Pre-Construction Status

I have spent a lot of time over the last week physically preparing the "job site" (the rat-hole) for the construction crew that will be descending on Monday, July 11th. I have also been spending a lot of time before that figuring out drawings, permits, contractors, and financing options. It has been a LONG (two year) process.

We found a contractor would both fit our budget and timeline. We had even signed an apartment lease since he insisted that we move out while he did the work. He ended up dropping us as a project (which unfortunately cost us the money of the lease). We hadn't signed a contract so we had no recourse with the contractor. We wrote a sob letter to the landlord and they eventually refunded us one of the three months that we paid. Big lesson learned for us.

After that fiasco, we revisited the contractor selection process and selected one that has been honest with us from the beginning. He's also affordable and very willing to work with us regarding making the project happen is a way that is least impactful for our family. He also told us early on that even though we wanted to use a bank to finance the project that we would do better to leave the bank out of it.

It turns out that after looking at our budget and our project scope that bank financing wasn't realistic. My father offered to fund the project via a HELOC draw and that is how we are going to progress. We are also only doing the additions on the house and not the kitchen and bath remodel. We will still be installing new windows and siding. 

The additions with include a 3rd bedroom, an office, a guest bedroom, and a front covered porch. He's a link to the additions concepts. LINK Not much has changed.

The main thing that needed to be done was for the area around the house to be cleared of vegetation, debris, and our belonging. I moved the giant sword fern, a rose bush, and some irises. I also trimmed back the rhododendron. I intend on transplanting it as welt, but I haven't don't it yet.

The big fern will temporarily live near the sandbox.

Here are some photos of the house exterior. All vegetation has been removed. All of our stuff in the carport has been either taken to dump (finally) or organized and moved behind the shed or under tarps near the sandbox.

The yard waste bin and twenty-one yard waste bags have been filled. I hope the yard waste truck is willing to pick up all of it on Tuesday.

My spouse is really excited for the work to begin.  The kids are also super excited to see the construction equipment is action! I'm kind of apprehensive and have even been seeing a therapist about my feelings about the project (and my feelings about other things).

And for those who read this blog, there will likely be a lot more posting about the Rat Hole for the foreseeable future. ^_^