Dirt work

Construction has officially started! Our contractor's have been out at the property any day that it isn't pouring rain, and seeing how its March... in Washington, we're amazed at what they've been able to accomplish. They started with getting the house location spot cleared and dug out to prepare for our daylight basement. Once the area was dug out enough, they began putting up the foundation wall forms. They have now started pouring the foundation walls. It's wonderful to slowly see the shape of our home take form. It may just be a ton of dirt, lots of mud, and a foundation outline, but its home (or at least the promise of a home in the near-ish future).


This is how you know when construction has officially began, the all important Honey Bucket

We now have water! Meet our $10,000 water meter

The start of clearing.

Contractor's Digging out foundation hole

More digging... in the mud

I'm sure this would be easier if it wasn't raining

Construction has officially started!

Our first materials delivery

Materials to start making foundation wall forms


Lots of dirt & Mud, but also the outline of home

The beginning of the foundation wall forms

Quick tour: The mound of dirt on the right will be the garage. That puddle on the left is storage room, behind it is bathroom then mechanical room. Behind all of that is open space. (unsure of use but Dave has claimed this space as "Man Cave")

View from NW corner

Our first foundation pour- bottom initial layer for walls (view from back)

Contractor's hard at work preparing wall forms

Foundation wall forms going up

North side of house

View from the NW corner

South side of house

Basement wall foundation forms

Basement walls are going to be 9ft high, per the request of David. (Apparently if you are 6ft ish, the finished height of the basement is a big deal)

Now we begin

The past few weeks have been filled with a ton of ups and downs, but we never thought construction would be easy so we just work through all that comes. We got our loan application submitted and appraisal done. 1st up- we had no problem with loan approval, 1st down- because of the bad housing market our appraisal came in a tad lower then we hoped. We worked through it (which means: I freaked out, decided this is too much of an undertaking for us, etc and Dave, being the wonderful hubby that he is, waited until I was done with the freak out and explained to me that we had enough to cover the extra cost and we had been saving for this and are fine. All while handing me a glass of wine and telling me to breath.) There have been more issues and fixes, but all is working out. Last week we closed on the loan & signed the construction contract with our wonderful contractors Pristine Homes. Now we wait for a few days of no rain so they can get the lot ready for foundation, then in 9ish or so months we'll be ready to move in :) We're hoping for Christmas in our new home (fingers crossed).