I haven't written for a while because I've been busy working on cost estimates and working with Countrywide Loans on the financing. The project costs look to be in the $1.1M range, which is $200K more than expected, and what I had worked out with Countrywide last summer. Since our house didn't sell, CW would have to loan us 100% of the land purchase and construction costs. Last summer, when we were talking about $900K and before the sub-prime problems it was feasible that if our house didn't sell we could get a bridge loan. But in today's mortgage market this is hard to do.
So, we are busy fixing up the house to try and sell it again. We are putting in new granite counters in kitchens and all bathrooms. We are also painting most rooms, and have move the office (computer equipment) from the living room to further reduce the house clutter. We expect to put house on market in April.
Once the house is sold, we'll start the new house project up again.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Week 23
Uncle 's Howard Barns finished the barn design. See below. I've asked them to provide a price quote. If you don't remember from an earlier posting, UHB provides a complete cut-to-size kit and delivers it to your site ready for you to assemble.
The barn is 32' x 48'. Now that I've seen the floor plans I realize they are sized different than what I thought, so I'll have to adjust my interior wall plans. I'm not having UHB design the interior, I'm doing that myself. It will have a couple 12' x 12' rooms on the main floor, and the loft area will probably be left as a large open area - except for a full bath.
We meet the architect next week to review the 3D walk-through or the design.
Week 22
Not much to report. I did meet with the county investigator regarding my southern property line neighbor's complaint that I was illegally "clearing" the land without a permit. I was using a machete to clear a walking path!
Well, the investigator said I didn't need a permit and that she'd close the case. I warned her that she can expect many complaints from this neighbor, and she said they have ways to handle people that waste the government's time.
I haven't had any response yet from either of the excavation companies I have requested quotes from, nor from one of the two septic installers. It sure is hard to get people to respond to you. I can't imagine why, since there a slow down in construction.
Well, the investigator said I didn't need a permit and that she'd close the case. I warned her that she can expect many complaints from this neighbor, and she said they have ways to handle people that waste the government's time.
I haven't had any response yet from either of the excavation companies I have requested quotes from, nor from one of the two septic installers. It sure is hard to get people to respond to you. I can't imagine why, since there a slow down in construction.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Week 21
It's 2008 already - and 21 weeks into it!
Things are crawling now. Having problems with neighboring property owners - 3 of 4! The worst case is my southern neighbor who is a very unreasonable person. I crossed his property line while cutting brush. I apologize and offered $500 compensation - this for a bunch of brush that will grow back in one season. But he wants $4000, or he'll sue. I told him to go ahead. My attorney says he doesn't have much compensable damages. Beware - many unreasonable people out there, and lots of them waiting for you to make a mistake so they can profit from it. My guess is they are used to my property being their private playground (dirt biking) and greenbelt - now someone's moving in that's going to end all that. This doesn't deter me - it emboldens me!
I'm meeting a county investigator at the property tomorrow to see what the southern neighbor above filed a complaint about. He complained that I didn't have a permit to be cutting brush during the wet season with hand tools. I knew I was in the right from reading the regs (hand tools are always OK and don't require permits) and she's already confirmed it in email, but needs to visit the site and take photos for her files. If this kind of crap keeps up I'll be looking into some sort of harrassment lawsuit against that neighbor - this has cost me a lot of time and aggravation.
I've received one quote back for the two septic quotes I requested - it's $12,800 which is $10K less than that estimated by the UBuildIt guys. Hopefully the excavation costs will be much less than the $92K they've estimated.
The architect will have the first round of exterior elevations and a 3D model finished later this week. That should be interesting!
Things are crawling now. Having problems with neighboring property owners - 3 of 4! The worst case is my southern neighbor who is a very unreasonable person. I crossed his property line while cutting brush. I apologize and offered $500 compensation - this for a bunch of brush that will grow back in one season. But he wants $4000, or he'll sue. I told him to go ahead. My attorney says he doesn't have much compensable damages. Beware - many unreasonable people out there, and lots of them waiting for you to make a mistake so they can profit from it. My guess is they are used to my property being their private playground (dirt biking) and greenbelt - now someone's moving in that's going to end all that. This doesn't deter me - it emboldens me!
I'm meeting a county investigator at the property tomorrow to see what the southern neighbor above filed a complaint about. He complained that I didn't have a permit to be cutting brush during the wet season with hand tools. I knew I was in the right from reading the regs (hand tools are always OK and don't require permits) and she's already confirmed it in email, but needs to visit the site and take photos for her files. If this kind of crap keeps up I'll be looking into some sort of harrassment lawsuit against that neighbor - this has cost me a lot of time and aggravation.
