We don't have any major projects scheduled this year. We just bought a pool heater, which was an interesting experience.
$2,000 for the heater, on sale.
$4,200 for the installation of a gas line from the meter to the pool. I got the contractor down to $3,900 by offering to pay cash.
Pool company comes to place/install the heater. They're great.
Contractor comes in to trench my backyard and run the gas line. 133' trench, 18" deep. They do a decent job, but a day later, I notice that they had moved the heater to line up with their trench - and smashed it up against the pump. I got the pool up and running, heated the water, all is good.
A week later, I wake up at 5am and see that the pool level is down 5". When they smashed the heater up against the pump, it compromised one of the hoses, and I had been pumping water out of my pool overnight.
Had to repair the hose, then all was good again....except for having to grow grass over the 133' of dug up yard. We're in the process of doing that now - and it's been hard work. Had to tamp down all of the dirt that was pushed back over the trench, then lay down seed, some dirt, and then stake a layer of burlap down to keep my dog from digging in the dirt.