The Big Dig

Well, just like that we started to dig and in an afternoon the excavator had the footings ready. And just like that, this morning the footing forms were put up and concrete started to flow. It's a big dig out there and pending weather looks like it's gonna make it soggy real quick. The second level of forms are being assembled tomorrow and more concrete. Stay tuned for lots of excitement.

Emmett is in love with the piles of dirt all over the pasture.

Closed

Can you friggin believe it. We finally closed our construction loan yesterday. I had a stomach ache after signing. Be aware out there that modern custom homes are hard to find financing for. It was like pulling teeth with Washington Federal to get it through to them that homes outside of the BOX are a good thing. Green, passive and well designed homes are what the world needs but the banks only care what they will get out of it in the bottom line. Do lots of homework, collect MLS listings for comparables and have a large down payment. Sell your current home early and use the money. Watch for things like interest payments on your construction draws, insurance for the site and title closing fees. Wish us luck. Mark Haslom from Benchmark Modern is hopefully starting the project on Monday.

So Close...But

We are so close to closing our loan but a neighbor from the past is now haunting us. As you know a year or so ago we settled the fence line disputes with the neighbors. This had to be done in order to get final subdivision approval from the City of Holladay and Salt Lake City. It seems one of the disputes was never settled with our neighbor's mortgage company, and they now have a current lien on their property. Double ouch. So, because our lot is part of the settlement of the fence line we are standing by. We are in full fight mode.

On a better note, our contractor Mark Haslom of Benchmark Modern is ready to break ground.

Update

Well almost all the paper work is into the bank. The appraisal of the land with the finished house is going through it's motions right now and we are hoping to hear word from the bank next week. If all goes well we will have a ground breaking in a few weeks. The guys at Benchmark Modern are looking at a time frame of having the foundation finished by the first of the year. Wow. The large sliding window on the north-side of the house is going through some growing pains and is slightly being tweaked. Even while downsizing it, it is going to be outrageous. The window package is being put together by Marvin Windows. The doors we picked are the Marvin Ultimate Lift and Slide. Ours are 11'6" tall and 6' wide with a total of 6, 3 stacking on either end. An engineering feat if you ask me. Wish us luck.

Holding Pattern

Should I really blog if there isn't a whole lot to say. We choose Benchmark Modern as our contractor. Mark Haslom will be taking on the project. We are slowly getting the budget fit into the tiny hole called the budget. Wish us luck. More to come hopefully next week with a trip to the bank.

Budget Cuts

It's crunch time and we are trimming the fat, or really the house. We are close and with every cut we get closer to our budget. The trombe wall is out, Zinc Roof out, we cut one of the fireplaces, the glass wall has shrunk. Square footage is down to 2665 from 2975 , not to worry the house is still plenty. Just a few more tweeks and we will be at the budget we have been qualified for from the bank. Cross your fingers for a fall ground breaking.

A few of the latest...

End of the line

Well the Cliff Johnson Excavating has finished the waterline including the hydrant. Lot services will be connected next week after it has passed all the tests. These guys were great. Minimal trees were disturbed and they were great communicators as to the daily progress. They also keep in mind that our parents were still living on the lots that the line went through and kept the mess down.

Mean while all the potential contractors sent in the bids. We are in the process of cutting the fat. Two of the three bids were well over $100,000 more than our budget! Zinc roofs, some appliances, Trombe wall are all in negotiations. We are saddened as we thought the house could have been build to our initial budget. This has been a long learning process. Cuts will be made appropriately and all will work out. Folks... do your homework on start up costs!

Abby's new tractor

The waterline project marches towards the pasture.

Waterline

The waterline for the building site has started.

5085 South 2050 East

AHHH the smell of diesel fuel... The trees are gone.

We have an entrance. Anyone wanting to visit us now

can enter through our very rough driveway.

High clearance vehicles only.

Construction documents have arrived and are beautiful.

Plans are our to potential contractors and the City of Holladay.

Things are moving right along.