If you need to find the Triple V....

Great news everyone, we are on the map!
Well, I don't know if we are literally on any map, but we did get an address this past week.
As for other progress, our truss/roof plans are coming along, as required by the county, for our permit approval process.
Also, we met with the excavator.
And we hired a contractor to remove all our tree stumps.
Next up, pun intended, silt fence.

In all seriousness though, we could not do this without the awesome support of our friends and family, and our network of contacts, suppliers and contractors. I'm having a ball learning about building a house.

You can't see it on his face in this picture, but the sheer joy of climbing this tree was reward enough for all the work that has been done and will continue to be.

GOING OUT TO BID

Ok, so now that the applications for permits are in and under review, there is some very important work to be done.
LETS GET SOME BIDS!!!!!

We will likely use the same supplier for many of the materials but just thought I'd list everything out so you could see the long list of the decisions that need to be made. Here's hoping our marriage survives...

Excavator
Concrete
Septic installation
Well installation
Rough Carpentry (house framing)
Siding
Windows
Garage Doors
Electrical
Plumbing
Utilities installation-see prior blog entry
Roofing
Gutters
HVAC
Drywall
Finish Carpentry
Doors
Door hardware
Kitchen cabinetry
Kitchen appliances
Bathroom (we'll have 3) cabinetry & fixtures
Flooring-hardwood, tile, carpet
LIGHTING-for everywhere!!

Permit Application has been submitted

So we got the final floor plans and outbuilding plans. Worth every penny, they are perfect! Or at least I hope the county thinks they are perfect and issues our permit pronto.

So I headed over to county to submit the permit applications and drawings and that was fun. I asked if we could pick out our own address. That got a good laugh.
But actually it went pretty well. Our architect had given us a name of someone to speak with, who I called in advance. He was very helpful and gave me a couple pointers. I did also try to sweeten the application, literally. I brought donuts.  I can hear you all now, and no, I am not trying to bribe them. It's just my way of saying Thank you...in advance.
So, lets see what happens in another week, will we have an address?
What about 2 weeks from now, will we have permits?
Guess you'll have to tune in to find out.

Did I mention that I also picked up our APPROVED Septic and Well PERMIT from Environmental & Health. The Planning & Development team needed it anyway, as part of their permitting packet.

By the way, we are having a party this weekend at the property. I am calling it the "we submitted our plans for permit approval" party.  But really it's a party to cut down more trees, clear more brush and split logs. The weather is turning spring-like, the permits are submitted and we are getting all our contractors bids. Things are starting to move along and hopefully before too long I'll have some cool pictures of house building progress!

In the meantime

Time for an update folks!
In case you hadn't guessed, we still don't have our final plans. The house is ready but they needed more time for the outbuilding. So we decided to wait to submit the house, as the outbuilding is already on the site plan and we would be bidding and constructing at the same time, so it only makes sense to submit them for permit at the same time. We have our appt set to pick up plans this Wednesday and we are really hoping to walk out with them, as the longer this goes on the longer it's likely to take the county to review and issue our permits, since we are now getting towards the busy construction season. Did anyone notice how beautiful it was out today?!

In the meantime we met again with our first choice builder. He took the "almost" final plans from us and is going to start getting bids from some of his subs. We also went to the lumber yard to start discussing materials. Decisions will be upon us before we know it.

Lastly, I thought I'd share something else cool we discovered. There are draft plans to put a very nice conservation area right across the main road from our new property. Being near a park for the kids and accessible biking and running trails were 2 things I knew I would miss about our current home location.
While currently there are no funds or timeline to develop the park, it is a step in the right direction that a final plan is drawn and up for vote in June. Just as we hope to see happen with our house, a plan can turn into reality before you know it...