Eric's Forum Posts: 11Journal Entries: 14Interview Answers: 235Average Forum Rating: 3.75 Send Private Message Image from Eric's blog
This journal has been viewed 1931 times.
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 9/19/2008
Here is the final budget that was requested. Hope everyone is doing great with their projects!
Photos
|
| My son born 6 days after we moved in! |
|
|
| CJ using the "man-room" for the first time! |
|
FilesCopy of 2008 Cedar Lane Budget sept19.xlsx
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 5/7/2008 9:29:03 AM
We moved into the house just in time. Our move in date was the 25th, and my baby boy was born on the 2nd! All is well with him and mom, and the house too. Pic of house and Cj to follow.
Eric
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 4/24/2008 12:31:49 PM
So here are the final numbers; total cost to build was $598,000 which translates to $132.60 Sq. Ft.. VS. $210 sq ft the builder quoted us which equates to $947,100. Our OB savings was $349,100!!! Our appraisal came in at $1,225,000. Figuring in the cost of the land @ $161,000, our equity, and subsequent net worth increased by $466,000 We did none of the work ourselves, but shopped every purchase. We included every feature we wanted including 14 zone QuikTrac Radiant Heat throughout the entire house, laundry room on each floor, custom cabinets, entertainment center, vanities, bar, top of the line appliances from Dacor and Bosch. Custom tile, glass block shower, ceiling fans in every room including back porch. The entire house including outside decks are equipped with surround sound. Upper decks are finished in Vortex truck bed liners with 40 year warranties. Entire house is trimmed in Azek including water tables. Over sized gutters and 50 yr shingles on roof. House is faced with stone and brick along with matching front porch. Too many extras to list, but needless to say we didn't go cheap on anything.
Just goes to show how easy it is to save that much money by OB you're own house. Following that savings logic from the book, if you save 10% of your income, I would have had to earned $3,500,000 in 7 months to equal the same savings as I got from being my own builder!
Thanks for all the great feedback and help through the process. I'll answer any questions that you want to know about the house.
Eric
Photos
|
| Bar |
|
|
| Bar front |
|
|
| Kitchen Island |
|
|
| just needs touch up paint! |
|
|
| Pasta pot filler |
|
Comments (6)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 4/24/2008 9:26:07 AM
We finally got our TCO yesterday! We failed on Friday because we didn't have house numbers attached to the house?! We also needed a combustion vent cut into the ceiling in both laundry rooms since we have gas dryer's. Lastly, we have a septic designed garbage disposal, but since it wasn't on the original septic plan, we couldn't use it.
All 3 were fixed on Monday, and we are now approved! The project took 7 months to the day! It finally looks like a finished house, now that I got all the trash cans and shop vacs out.
I'll post pics later today, with all of the final specs/costs/etc.
Eric
Comments (1)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 4/17/2008 8:07:51 AM
Well, if all goes well this is the last week! The place has been a mad house. Tuesday there were 32 people working in there at the same time. my careful coordination is now out the window and it is a sprint to the finish!
The cabinets and granite are in and look terrific. The pictures don't do them justice. Today is finish paint, some trim and the last of the electrical fixtures. Security and home entertainment systems are also wrapping up.
Yesterday the front porch was completed. The brick and bluestone came out great. They also poured the new apron and driveway as well as the pads for the outside shower and landing in the back of the house.
I'm calling for my CO inspection for tomorrow afternoon. I took my first 2 days off during the project, which are tomorrow and Monday. That way if I fail, it gives me a few days to fix whatever is wrong.
The radiant heat feels amazing! The whole house is so warm and it's only set at 65. Definitely worth the money even though it was ALOT! Master shower came out great after many headaches. The glass block is a really nice look I think.
Here are some of the pics I've been promising!
Photos
|
| Dining room |
|
|
| Big fridge |
|
|
| living room w custom built ins |
|
|
| kitchen island |
|
|
| Bar ceiling |
|
|
| master bath |
|
|
| master shower |
|
|
| master shower inside |
|
|
| office |
|
|
| front steps going in |
|
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 4/3/2008 8:43:26 AM
Things are still moving along. Right now the glass block guy is finishing the master shower. Looks great, I'll put up pictures as soon as I can . The plumber has four of the six bathrooms finished. The electrician finished all of the first floor switches and outlets so far. HVAC is putting the two units in Friday.
