On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:21:59 -0500, Jim wrote:

Boater wrote:
BAR wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Gene wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:03:49 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III,
Esq."
wrote:

We are thinking about using this downturn in the housing
market to build a new home, and acting as our own General
Contractor. Has anyone in the group done this and do they
have any words of advice?

Yes, with three houses and two workshops. Not only was I General
Contractor, I was also 50% of the labor.

Your only real savings, in this market, will be sweat equity.
You can
buy cheaper than you can build.... you just have to find an
equally
desperate mortgagee and mortgagor.... or you could do it the
seat
equity route, if you have the cash, tools, and a desire to
make it
happen.

No bank is going to let *you* (as their mortgagor) serve as
General
Contractor unless you hold a contractor's license.

Advice? You're crazy to even attempt it...... uh, but wasn't I
thinking about adding on to the workshop.....

.... Oh, never mind......


It's an incredible burner of time. I had to do it because the
general I hired to build a custom home in Northern Virginia
turned out to be way overextended financially from previous
projects, and could not line up the subs I wanted, and was
teetering.

Took the builder to court, had a civil jury trial, and won a
settlement of more than $100,000. Never collected anything but
the builder's license bond from the state.

With the help of the lumberyard (who issued the construction
bond) and my bank, I took over when the foundation had been
laid and the slabs poured, hired a project manager to oversee
the subs on salary and bonus, and completed the house just a
hair over budget. I had to be on the site for about an hour at
6:30 AM just about every morning.

It was a huge house, ultra modern, with four full brick
fireplaces, nearly 4000 square feet on the main level, and
another 3,000 square feet finished in the basement. I looked it
up on Zillow early last year and it was valued at more than
$1.5 million. The "crash" of the real estate market apparently
hit Northern Virginia hard, because when I looked it up on
Zillow earlier this evening, it was valued at about $1.1 million.

Just checked the second house I owned in Northern Virgina...it
was the one we sold to build the custom house. I paid $87k for
it - nice builder's subdivision house - and sold it about five
years later for $160,000, I think. Zillow has it at $600,000
and change. Not bad, and the blue spruce trees I planted there
in the mid-1970s are at least 40 feet tall and full triple wides.

Nice story, and pictures?


There are aerial pictures of both places on Zillow. Soon as you
provide your full legal name here and I verify it, I'll be glad
to supply the addresses of the houses.


Ok, how do you plan on verifying my full legal name?

Quietly; not the way you would do it.


I am always curious why you want to know my full legal name? What's
the deal?


Simple. My feeling is that if your full legal name were publicly
known here, you'd be far less of a snark.


Knowing who you are hasn't improved your behavior or has it?




I'm not a coward. Reggie is.

Aren't you the guy who said "My mommy didn't raise a stupid boy" as an
excuse for skipping out of the draft? That's cowardly in my book. What
say you Krause?

Yup.
--
** Good Day! **

John H

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:41:30 -0500, Boater wrote:

BAR wrote:
Boater wrote:
BAR wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Gene wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:03:49 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers
III, Esq."
wrote:

We are thinking about using this downturn in the housing
market to build a new home, and acting as our own General
Contractor. Has anyone in the group done this and do they
have any words of advice?

Yes, with three houses and two workshops. Not only was I General
Contractor, I was also 50% of the labor.

Your only real savings, in this market, will be sweat equity.
You can
buy cheaper than you can build.... you just have to find an
equally
desperate mortgagee and mortgagor.... or you could do it the
seat
equity route, if you have the cash, tools, and a desire to
make it
happen.

No bank is going to let *you* (as their mortgagor) serve as
General
Contractor unless you hold a contractor's license.

Advice? You're crazy to even attempt it...... uh, but wasn't I
thinking about adding on to the workshop.....

.... Oh, never mind......


It's an incredible burner of time. I had to do it because the
general I hired to build a custom home in Northern Virginia
turned out to be way overextended financially from previous
projects, and could not line up the subs I wanted, and was
teetering.

Took the builder to court, had a civil jury trial, and won a
settlement of more than $100,000. Never collected anything but
the builder's license bond from the state.

With the help of the lumberyard (who issued the construction
bond) and my bank, I took over when the foundation had been
laid and the slabs poured, hired a project manager to oversee
the subs on salary and bonus, and completed the house just a
hair over budget. I had to be on the site for about an hour at
6:30 AM just about every morning.

It was a huge house, ultra modern, with four full brick
fireplaces, nearly 4000 square feet on the main level, and
another 3,000 square feet finished in the basement. I looked
it up on Zillow early last year and it was valued at more than
$1.5 million. The "crash" of the real estate market apparently
hit Northern Virginia hard, because when I looked it up on
Zillow earlier this evening, it was valued at about $1.1 million.

