Lastest Picture

Still nothing to see, but that should change as early as next week!

Contract Signed

Today we signed the contract with our builder - Wayne, so we're official, I guess. I haven't heard from the bank, but we've got some equity out of our old/current house that we are using to pay draws so that we don't have to wait for the bank to finish their process in order to get started.

Still looking at the week of December 1, probably December 4 we will dig our hole. Boys can't wait for that backhoe, although I think I might be even more excited.

Is No News Good News?

Wayne was finally accepted by the city to apply for our building permit. He officially submitted on Tuesday, November 18. It took two hours and some computer finagling to do, but they got it done. He said we'd hear in the next few days if there were any problems. I haven't heard anything yet.

We meet with Wayne this afternoon to review the contract and go over a few things like where we are going to put the temporary electric fence for the horses while construction is going on. Also on our to do list is to meet with a few kitchen designers/cabinets to nail down the final design.

I hope this gets more fun.

Trying Again

Wayne got turned away from the city again to apply for the building permit. Seems that the person that handles those applications told him we had to submit the money for the escrow account prior to plan check, rather than at the time the building permit is issued.

It really doesn't matter to me since we'll have to do it either way, so I had to double check the amount with the city.

Wayne will try to submit today.

2230 Kechter Road!!!!

It is official - just got notification that the plat has been recorded -- welcome to phase II of our project, CONSTRUCTION! :-)

Still Not Sure if It's Official

Our builder can't apply for a building permit until the plat is recorded. I'm still not sure it's done yet. It was supposed to happen at 9AM this morning, but at 8:45, I got a message from Land Title that the county recorder needed to record the development agreement (DA) before the plat. Engineering has the DA, so it is at the city. I'm assuming they are scrambling to get it done, but that it will happen today.

On a bright note, we got the refi done and our attorney signed the plat. Now I guess the order needs to be DA, Plat, Deed.

I left a message for Wayne that it would be done today. I'm still wondering.

It's Not Over 'Til It's Over

Message from Land Title:

Just got off the phone with Karla- the plan is.......
Close at 1:00 tomorrow
Mason Mitchell at 2:30
Steve in Planning at 3:00
Steve will take plat to Karla's office (she's off tomorrow) I will meet Karla at clerk and recorder's office Monday morning at 9:00-she will bring plat and development agreement- I will bring deed of trust.
Jennifer- FYI- we still need an improvement location certificate- I've talked to Chad at JR he is going to do it and get it to me by closing
tomorrow- charge is $200 - I will collect it on the settlement statement at closing.
Let me know if either of you see any problem with this.

Plat Drawing

I have it. In my hands. Signed by everyone but our attorney, which will happen on Friday at 2:30PM. Then we go to the courthouse to record the document at 3:15 and everything will be official.

Is this really happening?

December 1

If everything goes as planned (which we know by now that hardly ever happens), but if we can keep on a roll with the building permit, the excavator will start digging a hole on December 1. They are first going to scrape off the top layer of really good pasture soil and set it aside for the base to our landscaping. Then they will stake the house and start digging.

I don't want to get ahead of myself though. Right now we are trying to ensure closing and recording of the plat drawing on Friday, November 14. Wayne also plans to submit for the building permit that same day.

Builder's Progress

Our builder had to add some additional items, like a drainage report, so he has not submitted the application to the city for our building permit. I know the engineer has completed the report, so not sure why Wayne hasn't submitted yet. Yesterday he mentioned that he would be going back in the next day or so.

Hopefully the city will be pretty quick in approving the application. Then it's just a matter of writing a big fat check and we'll be ready to roll. Oh yea, and getting the plat drawing recorded first.

Making Visible Progress

Today I got a note from the city that the utility plans have been signed by engineering. Finally!! I need to drop off our development agreement, pick up the plans and take them to our engineer. The engineer needs to sign and stamp them and then make 7 paper copies and 1 mylar copy for the city. They also are required by law to keep the original in their office. They have committed to turn them around in a few hours.

So today in between work meetings, I will drop off the DA and pick up the plans from the city and drop them off at the engineer. They will make copies and have them ready for me to pick up by later this afternoon. I will pick them up after the vet appointment I have for Taffy and Cookie and then if I have time, drop them off at the city again.

