The smell of progress

The smell of progress is wood shavings and saw dust.

View from dining into kitchen

Kitchen exterior

View from Front Door

Upper living room windows

Best view from the kitchen :) 

Tuesday, May 6: Trusses go up. More pics to come

Things you do when you're NOT framing

We were supposed to start framing today, and I was disappointed when my framer, Rick, called to notify me he couldn't start until later in the week.

When I arrived this afternoon to survey the progress, I noticed a LOT of water pooling at the entrance. A few moments later, a neighbor arrived saying they thought the water was due to an irrigation line break. They'd fired up the pump that feeds irrigation water to the whole neighborhood and it was obviously flooding from below.

As the minutes passed, more neighbors arrived. At first, we just made attempts to get the culvert open so the water could flow back to the pond. I was not dressed for a foray into the mud, nor did I have the tools. (I'm glad I had those excuses. I'm still embarrassed about admitting my limitations after my fusion surgeries last year. I feel like a weakling with a million tired excuses)

But as you can see, Conner and Karli had no problem putting those worries aside and diving in. Literally. A few neighbors arrived with shovels and we started digging where the water seemed to be boiling out of the dirt.

We never did find the leak, so we turned the main pump off and plan to get a digging crew together for Saturday.

So, instead of framing today, we learned what we'd already suspected: We've got some great neighbors! (oh, yeah, and a broken irrigation pipe)

Let's hope we start framing tomorrow!

Wake me when it's time to choose paint colors!

After more than 70 showings: THE HOUSE IS UNDER CONTRACT!

The last time we signed a contract on this house, it fell through, so we're cautiously optimistic going forward. Here's the 411.

We close in February.

But we don't have to move out until June 1!

We are ecstatic about this plan. We'll be tenants of our own home starting in February while we build the new one. (So, there will be 6 weeks where we're homeless, but who's counting...)

Assuming everything goes well throughout the contract process, I plan on breaking ground on the new house February 20.

When building was a dream, it looked easy and fun. Now I'm staring it in the face, I have to admit I'm a wee bit nervous.

House plans are fun. Tile and carpet selection is fun.

Getting the necessary permits: NOT FUN.

Here's what I've done so far. (You might find this list helpful when you begin your project)

1. Download and print the County Building Permit Application form. They've got a checklist of things I need.

2. Ignore the checklist. Look at house plans. Choose tile. Dream. Vibrate with excitement. 

3. Make last minute changes to house plans. Order large plats from printer.

4. Fill out the permit application.

5. Notice a lot of blanks. I don't know the answer to a lot of the questions! 

6. Decide to read the checklist again. Oh, I have to have a septic permit? Wait, what's a site access permit?

7. Panic.

8. Call the county.

9. Digest the news. Yes, I have to have a septic permit prior to submitting for my building permit. AND IT COSTS $750.00. Ouch.

10. Learn about a Site Access permit. This was the first one I applied for. I had to take pictures of the lot and even make a "traffic control plan" to keep all those cars who drive on my rural cul-de-sac safe from large trucks! LOL.

I couldn't believe all the tedium. I'm not really a "paperwork" person and the permit application process is all about paperwork. Could someone just wake me up when it's time to choose paint colors?

I'll apply for the septic permit Monday morning, and then pull the building permit with the county about a week later.

Stay tuned: I'll be blogging about every step along the way

If you're acting as the General Contractor on your home project, feel free to ask me questions in the comment section. I'm an open book (maybe you'll learn from my mistakes!)


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