So, where were we...?

We received our plans from HiLine about the 20th. I took them to Dept. Of State Building codes ready to apply for our permits! Uh...not so fast...We needed an approval from DEQ to apply for state building permits. We had a site evaluation scheduled for March 27th. And so we waited...some more. We had been assured by several HiLine sources that we did not need DEQ approval to proceed with building codes. Live and learn-a lot!

Fast forward to Monday, March 31st, we got the go ahead from DEQ. I drove back to the Department of State Build Codes and handed the plans, approvals, and money (it will be approx. $1500 total) to finally apply for our building permits. Megan at DSBC was cheerful, and knowledgable. Thanks to her, that part was nearly painless!

It was nice to feel like things were finally clicking along! And then a phone call from Geri (a perfectly lovely, helpful woman) at DEQ...our new septic system would have to be pressurized (+$3000) and we would have to get a service agreement with a maintenance company (+$334/yr).

I had a very informative conversation about septic systems and more with Joel at Econo Rooter in Coquille. Very nice guy!

With all our bumps and detours, we have met some great people who do their jobs well. So, there's that!

Megan with DSBC says we could have our permits as early as next week.

And so our journey continues!

Curve ball...

Ok...so we have done everything that we can do to prepare for the new build. DEQ will be here next week, Tim has dug test holes for the septic system. We have the letter of authorization from the county. Waiting on HiLine to get us the plans, so we can go to the state building codes.

We received a letter in the mail from HiLine today, informing us that our price guaranty will expire after June 7th. HUH?! The only party slowing us down has been HiLine, themselves. We were told we would have our plans within about 2 weeks.  It has been approximately 6 weeks-no plans. The state building codes process is supposed to take about 4 weeks.

More waiting...only more anxiously, now! 

At the speed of cold molasses...we are off!

Now that the flurry of signing is over, we seem to be at a near standstill.  We are waiting on all the aforementioned approvals and on Hi Line to complete our engineered plans with our modifications.  After a trip to the county planning department (and a visit with an amazingly patient employee, Chris), I do feel like we are making progress, if agonizingly slow progress.

In the meantime, I am doing some research for future (hopefully NEAR future) decisions we will be making.  Flooring is the big one.  Hi Line allows us to 'shop' at their chosen flooring contractor.  We get credit for a portion of the standard flooring if we choose to upgrade.  The allowance is small, of course, and the upgrades are pricy, of course.  So first we need to decided what our IDEAL flooring is and then price our the difference.  I am not opposed to a laminate, but feel pushed to a hardwood or engineered hardwood, if we are going to upgrade.  I have difficulty envisioning the space with cabinets, counters, etc. so that I can 'see' what will work.  

I like Acacia:

http://www.lowes.com/Search=acacia?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=acacia#!

Apple:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_370763-35938-RM000965_0__?productId=4736799&Ntt=apple+flooring&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dapple%2Bflooring&facetInfo=

Interesting floors with lots of variation in color.

And so we wait...some more...


 

Here goes nothing!

Well, we did it!  We are officially under contract with Hi Line to build!  Now what?  We had to make several decisions before/during the contract negotiations, but there will still be more to come. 

For now?  We wait and push papers and pay fees to get all our ducks in a row, so that we can start construction.  After speaking with the county today, I am thoroughly confused and can hardly see our beautiful new house through the weeds!

We need approvals from the Road Master, the Coquille Tribe, the Planning Department and DEQ BEFORE we can ask for final approval and permits from the Planning Department.  Construction is NOT for the faint of heart!

Wish me luck...