Building a House?

[DarMI]

It has been a while since we "built" our home, 1986. We too are in a subdivision and had to go with the builder/developer. My advice is to show up frequently. My daughter started school before we were actually moved in, so I would drop her off at the bus stop every morning. Ended up having the best drywall job on the block. It always takes longer than expected. I love my walkout basement!

[TAPPY]

Love the kitchen....plus you all do a lot of big family dinners - so that Island would be perfect for all the prep and serving work.

[Rissask]

Mike....good points....a litte sobering!!

But would those points apply more to someone doing a major reno, or building new but not going through a builder? how I understand it is we would ONLY be dealing with the woman we met the other day, she is the liason and we would not be dealing with the contractors, etc.-she would do all that, she told us.

I know the banking stuff can be a PITA, and we're prepared for that...she walked us through briefly what percentages were due at what stage, etc. We will shortly be meeting with our bank, should not be any major problems, more little annoyances. The biggest stress will be around selling our existing home I think....and having to move twice will suck...but the logistics would be the same if we were building or buying exisiting, really.

We figured that doing a reno of this house would be more irritating and stressful than building.

Originally Posted by Mercy

OMGosh!!! I can't believe the picture you posted!!!

Long story short... We were supposed to buy my MIL's house, put an addition on which would encompass a new kitchen and family room combo. Well the plans fell through, mainly due to time constraints with his mom needing funds for her assisted living, and other factors. Anyway, the picture of your dream kitchen is almost an exact replica of "my dream kitchen", the one I was going to put in my MIL's house! White shaker cabs on the perimeter, espresso island with sink, range with the same time of range hood! I worked on the plans for months.... needless to say when we finally decided not to buy I really had to detach myself emotionally from her house and the plans I had work on So you're killing me here!!

that is funny- I have always loved the look of a white kitchen with dark brown island and that tone of hardwood.

That photo is from the website of the actual company that will be doing our kitchen, too, Superior Cabinets....and Don's good friend is high up there and says he will get us an even better deal on our kitchen so I might be able to really go nuts (the couple who came with us to Isla Mujeres last summer, actually!).

Originally Posted by DarMI

It has been a while since we "built" our home, 1986. We too are in a subdivision and had to go with the builder/developer. My advice is to show up frequently. My daughter started school before we were actually moved in, so I would drop her off at the bus stop every morning. Ended up having the best drywall job on the block. It always takes longer than expected. I love my walkout basement!

I have heard it always takes longer. good to hear about the walkout!

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Love the kitchen....plus you all do a lot of big family dinners - so that Island would be perfect for all the prep and serving work.

I love big islands! we don't have one now at all....can't wait to have a nice big one. I like them plain too, just an expanse of granite, no sink or breakfast bar.

[lindalou61]

We did finish the basement when we built the house but we needed the space at the time. I love all the light that comes in down there. It doesn't look like a basement at all. There is not one thing I would change about it. We do have a deck coming out of the kitchen on the upper floor but it doesn't block much light at all down below. We did have a taller ceiling put in down there which helps with the "feeling like a basement" thing. Whats great is when our kids now come to visit, or other company from out of town, they have their own space to get away if they get tired of us! We also have a big island in the kitchen. Once you have one you will wonder what you did without one! And yes, it always takes longer to build than planned. We were supposed to be in our house before Christmas the year we built, and we finally moved in April 11th, 4 months late.

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by PlayaGroom

I'll support you!





No really, I'm a little interested in this thread as well. Bean and I have tossed around the idea for in a few years, so I'll be tracking this thread. Thanks for doing the dirty work for me, Riss!

Have two nice private lots in Lake Elmo...
Personally, I prefer an existing home that meets the criteria. Lot less expensive!!

By the way, love the bra... more than happy to help with the support!!

Jimmy

[btodd]

Good luck in the process Maggie! We have moved a number of times, most recently a year and a half ago to a great house that is somewhat dated. Some renos complete, many to go. I often wonder how nice it would be to have everything brand spanking new............but then we wouldn't be backing directly on to our golf course, open our gate, walk 20 feet and there we are..............I think I can put up with a little dated for now!!
Send pics as you have them!

[Rissask]

omg I am so freaking excited ....I think we are going to do it!

We spent all afternoon yesterday looking at two story showhomes and we keep going back to the very first house we saw, where we met the woman from the builder last week. It just ticks all the boxes for what we want and we loved the feel of the layout.

this is the one...if you go to this page it is the top one, on Whalley Crescent- scroll down to see plans:

Ehrenburg Homes Ltd. The Castle Company

Any input?
Don wants to not have that doorway into the kitchen from the laundry room so that we can make a larger mudroom space in there.....any tips? I kind of like that you can go straight in from the garage to the kitchen, good with groceries, etc. He thinks having that hallway here is wasted space and instead you could put a desk or bar area in the kitchen.

Originally Posted by lindalou61

We did finish the basement when we built the house but we needed the space at the time. I love all the light that comes in down there. It doesn't look like a basement at all. There is not one thing I would change about it. We do have a deck coming out of the kitchen on the upper floor but it doesn't block much light at all down below. We did have a taller ceiling put in down there which helps with the "feeling like a basement" thing. Whats great is when our kids now come to visit, or other company from out of town, they have their own space to get away if they get tired of us! We also have a big island in the kitchen. Once you have one you will wonder what you did without one! And yes, it always takes longer to build than planned. We were supposed to be in our house before Christmas the year we built, and we finally moved in April 11th, 4 months late.