My current challenge (notice I didn't say problem), is that my cabinets are not finished and are coming Tuesday instead of last Tuesday. Not tragic, but not making me happy either. The appliances are being delivered Thursday next week, and the granite guy is coming Friday to template. He wouldn't do it until all of the appliances are in. Seems strange, but I guess it keeps him from having to go back and shave any tops down?
Today, the front steps are starting and the back porch railings are going in. The last CO jobs to be completed. My inspector was sympathetic to my situation of having a baby due in five weeks and said I could move stuff in and set up the baby's room, as long as I didn't use anything. That's a huge help, because I don't think my wife is going to make it to her due date of May 8th. I'm thinking I have 10-14 days between finishing the house and the baby coming.
I really don't know what I was thinking with that one! Like it's not hard enough to O-B this thing and still work 60 hours a week, but adding a baby into the mix was just nuts!
Oh well, like I said, only two weeks left so I guess I'll survive.
Eric
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 3/28/2008 11:37:27 AM
Well, we have stone at long last. Not that it was late, but the rest of the siding has been done for months, and I really wanted to see it up. Now all that's left is finish plumbing HVAC and electric. All of which are scheduled for next week.
Kitchen cabinets got pushed back a week and are now coming on Tuesday, which is good because the Granite guy just got back from vacation and can template on Wednesday. Tile in the master bath almost done (amazing tilesetter Gus Dipietro).
This weekend is going to be a BIG clean up weekend. Current house is getting boxed up for the move. Wife is going crazy because she can't set up the nursery until we move in. That only leaves her 3 weeks between the move and the baby!
Meanwhile, I'm blissfully ignorant of what it will be like to move and then have my first child 3 weeks later, so I just keep walking around with a dumb smile on my face!
Here are a few more pics.
Eric
Photos
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 3/18/2008 12:32:21 PM
well, we are now only 1 month from our target move in date. The flooring will be done this week. The stone will also be finished by Friday. Next up the trimmers who are there now will be done next week, and the painter can come in and finish up the last of his cut-ins.
Cabinets are arriving on the first, followed by granite on the 5th. The last 2 weeks will be the finish plumbing, electric and HVAC.
If all goes well, we will be in 3 weeks ahead of the baby!
I've enclosed some pictures of the stone, and tile floors.
Photos
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 2/26/2008 1:48:50 PM
I suppose everyone goes through this, but the closer I get, the more I start to panic! I'm watching my wife get bigger by the day and I'm stressing about finishing the house before she has the baby.
Here's where we are today. The trim is going up this week. The crown molding looks awesome (I'll put up pics as soon as I get them). The tile guys are laying the hardibacker, and the painter is almost done the initial coat.
In the dining room I made 4 different trays in the ceiling, and I'm going to run low-voltage lighting behind the crown molding to illuminate the ceiling. This has been a little tricky, but it will be done tomorrow. It looks great with the ceiling painted a lighter version of the walls.
Saturday, the tile guys will start laying the kitchen, laundry and breakfast nook. I feel bad having several subs in at the same time, but I can't move the baby back, but I can move the house up, so needless to say, that what I'm trying to do.
Monday the guy is coming to start the wood floors. I know I'm on schedule, but it feels like there are so many things to finish before 4/18, that I can't help but worry if it will all get done. It doesn't help that this is my busiest time of year for work!
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 2/18/2008 4:05:28 PM
Now some of the specifics. I decided to use as many items that were energy efficient as possible to combat future energy price increases. I put in Anderson 400 series high perf. windows. I used R30 on all exterior walls as well as between the basement/first/second floors, and R19 for all interior walls (mostly for sound quality). I decided on the Quik Trac radiant because of the ease of installation relative to other methods, as well as ease of service if needed. I put it on 14 different zones so that nothing would need to be used if not neccesary.
Every room has a ceiling fan, as does the first floor covered porch. I wired the entire house for surround sound, security, heat and CO2 sensors. The house has crown molding throughout as well as oversized trim.
Every room has either custom tile or wood flooring. There is no carpet in the house other than area rugs. Makes it easier to pick up the dog hair!