Just checked the second house I owned in Northern Virgina...it
was the one we sold to build the custom house. I paid $87k for
it - nice builder's subdivision house - and sold it about five
years later for $160,000, I think. Zillow has it at $600,000
and change. Not bad, and the blue spruce trees I planted there
in the mid-1970s are at least 40 feet tall and full triple wides.

Nice story, and pictures?


There are aerial pictures of both places on Zillow. Soon as you
provide your full legal name here and I verify it, I'll be glad
to supply the addresses of the houses.


Ok, how do you plan on verifying my full legal name?

Quietly; not the way you would do it.


I am always curious why you want to know my full legal name?
What's the deal?


Simple. My feeling is that if your full legal name were publicly
known here, you'd be far less of a snark.


Knowing who you are hasn't improved your behavior or has it?




I'm not a coward. Reggie is.

You are a verbal bully.

You are afraid to meet those who you have verbally abused in person for
fear of having your attitude physically adjusted.


That's simple-minded bull****.

First, there are very very very few people in this newsgroup I care to
meet. I certainly am not going to waste my time meeting someone I don't
care to meet just for the sake of "meeting" them.

Second, I seriously doubt any of the loud-mouthed right-wing schitts in
this newsgroup have what it takes to adjust my attitude. Most of them
are cowards hiding behind screen names, and fearful of their identities
leaking out. My identity is no secret.

Third, if any of the little schitts show up at my front door looking for
trouble, I guarantee they will find it. If they show up to say hello,
they'll be welcomed.

Fourth, when your butt buddy Herring's old boat was out for maintenance,
I invited him out to go fishing. He turned it down. If I recall, I
invited you out, too. If memory serves, you are the only two
loud-mouthed right-wing schitts in my immediate area, right? Short-guy
Scotty, another loud-mouthed right-wing schitt, has an open invite to
stop by any time.

So, who do you think I fear? Brain-dead Loogy? Reggie NoBalls? Florida
Jim, the twerp so frightened he doesn't want anyone to know where in
Central Florida he lives?



Harry, you've mentioned countless times my refusal to go out on your boat.
We need to clear this up so you don't feel so badly about it.

This spring, after you've had the boat's spring commissioning done by the
dealer, I'll be glad to go for a ride in your boat.

But, you can't go. It wasn't your Parker that made me refuse your offer, it
was being in such close proximity to you that made me refuse.
--
** Good Day! **

John H

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:08:48 -0500, Boater wrote:

Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Boater wrote:
wrote:

Fourth, when your butt buddy Herring's old boat was out for
maintenance,
I invited him out to go fishing. He turned it down. If I recall, I
invited you out, too. If memory serves, you are the only two
loud-mouthed right-wing schitts in my immediate area, right?
Short-guy
Scotty, another loud-mouthed right-wing schitt, has an open invite to
stop by any time.

So, who do you think I fear? Brain-dead Loogy? Reggie NoBalls?
Florida
Jim, the twerp so frightened he doesn't want anyone to know where in
Central Florida he lives?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

For shooting or for fishing??


It's up to you and the weather. If the weather sucks, we can go up
to the indoor range near Andrews AFB and shoot paper targets at 25
yards. You have to present your driver's license or another
acceptable photo ID to get on the range...that would mean Reggie
NoBalls would have to wait in the car.

I have a drivers license. Do you want to see a photocopy of it?


Nope. I'm not the range officer.

But, after you visit the wizard and get some balls, why not post your
full legal name here?


What happened to your balls. You talk real big, but when asked what
your legal name, address and phone number, you ignore the question.

If you don't mind, I can Google up your name address and phone number
answer and post it here. Since you believe this should be posted in a
public forum, unless you tell me you have NO BALLS and would prefer I
don't post it here, I will do it for you.


You are one of the major abusers of the personal info of other posters
here, fella. There is no way you can deny this, but I am sure you will
try. If your real name were out in the open, your behavior here would
change dramatically because of your innate cowardice.

Tell him, Harry!

You can use me as an example. My behavior has changed dramatically since
you outed me. Now I'm a nice guy.

Tell him! Don't hold back.
--
** Good Day! **

John H

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:32:19 -0500, Boater wrote:

Tom Francis wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:44:06 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

Tom Francis wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:03:49 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

We are thinking about using this downturn in the housing market to build
a new home, and acting as our own General Contractor. Has anyone in the
group done this and do they have any words of advice?
Yep.

Don't do it.
I don't know, Harry was very successful GC'ing his N. VA home.

That's Harry. Harry is successful at everything he attempts.

He's the Leonardo DaVinci of modern times. To date, Harry has proven
extensive knowledge of a whole host of subjects including, of all
things, opera. I mean roof loads, foundations, plumbing, electrical -
he's got the knowledge base - apparently.