I'm not sure if they will also have the plat for me signed and ready to go, so I will wait to see what I get before I contact our lender to get the final refinance done and recording of the plat. That will then be the end. I see it in sight, though. Could be as early as Friday, but at latest early next week. Whew!

One Micro Step Forward

We received the Development Agreement for the city yesterday! Miles and I reviewed it and it's just a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo. We're not going to have our attorney review it because it would cost us a lot of extra money and time and probably would only be able to make a few minor changes. It looks pretty boiler plate anyway.

The only surprise to us was that now the city has decided that we will NOT be able to put the money for design and construction of the Kechter Rd. improvements into a letter of credit from our bank. We'll actually have to write them a check for the improvements and put into escrow. This is really frustrating because the improvements may not happen for a long time. Not sure if they need to get everyone aligned or if the city is going to have to come up with the rest of the funds, but we don't see these improvements happening for awhile. Now that we've paid, I'd like to see them done sooner, rather than later, but I can't get wrapped around the axle on this one. Just glad that we're moving forward.

Miles and I will sign and I will return to the city tomorrow, since today is veterans day, the city offices are closed. Not sure how long the rest will take, but I think we're close. Could be as early as Friday, or maybe early next week.

Hurray!

Frustrating v.2

I cannot find the words that express how frustrated I am with the lack of follow up and sense of urgency from the city. We are in the last stages of our project, but I can't get ANYONE to speed it up a bit. I need several signatures. That's it. It's not like they haven't seen these drawings before or know what's going on. We've been at this with them for 17 months!!!!!

I am still waiting for several signatures on our drawings. Then, the drawings have to go back to our Engineer for their signature and copies. Once the copies get back to the city, they can sign the plat and then I can coordinate with our attorney and the title company. After that, I also need to coordinate the city planner and the county clerk to meet us at the courthouse so we can get this recorded. It really isn't that hard!!

I don't fee like I have ANY recourse. At least at work I can escalate to a manager or someone if something isn't getting done, but in this case I'm even afraid to rock the boat too much for fear that they will just ignore me and not get it done at all!!!

I really can't believe that another week has gone by.

Can We Just Get This Over With?

Here's a copy of an e-mail I sent to the city today. This just sums up where we are, ugh!!

Hi Susan,

Thanks for speaking with me yesterday. I'm just following up on our conversation so that I can give an update to our attorney and the title company.

As I understand it:

• The utility and plat mylars were dropped off at the city on Thursday, October 23 (see attached).
• As of yesterday, November 3, none of the utility signatures have been completed. Seems to me like 7 business days should be enough time? What is the hold up?
• The DA was on Sheri's desk for final approval and then going to the city attorney yesterday afternoon.
• Sheri mentioned at the development workshop Steve hosted about the Kechter / Trilby area, that the DA should take about 3 weeks. I sent the DA information on Thursday, September 11. Seven weeks is 4 weeks longer than the average length. Do you know what the hold up was with this agreement? I assume we will get the final for our signature this afternoon, tomorrow at the latest?
• I will wait to hear from you that the utility drawings have gone to JR Engineering for final signature and copies before I get our attorney and title company scheduled again to complete the process and record the plat.
• Miles and I will ensure that the DA is signed and sent back to you within 1 business day of receiving it from you. I assume this only needs to be notarized and no other signature is required?

I think that's it. Please let me know either by phone (303) 588-6086, or by e-mail when the utility drawing signatures are completed. Again, I would be happy to pick them up and take them over to JR Engineering if you need me to.

Thanks,

Jennifer

Building Permit

Miles and I met with Wayne today. The new house cost is soaring due to the utility and extra work our builder is doing. It freaked me out, so I know it has Miles over the edge. We're hoping that our few investments that are supposed to start paying dividends will come in next year to help defray some of the building and development costs.

I am keeping a detailed budget of the costs that we will track through the process. The good news is that the property will be worth a lot once we are done with the project. We just hope our condo and our current house sells.

The other positive thing is that this house is going to be beautiful. I haven't had a chance to think about it too much because I've been so focused on the city process. Even though we're continuing to have slow issues with the city, we can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel.