It's been a while since I've written an update on our house. In part because the bureaucratic hurdles are simply so frustrating I did not want to deal with it in an post. It's starting to become very annoying of people keep asking WHEN we will start building now if the answer is: We don't friggin know!
Yes, that's the current state. Starting out last fall, we've hoped to start in April, over the winter we pushed that date back to May or June.. Now, we might have to wait until October or even later. Why? Well, the town was supposed to set up all the hook-ups (water, electricity, sewer) during spring. This has now postponed to "in the course of the year, to be completed in the 4th quarter". Since the lot is therefore "not fit for building", our building application has been forwarded to the district office for further evaluation. We should hear back from them sometime in May, if we are lucky.
Since we have met with the engineer yesterday, who is going to oversee the entire project, we have gotten some more information on the legal side of the matter. Well, it was obvious that we cannot start building without the permit, which I hope we'll get from sometime in May. Then, the big matter will be the sewer issue. The house cannot be properly built without rain drainage, so we would need a permit from the town to be able to direct rain water into the public sewer for the time of the building. If we started with the building in early to mid-summer, we should be finished by the end of the year, which will also coincide with the time when the hook-ups will all be installed. So, worst-case scenario, if Murphy's Law goes all out on us, we'll be moving around this time next year instead as we had hoped in November or December of this year.
On th eup-side: during our meeting with the engineer yesterday, we've got to pick out some details for our house. Our staircase will be all wood (beech), the inside doors a light oak color. The door handles are satined steel, the window sills grey marble. We'll have the house painted a light blue color, which I personally am very excited about! According to the engineer, we're very easy customers, since we were able to agree on one options very quickly.
So, please keep your fingers crossed for us! Still hoping to get things figured out and be able to start building over the summer.
Bummer that things have been delayed but all the details of your home sound amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! It's annoying and obnoxious, but not the end of the world (I'm proud of myself for saying that instead of freaking out!!). Luckily, the person who sold us the lot has some ways to put pressure on the town council, so we might get the hook-ups and permit earlier; it's going to be a year full of surprises :-)
DeleteHi there! I have ventured over from Linkin’ With My Ladies. I am co-hosting this month and I just wanted to thank you for participating! Love your blog! XOXO, Mandi @ All My Happy Endings
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Mandi! I appreciate your hosting!
DeleteStephanie - how frustrating. We've been wanting a new kitchen since we moved in and we are finally doing it....so far we are moving along. My contractor just submitted things to the town....fingers are crossed.
ReplyDeletedefinitely let us know how it goes..... :)
It is, but nothing we can change right now. Worst case scenario the move is going to be postponed for about 6 months. I hope that it works out to build over the summer, we'll see. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well with the kitchen. Why do you need a permit from the town to build in a new kitchen??
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