Here is a journey through our building process from start to finish…

May, 2007

  • We purchased and moved into our first home.  BeachBoy began telling me that we should have built our own.  I dug in my heels and insisted new homes lacked character.

Janauary, 2009

  • After looking at all of the new construction in the area, we decided we’d rather build a custom home and make it our own. (Translation: I gave in when I realized nothing else was going to make my BeachBoy happy.)
  • We began dreaming and sifting through thousands of plans.

February

  • We held a preliminary meeting with Builder 1 (Scott and Lisa) to dicsuss the process and the possibilities of our budget.
  • We went through the pre-approval process for loans and began talking to lenders.
  • We located all the lots available and narrowed down our list of desired subdivisions to four. 
  • We contacted 4 builders for lot quotes and building information.
  • We located our preferred lot and made an offer.  We went through the negotiation process.
  • We were informed that the lot was incorrectly numbered and we weren’t purchasing the lot we thought we were. 
  • Everything went on hold while the lot issue was straightened out.
  • We met with Builder 2 (Henry) about plans, lots, and budget.
  • 28th- I realized I needed to get busy getting organized.  I purchased a master notebook for all of our meetings and builder coorespondance, as well as expanding file totes for all paperwork and inspiration photos, which we can keep in the car and take to and from the building site.  I set up a filing system and printed out the many photos I had stored on the computer for filing, as well.

March

  • 2nd- We met with Builder 1 (Scott and Lisa) for a follow-up meeting to discuss lots they had located and floorplan ideas.
  • 4th- We made the decision to build on a slab or crawl rather than a basement. (tough choice for me…easy choice for Beachboy, who prefers slab)
  • 6th- We narrowed down our plan and began making more concrete changes to make it what we wanted.
  • 12th- We met with a local lender about construction loans (on the building location).
  • 13-th- We met with Builder 3 (David) about our plan and what he could offer.
  • 20th- We got the bank paperwork in the mail and  noticed a glaring error on our credit report caused by our bank’s recent merger.  While it’s not going to keep us from getting the loan stuff settled, we’re halting everything until it can be corrected.  One “to do” at a time is more than enough.
  • 22nd- We finally got the estimate from builder 4 (Chad), and it was within range.  However, he priced it on his lot and not his, so we have to have corrections made.  Why can’t people follow directions?
  • 25th- We had the credit report corrected.  
  • 28th- We got the estimate from builder 3 (David).  We now have to decide between slab and a finished basement since both are in the budget.  
  • 29th- We completed and returned the bank paperwork for bank 1 (Linda).  

April/May

  • In the end-of-the-year rush (I teach), we worked on our current home and gathered the last of the paperwork for bank 1.
  • After our renter backed out, we decided to put the loan application on hold so we could make some decisions about whether we wanted to rent or sell.

June

  • I scoured the MLS regularly, watching for lots and tracking home prices.

July

  • 25th- After spending June working around our current home, we stopped by the lot to have another look. We sent Builder 3 (David) a second plan to review. 

August 2009-August 2010

  • We continued to look for a suitable lot while finishing up renovations on our home to prepare to sell.  BeachBoy’s office changes locations, making a new search area a necessity. 
  • We look at plan, after plan, after plan, after plan.
  • Touring other homes in the area helps us to decide what we do and don’t want.  My idea file grows.  (Currently 2 expandable file totes, my now-full notebook, and a basket of sketches.)