by

The Final Estimates

I went to VR Expert today to get the estimate for the final insurance-covered work to be done on Miranda as well as for the work to be done on the water-damaged overhang. While I was there, I got some more personal items out of the rig and also emptied out the loft in preparation for the work.

First the bad news: they can’t start on the rig till next Tuesday. What with having two four-day weeks in a row, I definitely won’t have Miranda back until at least July 16th. OMG.

The insurance-covered portion of the work is:
-replace rear hitch with a 3500HD model, straighten the support, straighten the frame (all involves welding)
-repair and repaint the rear fiberglass bumper.
Subtotal: $1,967.56
GST: $98.38
QST: $196.26
Total: $2,262.20

I have sent this off to the adjuster and hope that she will reply with the okay to go ahead.

Now, the overhang. The passenger side wall is apparently saturated. So remove and reinstall window, mouldings, and fiberglass; replace rotten luan; seal everything: $1,700.

As for replacing my propane regulator, making my entry door plumb and square, and replacing the window frame: $189.

Subtotal: $1,889.00
GST: $94.45
QST: $188.43
Total: $2,171.88

He forgot to get the info for the tow package, but I will be having that done in the fall since Miranda comes first. So I will be going back to the States to get the parts and just paying for the installation here.

If I can manage to save some QST, that would be awesome. QST claims to be 9.5% but is actually more than that because it is calculated based on the price with GST. In a province with PST, you would do, say, $1,000x.05=$50GST, $1,000x.095=$95PST, Total=$1,145 ($1,000+$50+$95). In Quebec, the math is $1,000×1.05=$1,050, $1,050×1.095=$1,149,75. Difference: $4.75.

As long as the overhang repair doesn’t cost more than the estimate, I can live with it. I wouldn’t have had to do it if I had repaired that damn leak correctly the first time. I will have some internal work to do again, like repaint the wall, but I have tons of that paint left. As long as they don’t trash everything, I can deal. I just hope that the new side panel matches the rest of the rig… There is a chance they will be able to save the existing panel (taking $250 off the bill), but I’m bracing myself for the worst case scenario.

The other repairs are minor and I actually find the $189 amount rather low. I cannot wait to have a door that opens and shuts easily!!! And how about a propane system that doesn’t whistle! It helps that I picked up the propane regulator in the US last year. It was just $25 when it would have been about $50 here!

Now, I need to figure out how I am going to survive the next few weeks. One thing is certain; I need to spend at least one weekend out doing something fun like going camping with my truck. Now that I have an idea of how much I’m looking at to get back on the road with a sound rig, I know what I can spend this summer. I just have to make sure that I have the $2,200 or so for the tow package well ahead of my estimated departure date!

10 thoughts on “The Final Estimates”

  1. OMG! is correct. Once again, it sounds like you’ve figured it out, gotta plan & are moving forward. I hope the time (a month?!) goes by fast & that the mechanics do a good job without tearing up the inside for you. Then you’ll have some of your ‘to do’ list finished.

    Mini road trip, yea 🙂 … or 2.

    Hope everything goes smoothly.
    Vicki

  3. Well, at least things are progressing. I too, find that $189 for the door, etc. to be very low. That is only about two hours labour.

    I thought the insurance company(ies) had agreed to pay for the tow package. After all, you had one before the accident.

  4. Croft, their hourly rate is $80. So it looks like the window frame is $29 and they’re charging me for two hours of labour.

    I got $2,200 for my tow package included in the cheque for the car. I am electing to use that money to effect the repairs on Miranda and to save up the money I would have used to repair her to replace the tow package at a later date since Miranda is already at a repair shop.

  5. Yikes. It sounds scary.

    UNTIL you look at it in terms of having to spend a few bucks on your home. If you had a “stix and bricks”, there would always be something. New roof. New furnace. Whatever. All those things are pricey, even if you’re doing the work yourself. (this I know)
    Of course, the chances of someone plowing into the side of your house may be a little far fetched, but there’s always high winds, tree branches and normal wear and tear.

    Just try to remain sane during the process. That sounds like the toughest part.
    But hey, it summer, you’re in Quebec, where there are some of the nicest camp-grounds in all of Canada. We’ve (sadly) only been to two or three, and they were awesome. I was quite intrigued by the number of camp grounds in La Belle Province. Need to go back.

    Chill.

    • Bob, the financial aspect of this is not scary. Like you said, I would have had costs with my stix ‘n brix. I’m just irked with myself that I didn’t do a proper repair the first time to avoid this scenario. But being out of my home this long is very grating.

      My best friend says that a truck rammed into her neighbour’s house, knocking it off its foundation!

      I’m hoping to get out and explore a bit of Quebec this summer; just need to figure out the budget first. I really wanted to go to Gaspé and then continue on to Nova Scotia to see a friend and then Newfoundland.

Comments are closed.