final inspection on garage today

[vavet]

My 24x32 detached garage is getting final inspected today.
The garage door was installed Tuesday. Asphalt was done yesterday. It's a single 18x8 overhead door with a pedestrian door on the side.

The garage door company installed a garage door opener. I didn't ask for one. The builder asked me this morning if I'd be willing to split the cost because it was his mistake - $420 is what they charged him, my half would be $210.

What would you do?
I told him to have the company come back to take it out. I'm not opposed to having one, but this garage is less car-parking garage and more workshop for me. I think $420 is steep for a GDO anyway.

Follow-on question: if he comes looking for a check for the balance now that he has the final inspection, do I pay him? Or do I wait until he's truly done to make sure the removal is done to my satisfaction, as in they cleaned up, no dangling wires, etc.

 

[antinym]

yeah, but $210 for a GDO installed ain't bad at all. But, if you don't want a GDO, then $210 buys you something you don't want. - no deal.

 

[dave*99]

yeah, but $210 for a GDO installed ain't bad at all. But, if you don't want a GDO, then $210 buys you something you don't want. - no deal.

Yup.

If you are convinced you don't want it, then have them take it out. Me, I'd be happy to have it at that price.

 

[bad_idea]

If it was me, I would give him $200 for the opener install and call it done. You have come this far and spent this much, what is another $200? It makes the whole thing go away. So many dumb things can sprout from the removal of the opener. Not worth the hassle to me.

 

[buddyboy]

option #1: builder will lose $200 and you're getting an opener for $200 and you don't burn any bridges

or

option #2: builder loses +$200 (restocking/removal fee) and you don't get an opener and you save $200. next time you need a builder he won't return your call.

 

[zmotorsports]

If you truly don't want it then have it removed. My feelings are you should get what you want and originally paid for, nothing more/nothing less.

That being said, personally I would keep the opener. I prewired my last shop for one and never installed one, yet always wished I had. Seemed like I never had the money for it but almost every time I manually opened the door I wished I would spend the money and install one. On my new shop my wife told me to build it EXACTLY the way I wanted it and so I requested door openers on all three overhead doors. Best damn decision I could have made. I love having powered openers and just grin to myself every time I open one.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

How has the rest of the job gone? To me $420 sounds a little high, unless it includes wiring.
My guess is that it was his mistake but he is wanting you to eat most (maybe all) of the cost.
I think the quote for my last door had $250 if I wanted an opener (I had to provide wiring). Contractors probably get a better price and mark up the cost, it is how they make money.

 

[bczygan]

Ask for his paperwork from the door supplier, and then negotiate.

 

[vavet]

It's $420 installed, with wiring, sensors, wall button installed, and 2 remotes. It's a Liftmaster Contractor series.
Not worried about him not calling me back next time- he's retiring.
The rest of the build hasn't been terrible, but it hasn't been seamless either. It didn't start well with the foundation installation going in the wrong place. I own part of that for not documenting where I told him, but I'm confident I told him. Had to go back to the POA to get a waiver on the location. That worked out for us.
When I got home tonight, I see the gutters have still not been installed, despite the final inspection pass paperwork I have. Not sure how that happened. At this point, I'm thinking the builder does not get paid, or perhaps I hold back a portion until the gdo is removed satisfactorily and the gutters are installed. Once I pay him, I have no leverage.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

That is a fair price for an 8' opener installed. Door company may charge him a little less but that is not bad. If they did it poorly you have wire stapled to the interior wall and maybe ceiling all the way to the wall controller. If done right all the wires are concealed so pulling the opener and spakling a few holes not a big deal. If they stapled everything to the finished surfaces it will be a mess to make it perfect. Just make sure the contractor understands what level of finish you are expecting. Just thinking out loud.

 

[dfiler2]

I went the first year in my shop without an opener, now I smile every time I hit the button when it's raining or snowing and I have stuff to unload, $210 seems really fair to me.

 

[barnee]

Has he asked for final payment or are you guessing he might?

I would walk the job with him and make a list of all incomplete items (in detail). With this list determine what it would cost you to pay somebody else to finish the work, then multiply it by 2. Pay him the balance.

