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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!!!
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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.
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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).
We plan to meet again in a couple of weeks to hopefully close out on these. Again, I'm sure there will be some minor changes, nothing drastic... I can get on now and plan the radiant-heating runs.
Oh, Joy...
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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!
We've had the first draft of drawings come though via email. A few ideas on them that we didn't envisage or want, but that's the nature of the process, I suppose. We have our first meeting with the architect this week to iron out those ideas further. The changes aren't a huge amount away from our original drawings, but they do need addressing. Our architect is very accommodating and willing to listen and advise, which is basically what you want...
Probably looking at a July groundbreaking now.
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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...
Our drawings are in the hands of the architect, again no major headaches on the horizon. House is going to be 2,300 sq ft.
We bought a camper/trailer this weekend. This will be home on the site during the build. Nothing fancy, has all the basics. Fridge for cold beer and microwave for popcorn...
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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.
Well and septic people look to be all but decided, too. The well-and-septic permit application should be in the mail this week. Again, some steady forward progress has been made.
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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.
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Posted to Mountain-Idyl by Phil in Asheville, NC
on 2/5/2010
Hello everyone.
Just an intro for now. We have bought the land, just over an acre close to Asheville. The plot slopes a little, all one way fortunately, and the views are fabulous (why we bought the place really). Have got a house plan drawn up (ourselves) and looking this month at local architects/designers to iron it out and sign it off as sound. The place will be about 2,000 sq. ft with two-car garage and a deck on two sides to take advantage of the views.
P.S. Hope to build in the summer!!!
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