Day 10 - more rocks and a hole

Not a whole lot happening today...just a whole lotta rocks:

That a lot of rocks!

Between our basement and where the garage will be I noticed this little hole, and wasn't sure if this is normal?  There were a couple others between the garage and front of the house, and the front of the house and porch.  Anyone know anything about this?

What's this about?

 

 

Update on the siding issue: that was interesting today.  Lots of back and forth...we can have that siding, we can't have that siding - its only for shake shingle, we can have that siding.  A lot of confusion.  In the end - our choice of Granite color was fine and we are moving forward with that.  Thank goodness!

 

Our next door neighbors hole got dug today!  Yay!  They have a Palermo, and from the whole I noticed they do not have a morning room.  I am wondering if they will actually be done before us?

Day 9 = Progress & something strange??

Day 8 brought nothing but nothing but rain, and no progress.  But today (day 9) brought waterproofing and backfill (?)

Garage up front and home office to the back

Sorry this is sideways - having issues rotating :(



Sideways waterproofing

Sideways - don't judge

More sideways walls and waterproofing - is the waterproofing supposed to cover ALL of the cement basement walls? 

 

Are these stones that they threw in there called backfill?  They put some stones on the side of the house also that I am guess is backfill?

 

 

Small basement window and more waterproofing

 

 

Egress window and waterproofing

So now for the something strange...hubby gets a text today from PM that reads:

"At our meeting we confirmed the siding as Granite per my paperwork.  Do you know if it was Graphite or Georgian?"

Hmmm...hubby and I were both at the office today, so no RH paperwork around.  I emailed SR to see if she could check her paper work...the names are so close, you know?  Well this is what I receive back from SR:

"PM is asking because there isn't a granite color which is listed on your paperwork (could be a spelling error) it should be Graphite but he just wanted to check with you.  I am out of the office today so cannot access my files."

Well this didn't sit well with me, because I know FOR SURE there was a siding color called Granite and one called Graphite.  Let me tell you how I know this...

When we signed out first contract (for the offsite build) there was only one color of gray to choose from - Graphite (lighter gray).  We wanted a slightly darker one...but that was the only option, so we went with it.  Well when we went in to sign our new contract in the RH community, SR advised that the lot next to us (who were coming in the following day to sign their contract) really wanted Graphite - BUT she got 2 new gray colors in - Granite (medium gray) and Twilight (darker gray).  We happily gave up the Graphite and went with the Granite.  I know FOR SURE we selected the middle gray...but today when I had nothing around me to validate the name of it...I got a little unsure.  So I stopped by the model today, and don't you know:

 

 

After I saw this and took a picture, I emailed both SR and PM to make sure that they both knew the color GRANITE does exist and that is the color we chose for our siding.  I would think that the SR would remember the color names, even if she was out of the office?  Not necessarily what I chose for my house, but at least that a Granite color existed...What also was strange was that now Graphite is listed as "accent only"...so wondering if neighbors had to change their color, or if they were still able to get Graphite for their whole house?

Day 7 = Nada :(

Well today it was raining cats and dogs all day, therefore no progress on the house.  Oh well...hopefully the weather man brings some sunshine tomorrow!

Saying Thanks...

Happy Memorial Day.  I am incredibly thankful for all of the men and women who have served, and are currently serving our country. 

Day 4, 5, & 6 brought a long holiday weekend with no work on the home front.  I kind of figured that would be the case.  We will see what day 7 brings!

Day 3 - Basement walls poured

When I woke up this morning it was cold and raining, so I wasn't sure how much (if anything) was going to get done today.  PM told me yesterday that they would have the walls poured mid-day...and they did!  Stopped by after work to all of the forms up and the walls poured.  I am really surprised and happy about how fast things have come in only 3 days!  I am sure along the way there will be some days of little or no progress...but I feel so much has been done in three days!  I don't know that happens next!  I am going to do some blog searching for the building road map :)

This is the side of the house looking at the family room (right about where the fireplace will be).



 



This is the back of the house...morning room.

 



 

 

Back corner of the house.  Family room up front, and morning room off to the right.

 



Hubby and I were a little concerned for a minute since this "room" had closed concrete walls on all four sides...then we realized it is the base for the front porch!

 



 

 

 

This is the garage up in front, and the home office in the back.
 

At what point do they put the basement windows in?  I thought they would put them in before they poured (or concurrently to pouring) the basement walls.  Do they cut the window area out of the walls?

