Author: Shelley

Yup. Still Waiting.

Planning

Totally forgot to post an update on permits! We applied for permits on Friday 10/11/19. WOO HOO!

But it certainly isn’t a fast process. So we’re still waiting. With any luck, we will hear back in the next couple weeks with comments from the town. And then we can revise + edit things and get permits in hand by hopefully mid-November. ?

Happy Dances All Around

Planning

How did I forget to post this!

We got HOA neighborhood approval on the house plans on Saturday night. YEAH!

Today the trusses got to our engineer to finish the plans. DOUBLE YEAH!!

HAPPY DANCE.

Now to just keep calm (cross all fingers + toes + wish super hard) and hope we can get this paperwork to our friends at Town Hall for some reviewing and approving soon.

Not My Kind of PayDay

Planning

Today’s been a doozer!!

On top of finally finishing our 2018 taxes today (Yes, we know they were due April 15th and its now September 30th) and realizing we owe lots of money in taxes + late fees……we got more “payday” news.

Just as I was posting my last house update, we got a notice that the condo we are living in just passed a special assessment that we get to pay!

Darn you condos on the beach that are so fun to live in and visit but cost lots to maintain and keep up with!

We’ve learned the hard way is that condos at about the 10-15 year mark need some serious maintenance that costs lots and lots of $$. Our current building needs its first new roof and it’s coming in at a whopping $257,000. We are the lucky winners of a special assessment to cover our portion.

Now I’m not doubting we need a roof here because after Dorian grazed on by, part of the current metal roof ended up on our patio all jagged and rusted and bent. But I am confused because the reserves are pretty strong in this building.

NOT my kind of payday.

Estimate Highs + Lows

Planning

In absolutely fantastic news, we got to see the estimate for the house on 9/22 — YES!!! And while it still needs a few tweaky things here and there for subs that weren’t in town or able to get in their new estimates in time, we gave the big thumbs up and said YES!!!

Let’s move forward and build this thing. Super excited and back on the building highs and excited about the project again!! Time to look at Houzz and get re-excited all over again + thinking about tiles + furniture + who’s coming over first as soon as we move in!

All we have to do is the finishing touches to the plans + permitting paperwork + submit for permits. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy right??? Lickety split this will be in the works + we’ll be clearing the lot in no time.

<INSERT Sierra’s Favorite Sound Effect> DUN DUN DUN!!!

Flash forward till today, Monday 9/30. No news yet on the finalized plans, that we need to have to submit for permits (and to start the month long timeline in motion again for our little beach town to review and approve the plans before we can clear the lot + start this house).

Omgosh, I know I know. It’s only been a week, but seriously….
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE SO MUCH LONGER!

All Bored Out

Planning

When McKenna was about 2 years old, we were on a walk and someone Craig worked with came by and said hi + stopped to talk to him. A few minutes into her chatting at Craig, McKenna was really annoyed and coined her phrase “I’m all bored out.”

Since then we use the phrase all the time, whenever we are bored or tired of waiting.

Today, I’m all bored out of waiting for a house to live in. Seriously all bored out. Fingers crossed the estimate is something we can do + then we can get going on permitting. Maybe 2021 we will have a house?

Till then, condo life it is.

Home Sweet Home ?

Planning
We’re on our way. Home Sweet Home!

OMGOSH. Bid Set it complete!! We’re about 90% there with the plans + we’re on our way to getting the estimate. SO excited!

With any luck we’ll have the estimate by 9/22 and can get the final plan edits complete the last week of September + submit them to Ponce for permits. Then if they do their magic in a month again, we may just be able to clear the lot by Halloween!!!

SO EXCITED

Planning

I got so excited and so into the new house that I forgot to even post the update last week.

NEIL SENT PLANS!

And they are seriously cool + fun + we love them. We had so few questions and tiny little things we want to revise. Little things like removing a sink here or there. Add a door here vs. there.

The guest suite area above the garage is perfect and probably a couple of rooms that the girls will totally want to take over as their own. You pop down a few steps so it feels a little separate from the main house. And you get a little living room with a bar area / mini-fridge + TV + then a bedroom + full bathroom.

Cannot wait to see the revisions in about a week, and then the best part: ELEVATIONS! That means we will get to see what the new house will look like from the outside, not just a floor plan!

Have I mentioned I’m seriously so excited.

Getting Antsy ?

Planning

Wow am I getting antsy for the Mar Azul project to get back on track. The condo is amazing, but its tight for people who work from home, do school from home (+summertime!), and 2 kitties who think it’s fun to wake up everyone about 4:40 every morning. Seriously NOT funny KARL.

But in other news, things are wrapping up quite nicely on the real estate front, so that’s great!!

It was sad, but the oceanfront lot sold.

Yesterday the Mold House final payment came in (EARLY WOOO HOO!) and now we’re just tidying up paperwork.

Now if we could find someone to buy the pre-construction condo in the Shores at the Aruba, we’d be in business!!! Fingers crossed someone wants an awesome 3/2 oceanfront, 1st floor walkout to the pool + beach, brand spanking new condo.

Lost in the ocean. All Alone.

Planning
Later friend. We will miss you.

No drone pix for this blog!

Our DJI Phantom 2 drone + GoPro 3 decided to make a break for the waves today and live with the dolphins and manatees.

Important to note, this was not due to pilot error. Our poor little drone is old and the battery failed.

Craig tried to swim out and find it and bring it back so we aren’t contributing to yet more ocean issues + trash + contamination, but wasn’t able to find it. ? A few locals said they’d keep their eyes out and make a rescue if it came back ashore.

Hoping on a bike ride this week we may find it washed back up on the sand and can bring it home for safe disposal.