So it follows that Harry would be the General Contractor for his own
home - he has nothing but time on his hands (as is obvious by the
number of posts just yesterday) which is a key element in being a GC
for your own home.

It's hard for the rest of us mere mortals to understand that.





Reggie, of course, is full of schitt. I was successful with the house in
NoVa because I had to be. If I had let the original GC get away with his
shenanigans, it would have been a financial disaster. And all successful
at the time meant was that I was able to complete the project a little
over budget. It was a hellacious, time-consuming, aggravating project,
and I would not do it again, especially these days.

What's the address, Harry? You don't have to be afraid, 'cause you don't
live there any more. We can clear this up in no time!
--
** Good Day! **

John H

John H wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:32:19 -0500, Boater wrote:

Tom Francis wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:44:06 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

Tom Francis wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:03:49 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

We are thinking about using this downturn in the housing market to build
a new home, and acting as our own General Contractor. Has anyone in the
group done this and do they have any words of advice?
Yep.

Don't do it.
I don't know, Harry was very successful GC'ing his N. VA home.
That's Harry. Harry is successful at everything he attempts.

He's the Leonardo DaVinci of modern times. To date, Harry has proven
extensive knowledge of a whole host of subjects including, of all
things, opera. I mean roof loads, foundations, plumbing, electrical -
he's got the knowledge base - apparently.

So it follows that Harry would be the General Contractor for his own
home - he has nothing but time on his hands (as is obvious by the
number of posts just yesterday) which is a key element in being a GC
for your own home.

It's hard for the rest of us mere mortals to understand that.




Reggie, of course, is full of schitt. I was successful with the house in
NoVa because I had to be. If I had let the original GC get away with his
shenanigans, it would have been a financial disaster. And all successful
at the time meant was that I was able to complete the project a little
over budget. It was a hellacious, time-consuming, aggravating project,
and I would not do it again, especially these days.

What's the address, Harry? You don't have to be afraid, 'cause you don't
live there any more. We can clear this up in no time!
--
** Good Day! **

John H

I have a feeling that Harry made this whole story up. For the life of
me, I cant figure out why he goes to so much trouble to conjure up these
wild stories.

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:29:54 -0400, "Don White"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:34:39 -0500, Boater
wrote:

Gene wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:03:49 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

We are thinking about using this downturn in the housing market to
build
a new home, and acting as our own General Contractor. Has anyone in
the
group done this and do they have any words of advice?

Yes, with three houses and two workshops. Not only was I General
Contractor, I was also 50% of the labor.

Your only real savings, in this market, will be sweat equity. You can
buy cheaper than you can build.... you just have to find an equally
desperate mortgagee and mortgagor.... or you could do it the seat
equity route, if you have the cash, tools, and a desire to make it
happen.

No bank is going to let *you* (as their mortgagor) serve as General
Contractor unless you hold a contractor's license.

Advice? You're crazy to even attempt it...... uh, but wasn't I
thinking about adding on to the workshop.....

.... Oh, never mind......


It's an incredible burner of time. I had to do it because the general I
hired to build a custom home in Northern Virginia turned out to be way
overextended financially from previous projects, and could not line up
the subs I wanted, and was teetering.

I can imagine the waste of time. I had the misfortune to have my
house torched once - if it wasn't for a neighbor coming home at 2 AM
and raising the alarm we might have been killed.
Anyway, I hired a private adjuster, and you wouldn't believe the ****
I went through with him and his crews.
Had to show his "carpenter" how to cut stringers.
Came home from work one day and his "plaster guys" had done the
kitchen with 1/2" drywall, no shims, to replace the nearly full inch
of plaster and lath. There was almost a half inch gap between the
door and window casings and the drywall.
Had it all torn out by the next day I got home from work, but there
was always some BS waiting for me.
I'd leave work saying, "Let's see what they ****ed up today."
Anyway, I finally got everything done about 85% right, but I never
yelled so much and got in so many faces in such a short period of
time. Actually, I went easy on the crews, they were what they were,
but laid into the adjuster, who's really a GC, a lot.
What was good is the adjuster did keep us in the house because he was
real good at getting the essentials quickly restored.
That was important to me as I had the wife and 4 little kids to think
about, and work, so there was no way I even had time to be my own
general.
Win some, lose some.

