No, DD doesn't complain to me about her roommate, only once she said, "You can't believe anything she says."...She knows that I hate how she's being taking advantage of, but she does talk to her Dad about it sometimes, because he can listen without criticizing. Maybe I shouldn't of said, "legally"...wouldn't want the law involved...thought maybe there was a way to get the roommate to want to move out. Apparently, the two get along fine with each other. But their social life is opposites. 'Freeloader' likes to go out and party as if she doesn't have any responsibilties...DD doesn't allow any alcohol in her house, and she has her own circle of friends. Stargazer, if the roommate was a druggy, it might be easier to get her out, like you wrote about your former son in law's father did...not many druggies would go to the police complaining(?)...but, she isn't. Her attitude seems to be that DD would have to pay the rent anyway... so why not let her live there free! DD has always wanted to rent that house... she loves it, no kids... but pets are allowed...But... it's very expensive...with a huge yard and a nearby lake to enjoy...When it came up for rent again...the roommate promised to pay half...But, instead, took out personal loans, likely spent on her friends and whatever she pleased...Then bought a new car...and tells DD that she doesn't have any money... Actually not contributing a penny to DD. What is so aggraving to me is...DD will likely lose her 'dream home'...She has a lot of furniture...All the freeloader has are her clothes and a cellphone. If she would only leave (When what freezes over??)...DD has another friend that would move in with her, who has a good paying job, and seems very reliable. We could help her with paying the rent...but that means also helping the freeloader live free-rent... who had once lived with her sister in a small, cramped house. Her boyfriend is a freeloader too...He doesn't own a car, lives with his aunt for now , and she taxi's him everywhere and buys him cigarettes, etcs., DD has never asked us for a penny, or for any help...but I try to help in some ways that won't benefit the freeloader...I buy her cat's food and cat litter when I buy for ours...Sometimes, I insist on paying her cellphone bill because she bought me a cellphone too...and is paying for it...She thought I needed one...Occasionally, DH takes her truck and gets the oil changed for her and fills the gas tank. But it's still a struggle and she doesn't complain to us...But, DH recently told me that DD had to drop her Internet and Cable TV. She's our only child and we've always been overly protective (?) of her...because she's an adult doesn't change that fact.

quote" Even though the economy is down and work is more scarce, the cost of materials is still going up. You may have some room for negotiation but, not as much as many people think. It now costs them and their subs almost twice as much to get back and forth to your jobsite as it did 2-3 years ago. The contractor is not going to subsidize your pool build. You may find that if you wait too long, your same pool may cost even more factoring in inflation, steel rebar, concrete etc. "quote This statement is fact in every respect. It's currently costing me 100 per fill up on my gas rigs and 150 per fill up on my diesels. Don't ask about the price of my steel and plumbing pipe. My steel supplier called me at the end of the week before last, effective 5-7 my new price would be 3.88 per bar on number three on truckload quantities but I could place an order now for my current 3.10 price. This is the same number three that I paid 99 cents per bar for four years ago. I made the purchase on two loads, Minutes later my pipe supplier called me too. His price on two inch is going up twelve cents a foot, also effective on 5-7. Again I had to make a major purchase. The sum of these two purchases was 50000, I'll have 30 days to pay after delivery. I currently pay over ninety per yard for ready mix concrete delivered to a jobsite compared to the less than forty I used to pay a few years ago. If you wait your pool will cost more. My current bids are already incorporating the price increases. The only reason I made the large purchases is so I can honor my existing quotations. These fuel prices are fixing to drive up many other prices to because of cartage. My quarry operator just called this week to announce the new delivery prices. Each truckload of rock delivered from Oklahoma will cost 250 more. I won't cry you members a river but I'll tell you guys this, Pool builders are selling the pools for more money than ever, but the costs of construction have escalated more than the resell price reflects. I currently have to build 13 pools to earn the same profit dollars I earned on 10 pools a few years ago. This will be a very tough year for the weaker companies in my business. I, unfortunately, foresee buyers and subcontractors getting burned by builders who've been hanging on by a thread. This makes it very important for the buyers and subs to watch who they conduct business with. See Ya, Kelly

I wrote up a basic form myself for anyone working directly for me as a Private Conrtractor. You want it to state that: they understand they are working as a Private Contractor; You will not be collecting taxes for them or making any payments for them; You are not collecting or paying any Social Security monies on their behalf; and, have them sign this. Having said all this above, it is something you may not be able to do. There are strict IRS rules about who can be a Private Contractor and who is your employee.... and what you must do as an employer. For us the Caretakers would have been Employees and I would have had to collect Federal and State taxes and their share of SS, and pay my share of SS. In CA I would have also had to pay into the workman's compensation fund and other fees as an employer. Which is why I hired an agency to hire, fire and take care of all the bookwork necessary to have Caretakers. FYI: Hiring someone 'under the table" can get you in BIG trouble when they turn 66 and try to collect Social Security... which wasn't paid in their behalf - by you. Then they'll get you for ALL the back taxes that weren't paid.

We are in Iowa. I will look into that contractor recovery fund. That would make us feel better about all this. If we walk away, we will lose our 15k. Actually we've pretty much already lost our 15k. It went to the builder (who's now bankrupt) and the bank says it went towards the build. So we're already getting a 'credit' because otherwise the banks investment would have been $340k. Gee thanks bank. But still, walking away may be our best option unfortunately. I'm trying to take emotions out of it, but the lot is in a secluded neighborhood surrounded by 13 acres of woods. The lot itself is 1.5 acres and most of it will remain timber. It's very unique and not something we will find elsewhere. I know someone will finish the house and live there even if it's not us. That would sting a bit. But also trying to be rationale that I don't want a lemon of a house and definitely don't want to be broke to do it. The excavator only has about 50k into the project. Not sure how it would make financial sense for him to buy it and try to make back his money and a profit. I guess we'll go about getting the numbers to see what it will cost to finish. But I'm afraid to make it viable, we would have to offer the back around 220k or so for the house. A huge loss to the bank, however if they build it themselves with no prospect of a buyer (it's in a small town, over an hour from large cities), they may lose even more.