The Golan Home

We got great recommendations on this one contractor, who does what is called here ‘skeleton’ construction, meaning he builds the basic structure: foundations, walls, ceilings, garden wall.

When I asked the engineer we took how to judge a contractor, he said “check if his work site is clean and tidy.” He said that good contractors are always very organized. Well, this is the case with this guy.

He made us a reasonable offer, and coupled with the warm recommendations, we signed him up.

I wrote in an earlier post that when we got married we brought in people we clicked well with to help us out – the photographer, caterer, etc., and want the same for our house. Hosam is such a guy. We had a good click, Omri liked him, everything looks good.

I went to the committee’s office yesterday to pay the appreciation tax, an ordeal of over two and a half hours.

You would think that you go to a cashier, your account is found on a computerized system using an ID number or name, you pay and go. Fat chance.

First, they were on strike until 10:30. Then waited in line to talk with a clerk that is not sure what to do before handing a note with the file number to give to the archivist and then sending you to wait at the wrong place. Half an hour later, and my file was still not found.

After finding the right office and finally getting in to pay, I discovered that the accounting guy in front of me doesn’t even now how to read the file and proclaims that my sales tax was indeed set, but there is no appraisal.

It took some persuasion to convince him that I’m not selling a house (which does not exist) and to please look through the file again to find the appraisal.

Fwamp, pulled a foot out of deep thick mud. Now where do I put it?

Because the land we are building on was re-zoned from an agriculture land, we need to pay a tax on its appreciation – 50% (!) of the appreciation…

Here is the odd thing: I was made an “offer” about a year ago. It was very high and I wanted to appeal it. When I visited the Sharonim local committee, it turns out they already had a reduced settlement offer ready, based on previous cases in the area.

The settlement was within the range we estimated it should be and I was ready to accept it. When submitted now for appraisal as part of the building approval process, I was sure this is a quickie – they will see there is already a settlement offer, and move it along.

Turns out they changed the appraisal, deciding the value of the land was higher, then met again to offer me a new reduced settlement that was lower of than the first one. Who could’ve believed that these guys were negotiating with themselves and then I get it better deal.