--Vic

In 1976 when I was a lot younger and more energetic, I built a cedar cape
Cod style house myself.
This was the norm up this way at that time. In fact, there was a Provincial
Govt program where those with minimal savings for a downpayment could use
sweat equity in order to get a $23K mortgage to build.
Of course I couldn't build my house for that amount...the program was geared
to small bungalows on modest serviced lots.
I had to find a 2nd mortgage for another $9K. Thought I was in debt up to
my eyeballs way back then..... but the house was beautiful.on a 2/3 acre lot
with well & septic system way out in the country (about 20 miles from city
center) To add to my financial burden, I traded in my 5 yr old Volkswagen
Beatle for a $5K Dodge Aspen S/W.
It all started in march of 1975 when I took over a share in a co-op program
when a member was transfered to the states by his company.
Wife and I cleared the lot of trees & brush while snow was still on the
ground so we could burn off as much as possible in big bonfires.
I hired a company to dig the foundation hole and another to put up the
concrete foundation. Got my brother and a few buddies to help out putting
the 1st floor on...then the wife and I would build the walls and ask
relatives to show up to help erect same.
The big 4' x 12" x 16' douglas fir beams were tricky to put up (post & beam
construction). Once, my brother & law and I fell off the ladders dropping
the beam and narrowly missing me on the floor.
I did hire a friend of my wifes' family to help finish off the double course
cedar shingles on the exterior walls, and another guy to lay the asphalt
shingles on the roof.
(turned out the roofing guy was married to a cousin of mine).
Once inside, an old friend who was a licensed electrician got the permit but
a friend of my brothers (apprentice electrician) did the work.
Next we got other neighbourhood friends to do the plumbing while home for
Christmas vacation from Alberta.
Lastly the in-laws gyprocked the entire house no charge. I just supplied
the materials.
Finally got in in February 1976.
A few years later I added an attached 1.5 story garage all by myself.
Now when I have a project, I hire a guy from my wifes' former company to do
most of the work while I act as assistant. (re addition for mon in 2002,
replacement of all the old windows with vinyl, tearing down of old garage &
building of 2 new sheds, decking & fence additions etc)



A 1ft by 4ft by 16ft beam is a hefty beam all right.

--
** Good Day! **

John H

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:08:54 -0500, Jim wrote:


I have a feeling that Harry made this whole story up. For the life of
me, I cant figure out why he goes to so much trouble to conjure up these
wild stories.

If he does, maybe it's to watch your antics. He owns you, and most of
this newsgroup. Let's see, you have one nitwit following him to other
newsgroups, another checking out tax records. If it weren't for Harry,
some here would have no life at all. How many years has this Harry thing
been going on? Geeze, after all this time, you would think you would
learn.

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:19:06 -0600, wrote:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:08:54 -0500, Jim wrote:


I have a feeling that Harry made this whole story up. For the life of
me, I cant figure out why he goes to so much trouble to conjure up these
wild stories.

If he does, maybe it's to watch your antics. He owns you, and most of
this newsgroup. Let's see, you have one nitwit following him to other
newsgroups, another checking out tax records. If it weren't for Harry,
some here would have no life at all. How many years has this Harry thing
been going on? Geeze, after all this time, you would think you would
learn.

Learn what? Not to play with Harry? Why not? He's fun to play with, and
catching him in lies is also fun. Although, it seems to be getting easier
and easier.

You should lighten up. Yes, you're both liberals, but you're not in Harry's
class.
--
** Good Day! **

John H

wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:08:54 -0500, Jim wrote:


I have a feeling that Harry made this whole story up. For the life of
me, I cant figure out why he goes to so much trouble to conjure up these
wild stories.

If he does, maybe it's to watch your antics. He owns you, and most of
this newsgroup. Let's see, you have one nitwit following him to other
newsgroups, another checking out tax records. If it weren't for Harry,
some here would have no life at all. How many years has this Harry thing
been going on? Geeze, after all this time, you would think you would
learn.

I'm told Harry has been here Entertaining boaters for 15 years or so.
He does seem to own this newsgroup, so if you would like to see some
changes made around here, you need to go right to the top and ask Harry.
I'm powerless to help you.
Happy new year.

wrote:
On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:08:54 -0500, Jim wrote:


I have a feeling that Harry made this whole story up. For the life of
me, I cant figure out why he goes to so much trouble to conjure up these
wild stories.

If he does, maybe it's to watch your antics. He owns you, and most of
this newsgroup. Let's see, you have one nitwit following him to other
newsgroups, another checking out tax records. If it weren't for Harry,
some here would have no life at all. How many years has this Harry thing
been going on? Geeze, after all this time, you would think you would
learn.


The Tribe of Obsessed with Harry is humorously pathetic. What's even
funnier is that most of them, like Jim, are permanent residents of my
bozo bin, but they still spend most of their time here taking their
flaccid shots at me, and I don't see 99% of their crap. I bozo binned
Herring the other day, not because he was annoying me, but because he
was reposting the crap from Jim and others because he thought that way I
would see it. These boys couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.