OR NOT. So, we closed on the construction loan in early May and expected to break ground in late May/early June. However, as always with this house, that did not happen.

We were asked to mow the area where the perk test would be done (for the septic system), so that the sun could reach the ground more easily and give us a better perk result. We were under a short time frame because were were leaving for vacation and would be gone 12 days. We expected that the perk test would be completed by the time we were back (May 29th). Wrong.

We were in the airport on the way back from our trip and I received a call from the builder saying that the perk test had not been done yet (What??? It had been 3 weeks since we closed on the loan!). Apparently it had rained a lot while we were gone and they were worried that it would not perk well if they proceeded.

So… we waited, and waited. Finally, towards the middle of June, the perk test was completed and we achieved a perk that did not necessitate an engineered septic system (yay!). However, at this point, interest rates had gone from 3.5% to 4.5% (WTF!). So, we were definitely stressed and just wanted to the process to move forward.

* Just a side note- a jump of 1% in interest rates causes our mortgage to go up $200/month.

Then, there was a little issue between the excavator and builder and the report did not get handed over that the builder needed for the building permit. We also had to wait for the surveyor to stake the land.

Towards the beginning of July, the builder finally had what he needed and proceeded to apply for the building permit. But wait! Nothing can be easy! The county advised the builder that we could not put our house on the land where we had staked it. Apparently, the 3 acres was “platted” and the 13 acres was not platted (basically zoned differently) and the house could not overlap onto the 2 pieces of land. We had no idea about this when we bought the land and although it is fixable, it would take another 45-90 days to re-zone the 2 pieces together (words were thrown around like “vacate” and I have no idea what that all means).

The county told the builder that we could put the house on the 3 acres or 13 acres. We were not interested in putting it on the 13 acres because it would be behind our neighbors house. If we put the house on the 3 acres though, we would need a new driveway because the current driveway was on the 13 acres (seriously?). Since that was the fastest route, we decided it was worth the approx. $2000 to put in a new driveway. Luckily, the perk test was done on the 3 acres so we didn’t have to re-do that. However, it did need re-staked and the surveyor had a 3 week wait. We also had to get an “entrance permit” that had to be approved by our township.

But wait! It has to be as hard as possible! When the builder took the new survey to the county they said, “well, they can’t have 2 driveways because that would be 2 tracts of land and the bank won’t like that”. Um what? So I can’t put it where I want it and I can’t put it where you said I should? I called the bank and they said it was no issue for them (like I said, best bank ever!). It eventually got wrapped up and we only had to wait for the surveyor to do his re-staking.

Patience is a virtue? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? — My mantras during July