I didn't realize until today, that there are not many people from Alaska contributing on this website ... maybe because most everyone has already built their homes and didn't know about the help one could get from this site ... oh well, their loss ... Jeffrey Roy in Tok, AK

Phil's Forum Posts: 5
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Slow-moving banks

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 9/9/2010

Well, we are still waiting for the bank. Finally got confirmation of the amount they are willing to lend; we just have to jump through a few more hoops yet. We are now waiting for the assessor to take a look at the lot and paperwork submitted and give the okay. Of course we can't do anything helpful like install well or septic until he/she has been over. We handed the paperwork in over a week ago and were told this would take 48 hrs!!  More frustration.

Is it just me, or do all banks want paperwork, deposits etc. today, but expect you to wait three weeks for any action? I know we can't complain too much, and we are at the mercy of the banks, but every week lost now is a week closer to winter and not having the house dried in...

On a positive note, I have done some comparison-shopping of local building suppliers and got a good response. A lot of what came back was expected, but with a few surprises thrown in; more later.

Here's a quick question, why do the manufacturers of HardiePlank charge nearly twice the price for pre-painting the planks as opposed to just buying them primed?

Banks and GC's

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 8/20/2010 6:12:55 PM

It's been a while since a post, but we have been busy... Still at the campsite and groundbreaking now looking like September. We are still hoping to have well, septic and temporary hook-up in place by the end of August. The electric company came to do the temporary hook-up, but now insist that some sign of building needs to be observed before this can go ahead. So after some grading work done, the septic in place and the footings done we can call again I guess...

We have had a terrible time with the banks, most of the big names anyway. Even the small local-area banks require a GC on board before they will entertain any notion of lending. This all because of the credit crash, which was the bank's fault, but of course they aren't accepting any blame!

The good news is we have found a bank that will lend a certain amount and we can be our own GC's too. That is going to give us a huge chunk of cash to play with. It will probably lead to a few headaches too, but that's the nature of the job we are doing.

Just one final note on GC's. Everything you read on this site or in the book is true. I now know from personal experience. We are building a 2,400-sq-ft house with modest deck and two-car garage. I've guesstimated materials based on going to HD and buying the stuff myself, not perfect I know, but a start. Basically we are looking at under $200,000. Got two turnkey quotes from two GC's last week, one for $400,000 the other $500,000... Yeah, right!!!

Slow movement

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 6/11/2010 10:36:59 AM

It's been a few weeks now, and things are creeping along. Kind of glad really, just not prepared to start building yet, to be honest. So much to do and learn. The good news is that the well-and-septic permit was approved and has arrived. The second meeting with the architect went well and he is all but ready to do the first-draft drawings. Again we made a few minor changes; the structure and size of the house hasn't changed, just interior door positions, guest bathroom layout, etc.

I'm busy doing an overall cost estimate now, not down to screws and nails yet, but the larger stuff like foundations, lumber, insulation, roofing, drywall, and flooring.

Groundbreaking is now looking like August. I have moved closer to the plot now and am living in a camper... on a campsite for a few months, then will move the camper to the plot after the well and septic have been installed and the grading done.

Results of first meeting

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 5/15/2010

Had a good visit with the architect yesterday. Was there for three hours in all. Went through the first-draft drawings room by room making any changes necessary. We had seen these plans earlier in the week as copies had been sent via email. As we already have a firm idea of what we want and plans submitted that we like, the architect is just doing the permit submittal drawings and making experienced suggestions. The changes were subtle (window placement etc).

First meeting

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 5/9/2010

Still waiting on the well-and-septic permit, coming up to five weeks now. Of course the check was cashed weeks ago!

Walking forward

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 4/25/2010

Just learned that the well-and-septic check has been cashed by the planning people, so hopefully that will be here soon. Not had any correspondence (questions) from them so far, so presume all is okay. I know you shouldn't presume, but sometimes you have to, to keep the faith...

A few decisions made.

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 3/7/2010

Well, we are back from our little trip to the mountains and we have made a few decisions. Think we have found an architect to work with. He will give us the drawings we need to pass code and permit and at a reasonable cost. We got a few ideas from the various people we met over the weekend and these are also being incorporated into the house plan.

First steps

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 2/23/2010

We are up at the plot this weekend making contacts. Looking at well and septic siting plus interviews with some architects. Hard to believe it's nearly March already. We have been on this project since about last June, when we first started looking at land. I have been reading all I can and drawing since about September. The 1,000-hour guideline isn't so far out here; I probably average about 20 hrs a week so far with that figure steadily increasing as we finalize ideas and plans.

New beginnings

Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC on 2/5/2010

Hello everyone.

Posted by Valencia in Fayetteville, AL on 1/5/2012 Valencia's Forum Posts: 0 Randomly Selected Image 1/5/2012

What bank are you going with? I'm in NC and currently looking for a bank that will do an owner-builder construction loan.