Things To Do Before I Die - One Down

As some of you already know, I closed on the wooded lot near Milford, DE. With that accomplished, I headed out to Indiana to work on plans for the actual house to be built on that property. Ed and Sandy are going to help me make sure I don't forget any important piece of the plans.

After having lived in the Delta for so many years, I marvel each time I get back through Pennsylvania. It is so beautiful and green and "sylvan" (had to say that). I'm so glad to have found a place in Delaware among trees. I really missed having all of that, even though I lived in an area in Memphis with many large trees. It's not the same. As I was malingering along on the back roads toward the Pennsylvania Turnpike today, I decided to do something I have wanted to do for years and never got around to it. So I stopped along the highway, got onto the Internet and mapped a route on my GPS to take me to Fallingwater. It was as spectacular as I thought it would be, though very minimalistic in furnishings. Its design is truly unique among homes. Built for the Kaufmanns of Pittsburgh department store fame, it fits like a glove into its surroundings. I recommend a visit to it and at least the short (1 hour) tour.
So now I have only about 50 more items to complete before I die. This one was worth the detour off of I-70.  

He Must Be a Saint or Something

I just spent some time on the phone with owners of 4 homes that my prospective house builder has built or is in the process of building. I was heartened to hear that they are all very pleased with the work he and his crew have done. Some offered tidbits of advice. When I asked each set of owners if they were to build another house in the area, would they choose JL again, they all said yes. So I think I just might have hit on a good thing here. After the experience I had some years ago with a builder over a period of 4 years of litigation, I feel encouraged.

Now the difficult part begins: the size, the rooms, the placement, and the myriad of details that go into designing a home. Fortunately, I have friends and family who are always willing to help by giving me tips and clues, do's and don'ts, and must haves vs don't needs. The goal is to a have a home that is small, yet with open spaces and light; where most of the interior space is used daily, and where one always feels comfortable when h/she walks through the door. It sounds easy, but I know it will be hard. Outdoor space is equally important, being a bird owner/watcher.

The realtor just called to tell me interest rates are a little lower this week in case I need to know. (smile) This was not too long after the local mortgage broker phoned to ask how things were going. Delaware is surely a small community. So now I'll start thinking about interest rates these coming days. I am keeping a list of things to consider when designing the house. I just blurt out (in text) whatever comes to mind.

I should be closing on the property next week if the title search comes back by Friday. Then the fun begins. I'll then return to Indiana to check on Bubba and Spanky and get some needed design help from Ed and Sandy. (I wonder if they know this?)  

The Rumors Are True

Rumors have been floating around lately that I found a lot near Milford,DE on which to build a house. Well - It's TRUE!

On Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30, I looked at houses and plots of land, coming back to the lot I liked when I looked at it in May. Unfortunately, one of the lots I saw on Friday turned out to be infested with thousands of chiggers. Fortunately for me, only about 200 jumped on to me. Had all of those thousands done so, I would have killed myself. As it is, I was in total agony for several days, taking shower after shower, oatmeal baths, and lathering myself with calomine, cortisone and taking antihistamines. Eventually I was able to concentrate on other things, like sending in earnest money for the lot I wanted. My offer was accepted on Tuesday, Sept 2, and I am waiting to hear when the closing date is.

In the mean time I have been making lists of things I want to have in the new house and talking with a highly recommended builder. I've decided to hold off making any final decisions on the size and shape of the house until I talk it over with the Contractor and Sandy, as they have been spending many hours and days contemplating the ins and outs of building an energy efficient house. With their help I hope to be able to get something on paper to present to a builder. From that point I'll see what I want and see how much of that I can mesh with what I can afford and make some compromises.

If any of my faithful readers has some words of wisdom regarding what they wish they had in their house if they were to build another one, please let me know. For now, I will plod along, trying to think of all the things that are best thought of up front in the building process and hope that in the end I have a house that is functional, energy efficient and comfortable.

More as it happens. I'm in PA right now and will return to Delaware to see more of the homes that the builder has done and talk to owners in the next week.