Who Has Built A House?

Appreciate all of the replies everyone. Even enjoyed the bit of thread drift!
Anyway, seemed like the general consensus was/is: work with good people, and have a healthy budget that can accommodate any "extras".
We had our meeting with an architect today that we really liked.
We also have a builder lined up who has worked with this architect on a few projects so I think we're ready to pull the trigger!

L O L at the check for a $5000 deposit.
I wrote a check for $5000 this AM for the "retainer" - basically giving us a spot in line for the architect hah.

So how are everyone's projects coming?
We're somewhere between the first and second round of plans.
Luckily, we pretty much liked everything right off the bat so we are only working on a few minor tweaks.
If everything stays on track, hoping to break ground in November!
I won't be getting the dream garage I always wanted - we just don't have the space for it. The lot is under 7000 square feet. 60x110.
But I'll still be putting in high ceilings to accommodate a 4 post lift...so I'll still get my 3 spots. Just a little tighter than I had originally wanted lol.

Nice progress @Dash1 & @jankoxxx
At least you all have something to look at hah!
In the meantime, my wife has been hard at work designing the inside.
She designed our bathroom(s) and kitchen remodels in our current house and did a great job (even did some of her own work) so I'm excited to see what she comes up with this time.

Getting ready to replace this long window with a door, which will give us access to the side garden. The transom door arrives today (although we fly out tonight for a few days to visit our daughter, so delayed construction.)


We remodeled the kitchen several years ago, adding the two shorter windows. At that time, i updated the header and wall to accept a future door. The future is now, apparently.

This started with the need to paint the house. It was built in 1890, so has seen changes. The siding on the wall with the future door gets the most wind and weather so is rough. It also had other work and has patches. So instead of taking off the paint, we decided that since we talked about adding a door, now is the time to put on new siding when I add the door.

There was a hose bib right at the door threshold, so had to be moved. Also an electrical outlet and dryer vent in the way of the deck. So while i waited for the door to arrive (the siding is already stored in the garage), i moved those.

Since I had to open the laundry room wall, I decided to redo that. There was a small window here, which I blocked up and parged (it was directly above the sink cabinet.) The old washer dumped in the utility sink, so I took the opportunity to redo the drain and vent to use a wall drain. Plus moved the dryer vent. The basement floor is uneven and flows to a floor drain, so I built a flat floor and cabinet for the washer, dryer. Just waiting on the countertops and then buy a sink and faucet. It's working again but needs the trim. Probably not mess with the floor.



After we get back from my daughter's, I finally get to cut the door opening. There's a bay window on that side of the house so the siding will take awhile to complete. But should be done and painted by the fall, at least the first floor. The second floor are cedar shakes, which will need scraping.

Pretty sure remodeling a house takes 20 times longer than building new. If you made it this far, let's just say that I am very envious of any new construction.

Our current house is a 1336 sqft 3/2 that was built in 1973.
We love it, but with two daughters we know we will need (and want) more space. Heck, we ALREADY need it.
We have done various projects around the house and I don't think there has been a single one where I was like, what the heck was this other person doing/thinking when they did this?!
I can only imagine what sort of crazy things/stories a 100 year old house holds.
The house that is currently on the lot we will be building on obviously has to be demolished. Which makes me a little sad because it will be 98 years old this year.
But there is no way to add on, or salvage. We will try to repurpose some of the original brick, and other elements from the house and incorporate into the new build.

Much easier to start fresh.

I heard someone comment about remodeling: Whenever you remodel, the previous guy never knew wtf he was doing. 😁

It's been true for me so far. Not sure what the guy who comes after me will think.

There's a good boy.

Yeah I suppose that goes both ways. When I looked at it before, it was (basically) a set of design principles to help with energy efficiency in the heating and cooling department.