Time for a re-boot!!! Erase all disks, operating systems, cables, power supplies. Cannot erase utter failure, but with the support of my family, I start from scratch. Need to re-build self-trust and hold on to the belief that the last 18 months wasn't a complete waste. Gained some knowledge, avoided living in a house built by a gang of losers.
Back to the starting line, we start our search for a real contractor. This becomes a similiar test of patience, but without the constraints of COVID-19. One day, my wife found an introductory service at the OZONE Living Design Center. Although this was in a different league from the more commercial websites with a higher standard of design, I did not hold high hopes as I never trusted this type of service. Turns out, after an intial hearing session, they were able to collect 3 proposals from impressive companies. Out of the three, Masuii Living submitted a convincing proposal with realistic numbers. They had researched my father's works and incorporated his design snippets effectively. Although there were several prospects outside of the three introduced by OZONE, we collectively decided to partner with Masuii Living.
The Design Phase started in the Summer of 2023 with discussions on Home Theatre, Vehicle-to-Home, and other unique requirements. Unlike the previous failure, budget management was excellent, so no suprises throughout the process. We discovered how badly duped we were by the previous contractor. We signed a final construction contract in March 2024, and construction started in the following April. It took us 4 and a half years to get here (and we're not done yet...), but this "extra time" allows us to prepare for automation set ups that were beyond my imagination a year ago.