The reason for doubling the value is to give him a reason to finish the work and not just walk away. If he decides to walk you have a little spare change to deal with the hassle.

 

[johnnyradiant]

'round here a 10% hold back for 45 days is common after the contracts goal line has been crossed - usually final inspection. Then you get to see what you didn't see on your first walk through. A final inspection doesn't always mean the 'contract' between you and the builder(s) is complete, it just means it meets the govt's minimum standards. Of course your agreement at the start should have laid out the payouts before hand and that would trump what you want to do now, generally.

 

[couch67]

For that lift I think it is good deal installed at that price (but then again I am in Canada).

To echo dfiler2's comment about having an opener, its kind of the gift that keeps on giving (every time you press that button!)

If you do decide to have it taken out, keep the holdback until all is done with or as you say you will have no leverage.

couch

 

[ard]

NEVER, EVER assume the county inspection is adequate to establish the job was done right.

I have seen time and again construction defects (some with massive damage/cost) that were happily passed by the 'inspector'.

Fine to gauge the release of payments, but just saying....

You should create a punch list of stuff you believe he needs to complete or fix. As detailed as possible IN WRITING. Then, when he says 'im done' take the list, quickly update things he HAS done, and walk through the rest with him.

If you have the unfortunate "remainder due at final inspection" in your contract (ie you failed to have a final 5% holdback or whatever) you are kinda stuck. Id say it depends on what needs to be done, how honest you think he is and how much $$ is involved. $500 seems like a number to get them back for odds and ends.

"The slab is out of plane by 2 inches" would be considerable more....

 

[James-W]

Regardless of what the builder paid for the opener, if you go out and buy one, a good quality garage door opener is over $200 all by itself, not counting the installation. My advice is to take the offer and move on. If, at some point in time you decide you really don't want it, you can always sell it and recoup at least part of the money.

 

[MikeF2316]

Has he asked for final payment or are you guessing he might?

I would walk the job with him and make a list of all incomplete items (in detail). With this list determine what it would cost you to pay somebody else to finish the work, then multiply it by 2. Pay him the balance.

The reason for doubling the value is to give him a reason to finish the work and not just walk away. If he decides to walk you have a little spare change to deal with the hassle.

This. Especially since you've noticed missing gutters.

For $210, I'd keep the opener too, assuming your happy with the installation.

 

[mrbc]

+1 on making a punch list of things to get fuxed/squared away... ex: the gutters. Any reputable builder should be encoyraging you to look over all the details for a punch list anyway. Personally, I'd just work with the builder and go halfsies on the opener. Compared to total build cost. That's a stop in the bucket. You'll probably wind up being glad you did later. There are several things I left out for me to do later when I could put more thought into it, but of course, I don't get much free time to take care of those so doing it over, I'd have the builder's do more (interior finishing stuff) on the front end. Maybe my garage/shop wouldn't be a messy wreck right now.... Maybe....

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Done That]

I just paid $400 for a Chamberlain opener installed on a 16 x 10 with one wall switch and two remotes. Wish mine was half price.....

 

[Jlbc212]

I worked for a garage door company years ago. We had a similar issue where an automatic opener got installed at the wrong location. The owner of the house loved the automatic opener, but didn't want the one that was installed because it was "used."

 

[larry_g]

My response would be, Ok I'll pay the half of the opener and as soon as the gutters are up, the site cleaned up, and the rest of the hit list is done we'll settle up the final payment.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[sberry]

I would keep it for that price.

 

[yeldogt]

Stuff happens .. you are getting a good deal ..... And - you will want an opener.

fight battles when they occur ... if he asks for a final payment when its not finished .. then discuss.

A final near progress payment is not unusual or out of bounds IMO .... I always like two week billing on my stuff.

 

[6768rogues]

It sounds like you are at the point called "substantial completion." That is when the owner can take it over for its intended purpose, but it is not completely done. Usually a punch list is made of all remaining work to be done with prices associated with each item. The total is added up and another 10% or so is added. If he wants to be paid, pay him for all but the cost of the punch list. If you don't trust him, do not grant substantial completion, do not move in and use it, and do not pay him a cent until it is done.
As for the opener, I would pay the $200 or so and own it. Even if the price is inflated, your half is reasonable.