Permits and .... PROGRESS!

I had good intentions to "blog"  more frequently about our project, but I have been very busy and there was a good amount of time with not much to write about.  All that has changed....

After a few frustrating weeks we got the permits, broke ground and the foundation is nearly complete!  

To summarize, here's the progress since the last post:

1. Get the survey done
2. Get Buddy and all his pieces completely off the lot
3. "Stake out" the build
4. Secure a "zoning permit" from the township
5. Take zoning permit, well/septic permit and blueprints to the county inspector to apply for a building permit
6. Cut down any trees and prepare the lot
7. Once the permit is in hand, give the green light to the foundation contractor and the excavator, and the building begins.

Here are a few pictures to chronicle the progress to date:

 Buddy is gone and the three cottonwood trees await their fate. 

 The trees come down

Husband hard at work

Break time... and a big catch!

Son, hard at work

Excavation

Pouring the footings

Foundation walls take shape

What we learned: 

• Surveys can take a long time. 
• In our original project plan the survey was an after thought somewhere between the health department inspection and the zoning inspection.  We thought "how hard could it be to find 4 corners of a lot 50 feet wide?" Turns out it can be hard. The first 2 calls from the surveyor were updates describing how "jacked up" the lot lines are around us (his words).  The third call informed me that they think the lot line runs through the neighbor's cabin (brown one, above). Lucky for us we were able to talk to the neighbors and all agree where the lines at least have been for the past 50 years, and that's where the steaks went up.
• Getting multiple quotes is worth it 
• The difference in survey quotes:  $2,400
• The difference in foundation quotes:  $2,200
• The difference in excavation quotes: $900 

• People are amazing 
• The craigslist couple we contacted to remove old Buddy the single-wide trailer did a fantastic job.  Mike and Jessica worked in freezing conditions and shin-deep water, cutting and removing the metal frame, hauling away the rubbish.  Our agreement was we would pay them $200 plus whatever they could get for the scrap metal.  Toward the end of the project we visited the lake to find most of the metal pretty much gone but a large pile of rubbish remaining. We had  given them their full fee early after they said they needed it to pay for the gas it would take to get the material to the landfill.  My husband and I were sure they wouldn't be back to take the last of the pile, and we weren't upset about it.  Jessie and Mike had worked really hard in terrible conditions and did a job well worth the fee we had given them.  We were literally making plans to order a dumpster when they showed up...to finish the job, even though there was nothing more for them to gain.  I am grateful to them for proving that there are honest, hard working people in the world.

Clearly, the project is gaining momentum.  The foundation is nearly finished and we are days away from taking over from the contractor and doing the actual build.

With the building materials purchased and contractors' fees to pay, we are past the point of no return.  The cabin we've been dreaming about for 6 years is actually going to happen.  But better than that, we are doing it ourselves, with friends and parents and grandparents and cousins all pitching in. in a sort-of 21st century "barn raising", with all the camaraderie, love, satisfaction and pride built into each wall.  

I am already bursting with gratefulness.

Thanks for reading.
Sarah