It's a long weekend so I am not sure if we will see anything for the next several days.  A few other bloggers mentioned there is work on Saturday...but since the walls have to cure and its a holiday weekend, my guess would be I have to wait until Tuesday to see anything new.  But you better believe I will be driving by everyday this weekend!  My daughter really wants to play in the dirt pile...so I might have to let her ;)

Day 2 - Footers!

After leaving the lot yesterday...it started sinking in that this is REALLY happening.  We are REALLY building our dream home.  I feel incredibly blessed...and also unprepared...As long as it seems we have been waiting, and will continue to wait another 2 1/2 - 3 months...I feel like I have SO much to do.  Packing, shopping, mentally preparing..whew...it can feel a bit overwhelming.

Anyways - Day 2!  So this shows how much I truly don't know about the building process :)  I thought at our pre-construction meeting, our PM said they would be pouring the foundation on Friday...well I must have heard wrong.  I guess there is a lot more work to do until the foundation is poured?  They will be pouring the walls mid-day on Friday. 

Do they work on the weekends?  I would think not...maybe only if they are really behind...anyone know?

Pre-Construction Meeting - and also Day 1?

Today we had our pre-construction meeting, and I am happy (?) to say it was rather uneventful.  All of our options were correct, PM seems nice.  He is young and appears rather flexible.  A couple things we asked about, he was very willing to look into.  It took about 1 hour.  We were not given a detailed construction plan as I have seen some other bloggers receive, but I think we will be in touch pretty regularly.  He told me to call his cell or text him, as that is the best way to reach him.  He said we can stop by anytime we want.  So first impressions were good...I think we are gonna work well together.  And that is pretty much all I have to say about that!  :)

Of course we swung by the lot...and now we have a hole!  We have been excavated, he said they will probably do the footers tomorrow, and pour the foundation on Friday!  He said when he put the build schedule in for his timeline he got an end date of August 13...so here's hoping for good weather, and minimal delays!  The goal is to be in by end of August at the latest!

Would digging the hole be considered "Day 1" of construction??

It's starting!

Pre-construction is tomorrow...but of course since we live so close, we do drive-by's everyday :)

Today a nice surprise...the middle and back of our lot were bulldozed and our egress window was sittin there hangin out...this is so exciting!

 

The front of the lot still needs to be bulldozed and leveled, but you can see a whole bunch of dirt in the back.

 

Egress!

Great email!

On Wednesday we received the email we were waiting for...PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING!!!  Originally we were set to start June 3rd, but SR emailed and said we are now tentatively set to start the week of May 20th!  YAY!  Pre-construction meeting is set up for Wednesday May 22, so I will be stalking the blogs this weekend for all the questions, tips, and must do's for the meeting!  Can't wait!!

Is there a magic number?

So I have been looking at, and thinking about purchasing furniture lately.  We need a lot.  Looking to purchase:

• Kitchen table & chairs - seating for at least 6
• All new family room set (couch, love seat, 2 end tables, coffee table)
• Living room furniture (couch, accent chair, a couple tables)
• 2 new bedroom sets for kids
• At least 4 area rugs
• office desk & chair

That is what I can think of off the top of my head.  Anyways - the point of this post is...is there a magic number or ratio that the mortgage company (NVR) wants to see in your bank as cash on hand?  I have the remainder of our down payment and closing costs budgeted separately from these purchases.  We will be paying cash for all of this furniture and have budgeted accordingly, however, we will seriously be depleting our accounts of liquid cash on hand.  So at closing, is the mortgage company looking for a certain number or ratio of cash on hand? For example 5x or 10x the monthly mortgage payment, or your monthly income?  I know I can reach out to our loan officer, just thought I would reach out to the blogging family first :)

I have read other "advise" columns that have said DON'T BUY ANYTHING BEFORE CLOSING...but most of that mentioned new cars, new loans, credit cards, etc., but we will not be putting this stuff on credit.  The furniture store said it could take 3-5 weeks for the stuff to come in once ordered...so I have to wait 6 months for my house to be built...then another 5 weeks before I have any furniture...not a fan of that!

Let me know if you know of, or have heard of this magic number!! :)

It's the little things...

 

YES!  Some action at our lot...well kind of...drove by stalking today (of course) and I saw four of these little sticks with red flags!  Looks like it was in the four corners of our lot.  I know not really a big deal, but they are new, and it's exiting to see that someone has been on our lot :)