Day 94: A Look at the Process Map

Now that we're in Week 14, let's take a look at what KB's Process Map says. Looks like we're all done with the first two things on that list under 'Weeks 11-14'. Thursday I will have my Pre-Drywall Orientation with Raymond, the construction superintendent. Im eager to go to this meeting, ask questions and get answers to little things that I've been wondering about. That will finish up that list.

 

We have piles upon piles of brick sitting all around the house. I think they'll probably get put on this week. That part is really going to intrigue me as you know how much I struggled with choosing one.

 

That will take us into Week 15. Since our wiring is done, I think security still has to come out and install their system before drywall goes up. After that, the inside of the house is really going to start taking shape. It will be so much fun to see the cabinets and counters get put in. To see the flooring and paint. Im going to be on one long thrill ride this next month.

 

After all of that happens, Raymond and I will have another meeting to walk thru the house and make note of all the little things that might need tweaking, repairing, replacing, fixing and such. I plan on spending a while in the house, making a list or using sticky notes and making sure the house is perfect.

 

Then we go to closing and get to move in!

 

 

 

 

We also now have a couple of huge piles of sheetrock along with a big pile of dirt that's been delivered.   

I Spy Something New!

Looky what I spied today: Electricity!

Day 29: Plot Plan Update

 

 

 

Welcome to Week #5!

 

Today Chance, my super salesman, went out in the neighborhood with the construction manager and discussed my plot plan in detail. I made my way in that direction as well, after not hearing back from him. Along with another salesman there in La Conterra, who was very helpful, we all went out to see another lot with a similar "C drain type" plot plan (same as mine, above) and we were able to see how water would drain as well as how the driveway would be graded. The lot we looked at had a 11% grade. Mine will be 14%, which means there will be greater area for water to collect. We saw water collecting just from a worker power washing. That is not okay with me.

 

They did say that when the time comes for my driveway to be paved, that I can come out and check on the grade and we could then talk about installing a French drain, if necessary. And if, once Im in the home and we have a heavy rain, water collects then I may have to make even further improvements to make sure water drains away from the home and into the yard.

 

Im not keen about their answer as there wasn't a solution offered, nor was the construction manager present. I feel as if my concerns weren't addressed, but rather the salesman said it best, "the train has left" and therefore there isn't anything I can do about it.

 

Going to talk to my broker and see what his thoughts are.

 

Day 28: End of Week 4

We're at the end of week 4 and are running ahead of schedule by about 3-4 weeks. When construction begins, we'll be looking at about 12 weeks to go! Hopefully sometime in March I'll close and get to begin moving in.

As I was leaving the neighborhood today, I saw a sod truck entering, there to deliver someone's yard. Oh boy! What a bad time to be putting down sod, just in time for frigid weather and possible freezing. The poor roots on that grass might not be able to withstand the cold temps. Im happy that mine will be installed in the Spring when the weather will be warm and plants will transplant better.

Building Timeline

I know you probably cant read the fine print on this, however you can probably see the big numbers. Right now we're in Week 4 and are about three weeks head of schedule.

Day 26: Final Selection Day

This is it! Final Selection Day!

Today Im letting go of all of my anxiety and Im going to enjoy this moment. Many people never get to experience this in their whole entire lives. Im going to enjoy this blessing that God has bestowed upon me and be thankful and joyous.

Chance told me at our last meeting that he expected construction to begin the first week of December. Changes will happen fast then. For today, Im going to relish the serenity of the moment because in a couple short weeks, changes will happen every day!

Watch for pictures of my selections today in a separate post to follow later today, and wish me luck!

Day 25: Urbana Antique

For the past week all I've thought about, in my free time, has been about the design and décor of my home. What do I want it to look like? How do I want it to function? What do I want my home to say to people who see it or who visit? What does it need to impress me, make me comfortable and make me happy?

 

Cabinets.
Countertops.
Backsplash.
Fixtures.
Carpet.
Tile.
Wood/laminate.
Paint.
Trim.
Brick.
Insulation.

 

Just to name a few. My options packet is about 50 pages! When you daydream about building a house, it's a lot of overzealousness and the best of everything. When you actually do it, it's a bit more intense. By about a thousand. However, it's very exciting, too!

 

Most of the choices were easy to consider, visualize and make a selection on such as the gorgeous granite I treated myself to or the upgrade from pedestal sink to cabinet in the powder room. Other things were not as clear and required some thought (and even gazing at a zillion pictures online and on my phone) like flooring and fixture colors.

 

Then there were big things like brick. When you go into the design studio, they only have 4 rows of brick in these 12×24 frames. I don't know about you, but a house is huge! Visualizing a small swatch of brick on a big house is not easy, for me anyway. On top of that, try to picture what color paint and trim you want, too. Impossible!

 

I drove around and around, took pictures, talked to people, sent Jennifer a gazillion emails, and even dragged my kids and mom out to help. Brick looks different in the sun as opposed to in the shade. What looks red in the shade may look brown in the sun. It kept playing tricks on my mind.

 

I am drawn to neutral colors. I've found three brown bricks that I could settle with. Bricks with names like Mojave and Canyon Springs. Then there is this really interesting variety with a lot of color that I'm drawn to, Fall Creek. It is pretty, however, I'm not a flashy type of person. I just can't pull the trigger on a brick already overly popular in my neighborhood.

 

It took a lot of struggle, thought and frustration but I really didn't decide until yesterday (okay... today). I took one more trip around the neighborhood looking at my favorites. This time I was able to get out and go see it up close and in both, the sun and shade, at the same time. That's when I knew it was the one.

 

 

 

Urbana Antique. This is it!

 

Here's the variations in the coloring from sunlight to shade. Near where the fence meets the house, some sunlight is able to partly lighten the bricks there, leaving part in the shade. You can see how much the coloring changes. This is why I've struggled with picking brick this week. Houses all face different directions, when you see one in the shade and another in the sunlight, they look completely different even though they have the same brick. I urge you, if you're driving around looking at brick, too, to make sure you see the same house and same brick in sun as well as shade because one or the other just might change your mind. You have to live with your brick for a long time and be happy with it, be able to choose new paint colors (when the time comes) and landscape with it as a background.

I couldn't be more relieved and ready to move onto the next phase. Now, tomorrow, I can go to my Final Pick Day and select all of the things I've been visualizing all week. It will be nice to make it all official. That will be a huge relief! And, having this done, Thanksgiving will be much less stressful, much more peaceful.

 

Watch for pics coming tomorrow!