Part IX: Picking and Choosing (Dec. 2021)

Up next I got to choose colors, fixtures, surfaces, and all.

I asked everyone for their input beforehand, but no one else decided to tag along, so it was much quicker than it would have been if anyone else had been there to consider along with, I’m sure, but having looked at the colors with the kids beforehand made that easier, so I was in and out in less than ninety minutes.

Fixtures will be brushed nickel, doors will have lever handles,  and the bathrooms sinks will be similar to the kitchen counters, except in marble.

(The cabinets will be this style, but white)

Part VIII (November 2021)

After we closed on our lot we began the process to actually put something on it.

We had a builder all picked out, and while we waited for the deed to be registered in the book of deeds (a whole different, multi month story!), we got the ball rolling there.

This is a bunch of steps that all have to go in order, which gets a little hairy at times, but this is the fun part.  We modified the plan to have a larger garage, larger family room, and five bedrooms instead of four.

Once the builder and I went over the plans with a red pen, he sent it off to be redrawn, and I went off to start working on a building loan.

Then there is the recording of the deed— So the title company sends the deed to be recorded by the county.  Our county is backed up a bit, so we waited awhile, but it never went through.  We contacted the title company, we resubmitted it, but without that, we weren’t prepared to start putting money into the lot beyond the $500 redrawing fee.  The county encouraged me to call back regularly, which I did periodically.  Finally, I got an answer.  It would be rejected again—the form was missing our mailing address and the necessary signatures.

I spoke to the attorney at the title company, who was apologetic.  She didn’t know why it went through that way, but she would look into it.  I pointed out the copy she sent to me was missing my address, so she took down my address to add to the paperwork.  That evening, almost two months after our closing, our deed had been recorded!

Lately

Nate joined our church as a communing member.

We’ve had snow days

With sledding shenanigans.

We’ve played word games

For school.

Justin came to my rescue when I wasn’t able to break the lug nuts loose on my flat tire.

The older kids all had big plans,

So I took Ellie on a little date.

And Lucy is still concerned when any of her people aren’t in the room.

And Nate had a pyrogenic granuloma removed, for the second time—praying we won’t need the surgical approach and this will end that for him.

Part VII (October 2021)

We located another lot, this one with a cleared space, trees, pond and creek access.  It was the largest lot we had looked at.

Due to its larger size and the fact it came with a survey, we were able to skip the surveyor and soil scientist, and apply directly for the septic permit.  It still took over a month to get someone out there.  Thankfully this one passed!  We qualified for a septic system!  We closed on the property that week.  It was ours.

Part VI: Another Nope (July 2021)

The lot did perk, but due to the disjointed sites that had to be used for the two large drain fields, there wasn’t room to place a house and outbuilding with the septic system.

That lot was my favorite, but we absolutely need the outbuilding space.

Part V: Trying Again (June 2021)

The second lot is smaller, doesn’t have a stream but does look like it might perk.  And the sellers (who are also the next door neighbors) don’t seem to be so difficult.

The challenging part has been finding a soil scientist and a surveyor!  Both professions have had such an uptick in work that they can’t keep up.  There are only a few soil scientists certified to work in the area, and most were unwilling to travel to the place we had picked out.

Justin was finally able to meet one on the Saturday before Easter.  He gave us a nod to go ahead with the survey so we can be certain the house and septic system will fit on the lot.

Then I began calling surveyors, repeatedly.  Almost none answered or replied to voicemail.  Those I could reach would, again, not travel to our site.

I finally got one.  He told me he could be out there in two weeks—great!  I emailed him at two weeks, and got an out of office message.  Well, everyone has emergencies.  I check back the following week and hear, two weeks.  And that happened every time I checked.  In the mean time, our patient sellers have allowed us to continue the contract multiple times.  Our realtor finds a different surveyor (one who hadn’t returned my messages previously), but with the introduction did!  We fired Mr. Two Weeks.  Mr. New Surveyor has been on the lot several days, so we are waiting for his final survey and the opportunity to send the soil scientist out one more time to analyze the soil in the quadrants laid out by the surveyor.

We joked it would be faster to get Justin certified than wait, but unfortunately there is more to it than sitting a certification exam.