I just haven't been feeling it lately. Maybe because there is SO much that it seems a little overwhelming to even try. But try I will. Isn't that what Sundays are for.
We should be closing on our lot sometime in the next week. It's been somewhat of a nightmare trying to get all our money in one spot to write that final check, but it's finally coming together despite all the holds and waiting. The seller has also been a little difficult to work with. Our first offer he countered higher than his own list price wanting us to pay the impact fees that he had clearly already paid and had said so in his listing. We did nothing and let it sit a week and then offered again. The second time he accepted. But then midstream he wants us to change title companies and close 3 weeks earlier than planned. We agreed to change companies but told him there was no way to close any earlier; we had the money but getting it in the right spot was taking some time. Anyway, I'll just be glad to have this deal closed and not worry about what else he might have up his sleeve.
As far as building, well we're up in the air with all that too. Our original plan was to build with Symphony Homes. They have a community here in Stansbury and build only higher end homes (not entry-level). We fell in love with their floor plans going to a Showcase of Homes this last fall, but after spending countless hours with them we've come to the conclusion that we really need more of a custom builder, someone who is more willing to do everything we want. Symphony is okay about changing walls, adding this or that feature to the house, etc., but they have not wanted to deal with the deck design we want to put on the house, covering the entire culvert in our front yard, running electrical wire for a sport court and pouring the cement pad for that as well. So we got a second bid from a custom builder. His bid came in almost exactly the same but everything we've mentioned doing he doesn't bat an eye and has to agreed to it all. As of today I think we're going to go with the custom builder. But that means no design center to help pull all the design ideas together for us. We're on our own as far as that and that makes us both a little nervous.
Right now I've been contemplating wood floors or tile in the kitchen. I LOVE the look of wood floors. It's warm and inviting but don't think they'll hold up as well as tile to kids coming in from outside with dirt on their shoes. Plus I've never liked being able to see footprints which you see much easier on a wood floor. Also you want to be very careful in matching wood floor with cabinets so it doesn't look like a lot of wood (at this point I'd probably do cream colored cabinets). Tile is hard and cold and we've decided to do radiant heating if we do go with tile so that will help eliminate the cold. But it's still hard and dishes break more easily on tile. You also have that nasty grout to try and keep clean. So many things to think about.
Not to mention I simply think it's too big of a house. We took a basic model and added a loft with a bedroom and bathroom so Tyler can office up there away from the commotion. I know it's fairly inexpensive space to finish, but it just adds. I can't help but think of President Hinckley's admonition to buy (or build) a modest home and pay it off quickly. I'm not feeling very modest about it right now. I'm sure I'll feel better about it as our kids get older and bring their friends home (hopefully) and our family grows up and gets larger. I know my mom loves her big house when we all come home for the holidays. Part of me also would rather pay down our HELOC (what we used to buy the lot) and pay off our home here and then think about building. Part of me also realizes that this is a very good time to build. We've seen that as both builders have competed for our business. It's also a good time to build so we can actually use the home before our kids get too much older and move away. It's just a scary decision. I HATE DEBT! But I know sometimes you just have to jump in and do it. If it had been up to me we'd probably still be living in Magna with our house paid for. It was scary for me to jump into the house we're in now because it was almost double what we'd paid for our first home. But it worked and we've paid this home off substantially and we really are in a better home and better neighborhood. Circumstances change; I just hope not for the worse.
Our lot.
Style of home we're thinking about.
2 comments:
Here are my $.02 if you do decide to go with tile, get dark grout. Our Sandy home had white and no matter how hard I scrubbed, it never looked clean where there was traffice. In our current home we have dark grout and I love it. Good luck with everything!
I love wood in the kitchen. We do have to refinish every 5 years or so, but its been nice and warm and comfortable. It does show dust, but not so much if you go with a lighter wood, like ash, I hear. I never had a design center. It sounds like you know what you like. I recommend my next door neighbor if you want custom plans drawn up. He's great.
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