I do love the amount of light in walkouts, for sure! I hate basements, to me they just aren't nice usable space, especially in this climate- so walkouts are nice.

Don's boss actually has a furnished condo sitting empty we will most likely be able to rent for a few months...and it is in the city (we are in a bedroom community north of the city) so that would maybe be neat to live downtown a few months. That would work out well. (Although we might not want to move back out to suburbia after living downtown! )

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Have two nice private lots in Lake Elmo...
Personally, I prefer an existing home that meets the criteria. Lot less expensive!!

By the way, love the bra... more than happy to help with the support!!

Jimmy

I bet you are!

I agree about buying existing....I wish we could have found what we wanted here without building. Much easier!

Originally Posted by btodd

Good luck in the process Maggie! We have moved a number of times, most recently a year and a half ago to a great house that is somewhat dated. Some renos complete, many to go. I often wonder how nice it would be to have everything brand spanking new............but then we wouldn't be backing directly on to our golf course, open our gate, walk 20 feet and there we are..............I think I can put up with a little dated for now!!
Send pics as you have them!

golf course lot- sweet! Lucky! Are lots now ridiculously expensive there, too?

This lot is 98 grand....and that is a steal compared to the city...where lots range from 129,000 to 400,000 for golf course walkout lots...WOW....in Saskatoon !!

There is a pond with walking paths and woods and marshy areas back there, it is very scenic.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by rissask

i need input, or at least support!

I did a search and the only thread i could find was from wayyyy back in 2006.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...hunting-3.html

who has built a house and how was the process?
i made pancakes once

would you do it again?
yes, they were quite good!
building versus buying existing versus renovating?
i think scratch built are the best way to go...none of that store bought premix crap
any tips and what can you tell me to do or not to do?
the key is in the ingredients and getting the griddle good and hot

any input on layout- what do you think is the best design?
stick with traditional round...anything else is a tough sell on prospective eaters

we have almost, (almost! *nail biting*!) decided to reserve a lot to build...we are leaning toward a two story, maybe around 1750-1800 square feet on two, with a walkout basement. Note: It would not be a walkout by our choice, but the lots that we like in our town (and two of the only decent lots in town!) are designated walkout basement lots. They back green space (a wooded marsh with walking paths) and are in a quiet crescent.
now you're mixing utility...a double stack doesn't need to be that big...otherwise you use too many blueberries and too much syrup. Though i do like the walk out relief for the excess berry juice.
help

[Rissask]

mister Mike, you are just NO help at all!

[btodd]

All lots are expensive in Winnipeg too, any golf course lots would be out of the city now.......our house was actually built in 1972 ( hence the dated decor). Our golf course is over 100 years old so houses like ours do not come up very often as they are highly sought. In fact, we had no intention of moving but our friend who is a real estate agent, knew this house was coming to market and we were able to buy it before it went to market( and pay accordingly.....). We had a year possesion but that was OK as it took us a while to get our house ready for market. While our house is dated, it is built like a fortress. The original and only owner moved from Germany in 1972 to open a construction company, he built and designed our home. My engineer husband was very impressed when we first saw it!

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by btodd

All lots are expensive in Winnipeg too, any golf course lots would be out of the city now.......our house was actually built in 1972 ( hence the dated decor). Our golf course is over 100 years old so houses like ours do not come up very often as they are highly sought. In fact, we had no intention of moving but our friend who is a real estate agent, knew this house was coming to market and we were able to buy it before it went to market( and pay accordingly.....). We had a year possesion but that was OK as it took us a while to get our house ready for market. While our house is dated, it is built like a fortress. The original and only owner moved from Germany in 1972 to open a construction company, he built and designed our home. My engineer husband was very impressed when we first saw it!

That sounds great.....hard to beat that German engineering!

We are hoping that because they just built two of these houses, it won't take them too long to build it. wqe won't be making any major changes to the plans. But sh*t happens....we will be prepared for it to take longer, for sure.


stucco colours? I really like the dark brown with black eavestroughs and garage doors look.....does acrylic stucco really not fade or stain like they say....or what?

[Rissask]

driveway - exposed aggregate, or regular concrete, or coloured concrete? Help!

We would like to do stamped concrete, but it is a lot more $$.

[DavidB]

If your near a marsh I'd have an independent soil test done. A co-worker bought a lot in a small subdivision where several new houses were recently built. During the planning her contractor found that she needed to put pillars down under the foundation to get to stable soil.

[Neil G]

One of my pet peeves with modern home designs is the size of the bedrooms. Seems like they are always designed with a monster master bedroom, and the other bedrooms are 8X8 afterthoughts. If you have any thoughts of resale, or alternately want your guests to be able to breathe, make your secondary bedrooms a decent size.

[Rissask]

Thanks for the tip David....the whole town or at least a major chunk of it was built on marshy land. Sump pumps and such are standard I think in this part of town-and lots of backfill. I sure hope the builder has thought of it- worthwhile point to bring up, we don't know much about this stuff.

I agree about the bedroom size in houses today, Neil. Our current home has TEENY bedrooms- even the so-called master is quite small. I think about 11 by 10? And our two spare rooms and the den are smaller of course, about 9x9.
This one has fairly decent sized extra bedrooms and the master is 12x14...not huge but more than good enough.

We are meeting her at the house we like best to give her the wishlist after work today.....eek. I can see how it would be easy to get carried away with what you want.