I know this isn't what you want to hear, but....

We've been in the last two weeks for the last six weeks. Everything seems to be dragging. The cold weather is a big part of it.

There is still exterior work to be done, including some painting. You just can't paint when it's 12 degrees out. The deck railing hasn't arrived. The HVAC sub isn't finished. We have heat, but there is still work to be done.

Anyway, we're at two weeks -- again.

We're in the same place as Creek Side. We are scheduled to close the 26th, but who knows. Our builder thought we done by Christmas last month. The ground is frozen 12 inches deep so we can't landscape and put in sprinklers. If the bank doesn't let us escrow that part, then we may have to wait. The porch decking needs to be done and the outside lights need to go on their special switch the streetlight has to go in. The outdoor sewage hookup part needs to be finished. The inside needs the fireplace to be rocked and carpet. The oak plank floors were distressed and stained this weekend so all we need is the finish. Everything else is basically tweaking.

Our builder told us that building would seem slow once we got inside the house and started putting walls up. Our build is actually happening faster than I thought it would. There has been steady progress. Some days we have more than one crew working. Each crew may only be there 30 minutes, but they made visible change.

As far as how things look, I was worried in the beginning. We have a builder with a 'good eye'. He has helped us pull colors and looks together. Dh and I are apparently 'risk takers' in that we aren't afraid to build something different than the neighbors. My last big 'Did I get this right?" is the fireplace which is the focal point of the whole house. We'll know this week whether we messed that up or not. I'll let it get put up and then have my crisis. :)

Good luck!

We have been in our new home for almost 2 years. During the build, it seems like it takes forever, but now it feels like just a little blip in our lives. This may seem strange, but sit back and ENJOY it. If you're like me, it may the only home you ever build. Good luck!

I am sure that is right. That is why I havent been getting my hopes up. I knew it was being done right so I didn't want to rush it, well I wouldnt be able to rush them regardless probably, but I didnt want to get over anxious. I have been trying to stay calm... knowing that this would be a very short period of time in the scheme of things.

Seeing the drywall going up really lifted my spirits today though. It seemed to fly on today, so that was pleasant to see.

I just never would have guessed 9 months ... just like having another baby, but that always turned out wonderful and well worth the wait :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Home Page

Nine months is probably about average. A lot of builds go over a year.

We are a little over eight months from the day the house was staked out, We cleared the lot and put in the drive ourselves some months months earlier. Right now, right at nine months is our latest target.

Oh, this thread could not be a more perfect one to find right now. My dad, our GC, and I just had an, ahem, "heated" discussion about these final weeks.

We have locked in a good rate for our permanent financing, so we are on a tight schedule to get a CO to close the mortgage. We are supposed to have the CO by Feb 7 to satisfy the loan closing, but there is so much left I can't imagine how that is going to happen. Does this seem reasonable to you to complete by Feb 5 (for a final inspection by 7)? Of course, I am still not accounting for inevitable final inspection snafus, am I?

-Painters still finishing touch-ups
- Electrical has started but not done or near it (installing plug & switch and hardwired fixtures)
- Plumbing installs not started (waiting on others to finish)
- Floors to be sanded tomorrow (will wait on finishing until after CO)
- Kitchen cabinets not in yet (Friday?)
- Landscape not done (too cold in Atlanta lately for sod)

I don't know whether to "relax and enjoy" or totally freak out. ;)

gopintos:

We have been in our last week stages for about 2 weeks. Everything has been trying to come together.. Plumber Finish, Electrician Finish, Carpet, Finishes such as door levers...I agree, the electricians TAKE FOREVER as well! Our electrician has been there everyday for the past 2 weeks. He is really slow, but he's saving me tons of money, so I can't really complain! He is there today to "finish" up some things so we can get an occupancy permit hopefully Tuesday...

I am so ready to be DONE!! Everyday, my husband and I go out on his lunch break to see what or what hasn't been done! I just want to get this over with and move on with my life, if this makes sense...Don't get me wrong, I loved building and I would absoutely do it again, but we hired the work out to a GC and we were very much involved in the whole process as well, even hiring some of our own subs...
But I am tired....

I was also very worried about all my color choices coming together too! I was almost in tears because my vanity lights are ORB but my faucets are Stainless Steel. My husband said not to worry about matching them. The whole bathroom is Stainless Steel and I have read that you don't have to match everything!!

So hang in there. It is all so worth it in the end!! Good Luck!

We are also having some really good temperatures the next two weeks, so I would really like to move soon!!

Phew... good. I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel maybe end of February, first of March. Just hoping it isnt a train...

My electrician has been there solid since Nov. 2. Well I say solid, some days were half days I guess. But at some point in December, maybe even late November, he brought in another guy who has been there full time. So sometimes I have Two there! Needless to say, electrical is overbudget by about double. arggh!

But, the drywall started going up and it was amazing how that lifted my spirits. But then yesterday, the dozer started to add dirt to where the old house was, so that was very sad for me, but then there was so much activity in the new house that it took my mind off that.

The electrical is not on a fixed contract amount?

Well it's my own fault, we added stuff....

Alot of satellite cable, alot of cat5, I added about 20 door switches to turn the light on/off, and I added sconces, quite a few - quite alot actually, which I didnt think I wanted any. Oh and speakers, inside and out. I didnt add those.

But also due in part to the geothermal, we had to go with a larger service which wasnt figured in initially. So going to 400 amp I think was an additional 3000 right at the start :-(

I also lump in this category anything that had to do with electrical but wasnt part of his contract, like the new meter we had to get (just figured we would use the old one) the backhoe to dig the trench - several times due to the rain, my electrician picks up the kerosene for the heaters... I didn't really make an allowance for any of that :-(

I hope I'm on the home stretch it's been two long years. Recent pictures linked below
www.flickr.com/doctj