I've received one quote back for the two septic quotes I requested - it's $12,800 which is $10K less than that estimated by the UBuildIt guys. Hopefully the excavation costs will be much less than the $92K they've estimated.
The architect will have the first round of exterior elevations and a 3D model finished later this week. That should be interesting!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Week 20
The transit arrived and my son Tom and I went t the property to correct the original driveway path.
Found out that we were off quite a bit, so we began correcting it.
The southern neighbor complained that we crossed the line about 100'. We met with him and he showed us the surveyor string he ran from the front property marker to the rear marker. I didn't realize that a survey had ever been done - found no mention of it in the county's iMap database. But the markers were clearly in place. Could have save much trouble and work had I known. We had indeed crossed into his property. He's rightly upset, so I need to try and make it right with him.
Moral of the story; when buying land insist that the seller provide a survey with boundary markers, especially along the critical areas!
Found out that we were off quite a bit, so we began correcting it.
The southern neighbor complained that we crossed the line about 100'. We met with him and he showed us the surveyor string he ran from the front property marker to the rear marker. I didn't realize that a survey had ever been done - found no mention of it in the county's iMap database. But the markers were clearly in place. Could have save much trouble and work had I known. We had indeed crossed into his property. He's rightly upset, so I need to try and make it right with him.
Moral of the story; when buying land insist that the seller provide a survey with boundary markers, especially along the critical areas!
Week 19
Christmas week - not much to report.
Trying to figure out exactly on property where driveway will run. Have been clearing a walking path along the driveway. Original path appeared to be off line - it should be running parallel to south property line, but it appears to be getting too close to the line. I need to buy a transit and work out the exact location.
Trying to figure out exactly on property where driveway will run. Have been clearing a walking path along the driveway. Original path appeared to be off line - it should be running parallel to south property line, but it appears to be getting too close to the line. I need to buy a transit and work out the exact location.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Week 18
The UBuildIt guys and I met at the property last week to check out my driveway and building site ideas. I found that there's a better, flatter, area if I move the building site west and slightly north. It gets me a little close to the well circle (100' restricted area) but there is still a decent 75' buffer to the start of the circle. I'm looking for ways to reduce the excavation costs - they're estimated by UBuildIt to be $92K, which I think is steep. At this point we're trading off driveway costs - more driveway sqft, more cost - for excavation costs. In particular trying to limit the size and number of retaining walls.
UBuildIt brought a small hand level, like this one, to measure elevations. I'm not convinced it's very accurate. The elevations they were calling out didn't jive with my guesses. But they could be right. I need to do a good job of mapping the driveway and creating site topologies, so I've ordered an AmScope 32x Automatic Level Transit - this is what I ordered. I'll spend a few days at the site and verify the county's elevations and create a fairly accurate topo map of the building site. Later, I will hire a surveyor to do an official topo and to identify locations for driveway, building site and well.
To make sure the price estimates are not way out of line I'm going to get quotes from contractors on septic, water well, driveway and excavation. These are some major expense items, so if there are any savings this is where they'll be found.
The architect sent me revision 3 (R3) of the floor plans, and they look great. So we're moving forward with the next step - getting the exterior elevations and roof worked out. We've decided to postpone the spa and pool - it's over $100K savings alone! But, we will build the house with the pool room under the roof, but open to the outside so that later (2-3 years) we can add them without a major re-model of the house. We will not put in the outside walls, but instead we will add columns to support the roof - this way we can get a bobcat or backhoe in there to add the pool.
Here's the latest site layout. I think this is the final one until an official survey!
UBuildIt brought a small hand level, like this one, to measure elevations. I'm not convinced it's very accurate. The elevations they were calling out didn't jive with my guesses. But they could be right. I need to do a good job of mapping the driveway and creating site topologies, so I've ordered an AmScope 32x Automatic Level Transit - this is what I ordered. I'll spend a few days at the site and verify the county's elevations and create a fairly accurate topo map of the building site. Later, I will hire a surveyor to do an official topo and to identify locations for driveway, building site and well.
To make sure the price estimates are not way out of line I'm going to get quotes from contractors on septic, water well, driveway and excavation. These are some major expense items, so if there are any savings this is where they'll be found.
The architect sent me revision 3 (R3) of the floor plans, and they look great. So we're moving forward with the next step - getting the exterior elevations and roof worked out. We've decided to postpone the spa and pool - it's over $100K savings alone! But, we will build the house with the pool room under the roof, but open to the outside so that later (2-3 years) we can add them without a major re-model of the house. We will not put in the outside walls, but instead we will add columns to support the roof - this way we can get a bobcat or backhoe in there to add the pool.
Here's the latest site layout. I think this is the final one until an official survey!
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