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...

Permits, inspections and fees (oh, my!)

To get our financing started and contracts complete with HiLine, we needed some information about putting in a new septic (or hooking in to our existing septic). I called the county and DEQ. DEQ said they can tell me nothing without a site visit and evaluation. We must prepare a detailed site map with existing septic, beginning, end, drain field, water source, proposed new home, new septic and drain field. Tank and lines must be uncovered for inspection. All ready by next Thursday or Friday. (The inspector comes every other Thursday and Friday.) In addition, she said we need a zoning authorization letter from the county. I have an application to get started on.

Fees to DEQ and the county are $725 and $125, respectively. (So, it begins!)

Feeling a bit overwhelmed...

I would much rather pick out flooring...