-
Is there a particular reason to need them to get stuff done asap? Obviously your job is the most important to you, but if they are doing multiple jobs for multiple clients, some of which may seem more urgent than others, they may not understand why you are in such a rush. I think it's normal for builders to have different expectations on communications than office workers - for example I wouldn't hold out much hope of getting a quick reply to an email. In fact I would avoid email whenever possible in favour of speaking to them on the phone.
Of course maybe yours are just shit. But also maybe they are unaware you're in a particular rush and that you need them to prioritise your job over others.
When we had work done recently we told the builders up front, and repeatedly, that if they couldn't make a hard commitment to getting it all done before our baby's due date, we would be mega pissed off. That seemed to help (and by extension meant they had to delay/deprioritise some other jobs, which probably sucked for those other people).
lemonade-
They've been made well aware that their half finished jobs are having a significant impact on us and it needs done ASAP. Half the rooms in the house are unusable currently, most of our shit from the other rooms is crammed into the dining room, which is now serving at least triple duty as shed, storage unit, living room and dining room. Trying to entertain a 2 year old, on a rainy weekend in a room so full of boxes that all you have is an armchair and a folding garden chair for furniture, is not what we signed up for when buying this house, or when engaging this builder.
I've been promised a schedule of works today, if that doesn't materialise we're going out to find others. Even if it means it will take a couple of months, at least we know. For example, if we knew the living room wasn't going to be worked on for a couple of weeks, we'd clean it up and start re-using it. We thought it would be completed (the building works at least anyway) last week, so have totally decamped from it.
stevo_com
Apparently one of the new guys did try and turn up today, but when we were out dropping the wein at the childminder (we don't normally both go, but today was different, because reasons). Why we weren't called at the time and had to chase is another negative mark. But by all accounts a full schedule of works will be with us this evening.
I've already mentally sacked them, so it will need to be good to change my mind.
In the mean time, bits I think I can do if they do end up in the sea;
framing/boarding the chimney breast
building a new hearth (self leveling compound and tiles)
hardboarding the living room and mini_com's room ready for carpet (this will be once other decorating work is done.
building access panel for the F&E tank - currently just a big hole in the plaster board
replacing ripped out architrave in my office