 

totally agree with you on building the house. you did it right, check on the builders make sure they are doing it correctly. most people go through a model home, pick a few things like colors, door handles, and layouts and call it "building a home" when its really essentially a prefab house on a thin slab foundation. mine is that way... looks very similiar to all the others on the block.

we had a trane AC unit and had nothing but problems with it (builder grade, and about 17 years old).

we went with goodman (amana), 5 ton unit, far more efficient then the old trane we had (and less expensive then a new trane), also added the 12" more of attic insulation with reworking all the duct work all was ~8000 installed.

 

You have a pool and haven't had a pool party yet?? What gives?

 

The 911 crowd doesn't want you anywhere near their pool Tom.... these people have class and standards

 

I have a 911...... I'll wrestle it from my kids toy box and bring it to the next meet.

Besides I have not had an accident in a pool in a long time. I can hold it now.