Got up this morning and was greeted by no internet... again. Finally got it to work by disconnecting from router and straight to computer, meaning other two computers have no net access.
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Got an urgent message from my firewall maker—Zone Alarm—that I needed to download an important fix for a problem caused by a security update released by Microsoft which wasn't allowing internet access. Might have known good old Microsoft would be behind the snafu! I should know in the morning when I start up if the fix worked. Right now, I am back to normal all the way around.
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About yesterday's question. The biggest problem with getting a house built in any kind of timely manner is keeping the contractor on the job. He usually has several projects ongoing, and limited crews to man them. He is going to be where the next big paycheck is. Part of this is because of the way lenders disburse funds for a house. It is paid in stages, with the first big check coming when the house goes under roof and certain other things are done. Once the contractor has a stage done, he reports to the lender, the lender will send out one or more inspectors to look the place over, not so much for quality, but just to make sure the correct amount of construction has been completed. Upon approval, the lender will send him a check. During this time of waiting, which can be from several days to more than a week, the contractor will be using your crew to either start another house or doing another stage on one already underway. He has some big money in his pocket and your dream home becomes temporarily less important to him.
Another holdup is subcontractors, especially electric installers and plumbers. I hesitate to call the electric installers "electricians", because most of them don't really know beans about the electric trade. In Tennessee, an application and $10 will get you a state license to do any kind of electrical work or repairs. Anyway, these guys stay pretty busy, and don't always show up on a job when they are supposed to.
Weather is always unnecessarily uncooperative when it comes time to work on YOUR house, especially in the winter and autumn months. In union areas, labor problems may be a source of delay. Vandals and miscreants can create much damage and cause a lot of extra time to be consumed fixing and cleaning up their deeds. Damaged fixtures and materials cause delays. Even at that, a straight-roofed rancher of 1500 sq. ft. should take no longer than three-to-four months to complete, from the first backhoe bucket of dirt to the shiny new keys being in your hand. It is just a matter of getting people on the job, and it can be done!
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Next, our personal dealings with contractors and developers...
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