Tell me about it!
![Roll Eyes](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)
Moved from a modern 4 bed detached to the house you see above - but when it was literally half the size and only had 3 bedrooms(!) - in June 2007, with the intention of extending and modernising. Big plot for a suburban area (about half and acre) so ample room for expansion.
Had planning permission and building regs approval by the following Jan and "went out to tender" to local builders. Took references and visited work of the lowest three and duly appointed. Work started 'on site' in March 2008. Thing I didn't know was that the builder I entered into contract with was a crook!
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
Didn't have skilled workforce and had no idea of how to Project Manage
![Roll Eyes](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)
I found out after they had removed my roof that one of the 'partners' had been banned from running, or having anything to do with the management of any company for seven years(!), after HMRC took him to court for fleecing them out of almost ?500k!
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
And he was still banned during my contract period! Needless to say, I 'managed' their account and terminated the contract.
![Angry](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/angry.gif)
All very stressful and worrying.
For months afterwards we had suppliers and sub-contractors knocking on the door demanding payment, despite me paying the builder for their services. The double glazing company even threatened to come to our home and remove goods to the value of the outstanding money the builder owed him - right up to the point I reminded him that he didn't have a contract with me and that entering my property was trespass!
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
Lots of sleepless nights I can tell you.
![Cry](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/cry.gif)
The plumber they employed to install my new boiler and renew the gas to my cooker was not CORGI registered either!
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
When I confronted him with that fact the plumber said he'd get a mate who was registered to certify the installation for him.
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
He must have thought I was mad!!
Anyway - I now have a 'new' builder who I have been using for the last 18 months to rectify all of the outstanding issues with the original build as well as complete additional works (correctly!) but so far it has cost me about ?20k to put right all of the errors from the first builder.
![Shocked](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
You couldn't write it! It's been terrible. We've had to live with it everyday and with three kids too! It was only Christmas week that we managed to get carpet in the lounge - for the first time in three years.
The (double length) garage was never going to be touched. Ironically, we were moving to this house so that we had the space to accomodate the large 'fleet' I had at the time - which I have had to sell to pay for the rectification works.
Character building I'm told.
![Grin](http://131mirafiori.com/smf/Smileys/default/grin.gif)