...did I say under no illusions?

Quotes are in and shockingly high....I asked for a shell, not the next candidate for Cribs!!! The challenge (as we no longer have troubles or problems) seems to be the fact that everyone and their mother is a contractor, in laymen terms? THERE ARE NO BUILDERS IN GRENADA!!!

Time for renegotiations me thinks. My initial man (in the interest of protecting the innocent, lets call him builder A) appears to be of a lackadaisical demeanor, which does not bode well for my project. After phoning in his quote, I tried for days to contact him in order to set up an appointment to discuss the figures. On finally reaching him I was told he was fishing all night and would be unable to make my proposed time as he was tired, however, he would the following day. We agreed on 11:00. Some three hours later, I received a call from him asking to move the meeting as it would interfere with his luncheon plans!!! I casually observed that he was not acting like a man trying to win a contract, to which he replied, he eats every day at noon and an 11:00 meeting would "mess up de whole ting".

Builder B has also submitted his quote, albeit incomplete, which is formidably higher (and this is the one I like for it), he did manage to shave off a mere $39,000 as we spoke, MUST have been my pallor...and I repeat...I asked for a shell, not a candidate for Cribs!!!

And here's where that herculean amount of patience comes in...the renegotiations...I have sent them off to "rethink" their quotes as to my mind there is A LOT of shaving to be done and I am assured by both builders A & B that this is a possibility without compromising the integrity of the buildings!!!

In the interim, I have met with builder C and awaiting his quote, although he appears very down-to-earth and somewhat sensible, whether this bears out in the actual quote remains to be seen. Builders D & E scheduled for meetings next week.