The Joy's of Building Work

This is the finished result! However some advice - 1. things never run to time or plan. 2 - Everything makes twice as much muck as you think it will. 3 - anybuilding over 10 years old will have been tinkered with by cowboys at any given time and you will hit these problems one at a time as you do work. (ie we found our sewage pipes were held together by Duct tape when we did some digging at the back) 4 - Not only will a ton of dust be produced it will get through any dust sheets, coverings and into rooms where the work isn't being done so plan for it. 5 - No work man ever cleans to your standard so whatever they say don't expect it. 6 - No work will ever be up to your standard there will always be a loose end or unfinshed part - so please don't be surprised. 7 - try and build a crew of trusted workmen and ask others for recomendations you can't always guarantee that they won't let you down even so but it does make for better odds.

Some more pics as the work progresses!

cos I can never have too much building work going on! lol

How we are getting on?

Day 1 of the new windows going in! there is a ton of muck every where. While we are shut we are deep cleaning everywhere and all the curtains are going to the laundry. Its a good opportunity to pull everything right out and do all the jobs. Will keep this updated with photos as we go along.

The Calm Before the Storm

In Harrogate there is a period of of about 11 days when booking accommodation here is mad. But for accommodation providers there is a sort of buzz in the air. Don't get me wrong its hard work, a lot of changes, a lot of check in's and 100% occupancy. However there is an excitement that fills the air from the moment on the Monday morning that the lorries start rolling into town you feel it. Also our email ring chims into action as the conference delegates and Yorkshire Show exhibitors tend to change their bookings last minute and so we all want to fill the little gaps these changes leave behind. Also there are the genuine last minute cancellations due to ill health or family emergencies for which if we resell we won't charge so we do our best. It is like a massive game of tetrus where we all shuffel blocks and people to get everyone in and lined up. I used to get the same feeling on days before a big event when I worked in a large hotel all the running round to get everything ready before the function hits.

Parking!

No matter how much or how little parking you have this will be a problem. We are in a terrace with a generous car park of 9 spaces at the back on our confirmation we send a little map as an email attachment of how to get round the back and by our front gate we have a large sign that says "Car Park at Rear" even so if I had a pound for every time I had a guest pull up at the front and ask "Where am I supposed to park?" I would be a rich lady. Also when they get to your parking they still need to be supervised they will park sideways across 3 spaces given half a chance never thinking for one second as to where the other guests are going to park. If you have any kind of weird system I recomend that you put this on your confirmation (90% wont read it but at least you have the moral high ground) Also despite common sense if they can't immediately see where to park they will drive round and round in circles trying to find somewhere - (ie won't stop and ask what to do). Where I am there is a compliacated system of permits and discs - we have them all you only have to ask but they won't - "oh we could see it was a disk zone so just kept on looking" feel like shouting WE LIVE HERE AND KNOW THE DRILL MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND ASKED? oh well we live and learn

DIY verses a professional

This is an area where it can go either way. You cannot be calling out a handyperson for every little thing but somethings benefit from the attention of a professional. I myself have a decorator, Im not a bad painter myself mind but Paul can repaper a room and do all the woodwork in 3 days which means I can have that room back in operation and earning money again. Every day a room isn't let it potentially costs you a booking and therefore money. It is all a balancing act. I am having to do a lot of decorating this year as the previous owners televisions are all old style and stick out of the walls on stands. This means that to put in new style flat screen televisions yo have to redecorate the room which means about 8 rooms need doing. However this means a lot of planning and scheduling as you need to book the decorator to do it when you (hope) you will not be blocking bookings and when I have 5 days together to free up the room. I would also say as basic common sense don't try and do anything to do with Gas or Electric unless you are a qalified technician.

Things to consider when designing a room.

Remember when designing a bedroom you or your chamber maid will have to clean it hundreds of times a year (hopefully!). For example that chair that looks lovely in the shop, will it be easy to move to vacume under it? and or round it? If you have zip and link beds you need small light bedside cabinets so they are easy to move as and when. Lamps should be small with a low center of gravity as otherwise they will be knocked over and broken.