A Little Progress

The weekend brings a little more progress. The forms have been removed and viola....I have a basement.  I inquired about getting brick to grade, but they don't do that in my neighborhood. I really like that look. Instead, I have brick-looking cement. I guess I'll take it. ;)

I know everyone has said this....I've read it on quite a few blogs - but I tell ya - the house looks small. SUPER small! Not worried though. I'm sure it will be all good in the end.  Some pics from today below.

A Pleasant Surprise

In my last post, I said I wasn't going back to the lot until the weekend....I looked at the weather forecast, and it was quite bleak for the rest of the week. A forecast of rain, rain and MORE rain. So I figured I would save myself the disappointment of making the trip, only to see a big muddy pit.

But today, I had this feeling. Something just told me that I should swing by, just to make sure I wasn't missing any action. Especially since we have had some rain, but the days have not been complete wash outs. So I pulled up to my lot and was pleasantly surprised to see...........

(and thank you blog fam, for telling me to throw that extra pair of 'lot' shoes in the car....they came in handy today!)

And another bonus....I met more neighbors. I think it's pretty cool that the homes around me (except one) are all occupied by folks who are already moved in. My neighbors next door in the Ravenna went to closing on the same day I signed my purchase agreement in February, and I met another wonderful family that settled in December.

Only you guys can understand how majorly excited I really am!!! It started raining on my visit, so I didn't get as many snaps as I would have liked. But there's always the weekend. :-)

I Can Dig It

As so frequently happens, work was hindering me from doing what I actually wanted to do - be at my lot watching some action go down. So of course, as soon as I did my time, I made a beeline over to the lot to see if anything actually occurred. As I approached the lot, I saw the bobcat, and thought "this is a good sign"! Sure enough, I've got a hole!! Whoooo Hooooo! Who would of thought I could be so excited about a bobcat moving some dirt around? LoL.

And on an even nicer note, I met my next door neighbor - he was out doing some weed-whacking. Seems to be a very nice guy!I warned him of my stalker-like tendencies, and he just laughed. I do hope he realizes I was serious. ;)

Looks like it will be rainy the rest of the week, so I'm assuming this little bit of progress will be coming to a halt. Maybe I'll visit again sometime this weekend and see if anything has changed.

Stoked and Staked (Pre Con Meeting)

This afternoon I had my pre-construction meeting with my SR and PM. I really like my PM - he was friendly, personable and knowledgeable. He's been building homes for Ryan for more than 30 years, and lives in a Ryan home that was built 17 years ago. He also gave my his business card, complete with his cell number, and told me to call him anytime I had any questions or issues - even if it was on a weekend. I can appreciate that. I provided him with my cell number and email, and he told me he would email me pics from time to time as well. I'd say we're off to a GREAT start!

The PM pulled out the big architectural blueprints, and we went over the entire house - outside and in - floor by floor, room by room. Like most of you, I've looked at my paperwork so much that I've memorized every option I've selected, so it was easy to confirm that everything was correct. I had 3 change orders, and all my changes were correctly included.

I found only a couple of things interesting while going over the home. First, the sump pump....the one I thought I wouldn't have. LoL. I just *assumed* being in a walkout, for some reason I wouldn't need one. It's certainly not a big deal, but now I guess I have to think about a battery back up. My PM said that Ryan puts in a battery backup if your basement is underground, but not for a walk out. (He said he'll see what he can do on getting me one).  And second....the attic/attic storage. There is attic "access" in bedroom #3, but not with any stairs, because technically, per the PM, this isn't a viable area to use as storage. So question...for those of you who know more than I....do I have to have the attic access? Can't we just close up ceiling and keep it moving? Along these same lines, my PM mentioned that there would be an area in the garage that could be used as attic storage. Any SAVOY owners reading this....do you know about this garage/attic access?

Lastly, my PM says they plan to dig on MONDAY, May 6 (weather permitting)!!  I was sooooo totally shocked! I figured it would be another couple of weeks before the big dig. We went to walk the lot, and I found out that the lot has been staked. I was expecting a not-too-large yard, and I'm fairly satisfied with what I've got - 26ft between my side neighbor, 26ft from my back neighbor, and 37ft of side yard (I'm on the corner). Sound like a big 2-story deck is in my future.

Tentative date for my final walk-through has been set for August 12th. Woot, Woot!!

Today's News is....

AWESOME!!

My SR called this afternoon, and my pre con meeting is scheduled for Friday - this Friday!! I'm beyond stoked. I've been in waiting purgatory so long, waiting until Friday should be a breeze. A big THANK YOU to all the e-family for making sure I feel prepared for this meeting. Such a great wealth of information, and I'm appreciative. So glad to see some action. Hold fast, all my 'waiters'....your turn is a'coming!!

I've got nothing

Haven't posted in a while, well, because my title says it all. I've got nothing. I mean, it's all expected, as there really shouldn't be anything going on for me right now, but.....doesn't necessarily mean I like it. Lol.

When I picked my mini up from school today, she asked, "Have they started anything on the house?" I figured I could show her better than I could tell her. And it gave us a good reason to go stalk. Plus it's a pretty nice day in the DMV. This all equaled up to a trip to the big ole pile of dirt. :-)

I hadn't really taken any pictures of the entire empty lot - only the picture of the "Sold" sign. So I did do that today. Won't post them all...just one. Originally I'd requested a small lot - I'm not big on maintaining a lot of yard. But as we hung out at the lot today, I'm starting to think it's not as small as I thought. The picture is taken from the corner of my lot and baby girl is standing in the driveway and the grey SUV in the distance is at the end of the lot. The house next to my lot will be behind me. (And they have Autumn Beige siding, and it's quite pink - for all those keeping score).

I truly enjoy reading everyone's blogs...so Happy Building to all those building, Congrats to all the new home owners, and for all the 'waiters'....I feel your pain.

And We're.......Waiting!

Why oh why is waiting so hard to do? A wise person once told me "you learn to be patient by being patient".

Ugghhhh! I should get an A+++ in patience after this home building journey.

Who out there is like me...just a BIG stalker....
stalking a big pile of dirt (that isn't changing)
stalking county permit sites
stalking the SR for a pre-con meeting date
stalking the PM like 'dig, man, DIIIIIGGGGGG'
stalking the calendar, wondering why days are moving slowly
stalking RH blogs, and wishing for your time to start

stalking....Stalking....STALKING!!!  my new way of life

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Yes, I know in the end it will all be worth it. (Can't wait! Lol!)

Now returning to my regularly scheduled lesson in patience.