Kitchen was my best deal to date! Price quote for comparable including built ins, etc, was $65,000. I had everything made in Lancaster County PA (Amish) for $26,800! The quality is incredible by comparison, and I was able to have every vanity (6), the bar, entertainment center, both laundry rooms and the cabinets done for that price!!! Huge savings and the guys is so nice to deal with.
Next up is the Stone, thin brick and limestone for the front of the house and entry steps. Tomorrow he is going to pour the garage floor. He didn't want it to get beat up by all the contractors so that's why it is going in so late.
My other favorite is the copper turret in the front of the house over the play room. not a great bargain, but it really sets off the look of the house. My wifes favorite is the recess for the dog bowls (pic below)
More pics!
Photos
Comments (1)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 2/18/2008 3:40:06 PM
Ok it's been a long time since I've put up anything so I'll do it in a few pieces! I think last time I was strugglimg with wrong windows. Now I'm putting up trim and the walls are getting painted. Yeah, told you it was a long time!
Just to recap, this is NOT a flip house, it is where I plan to spend a very long time. My budget started at $100 sq. but I've since revised up to $150, not due to overruns, but just a desire to have truly everything we've ever wanted in the house. I'm tracking to be $5/sq. under that. The GC quote was $210/ sq. I also am doing almost none of the work myself, as I feel my time is better spent managing the project and working in my existing job.
Here's the basics; 500amps of electric, Solar (10kw), radiant heat (quik trac), custom cabinets, built ins, bar, and all vanities, 8ft solid doors, 2 laundry rooms (1 each floor), 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms. 3 car garage, Superior Walls. Needless to say this is how we arrived at $150 of budget.
Here are a few pics, and more to follow!
Photos
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 11/20/2007
Well, tomorrow is going to be a big day at the site. I have the windows being delivered and installed, the roof is going on, and the plumber is getting started.
My goal was to be closed in by Thanksgiving, and I am right on time, no thanks to the weather!
I finally resolved the window issues even though I'm not thrilled with the outcome. I am using the 10" transoms instead of sending them back. It saves me time and $8,000 which makes it a no brainer.
I'm still getting used to making all these snap decisions on the site each day, but I haven't lost my mind yet so I guess it's going OK!
Decided to make a last minute change and go with the Vortex spray- on material over T/G plywood instead of fiberglass for the deck. Fiberglass only has a 10 year life, and I can make the Vortex any color I want it. At $9 sq. ft. it's cheaper too. Vortex is what they use in the beds of pick-up trucks.
Eric
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 11/7/2007 5:00:04 PM
Well, they started sheathing today. it's really starting to look like a house now.
Why is it so hard to get windows right? So far it is the only thing that has been screwed up, and today was the 4th time! First they were the wrong series (Anderson 200 instead of 400), then they were not twins as specd, then it turns out that since they were only going to be 12 inches off the floor, instead of 18, they had to be tempered, now they ordered the wrong transom size (10 instead of 15 inch).
Other that that, we are on schedule and budget so far. Of course that's not too hard when you're only at sheathing!
Going to put up some pictures to get caught up!
Eric
Photos
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
Posted to 2008-Cedar-Ln by Eric in seaville, NJ
on 11/6/2007 7:54:36 AM
Sorry for the late start, but I have been working on the project so much, that I am just now getting to start our blog.
Here's where we are right now;
We are building a 4500 Sq. ft. custom in Cape May County NJ. My time is best spent planning and managing, NOT doing the trades. As a Financial Planner, I can't justify doing something that I can pay someone else to do and earn more money by working those hours. Budget is at $145 sq. which includes features like Superior Walls, Radiant (Quik Track), high end plumbing fixtures (6 baths), cabinets, lighting, Granite, Central Vac, Laundry rooms on both floors, walk in closets in each of the 5 bedrooms, the list goes on.
1-started clearing in early Sept.
2-Superior Walls excavated the basement and set the walls on Oct. 1st.
3-Poured basement floor 3 days later
4-Started Framing on Oct 8th
5-Sheathing to start today!
Like I said, way behind on the posts, but I promise to keep up on them.
To complicate matters further, my wife has announced that she is pregnant with our first! Oh well, what's a little more stress!
I'll post the pictures tonight!
Eric
Comments (0)
Send Private Message
|