Getting ready to build a house

It has been a hectic spring.

Building a house is stressful. Our general contractors, Brad and Kevan Dana, are great, and I am certain we would not get it done without them. The steps to get everything in line just to start a project are baffling, and I would be surprised if we ever attempted to build another house anywhere. In the last few months we have:

• Cleaned out two houses
• Either stored, sold, or given away most items from said houses, including some of the building materials
• Lined up financing, which in this case was complicated because it is a construction loan and because Sarah and I do not own the land. Worth a novel on its own, though only for those fascinated by boredom
• Researched many pre-drawn house plans and styles
• Gotten custom plans drawn up to fit the spot the old ranch headquarters was in, because it is particular. We figure if we are going to spend the rest of our lives here, we want it to be exactly what we want
• Picked out many of the finishings of the house, so it can be bidded appropriately be contractors
• Arranged for two aforementioned houses to be demolished, put into piles, burned, hauled away, then have the site cleaned up and the foundation hole dug. Interestingly, except for the burning, virtually all of this was done by one talented individual. He needed a spotter to help him dig the foundation hole to the correct depth and flatness, but did the rest himself.
• Had a new well drilled and the old one sealed and abandoned, because it would have been in the middle of the new foundation.
• Arranged for septic permitting. Fun history: the old houses didn't have septic systems, because they weren't a requirement way back when, and they drained to the creek. No, Cliff, we're not going to just see if we can let it slide through without one.
• Helped move things along to the point where we have a foundation poured and framing will begin in a few days!

On top of the house project, we also have our jobs. Sarah's has been going more smoothly with a year under her belt. Mine has a long way to go before it's quite that stable...

I've taken over many aspects of Cox Ranch Equipment. Last year I covered mainly the labor-intensive activities (shop work, deliveries, calling on customers, service calls). At the first of the year, I took over more of the money side and have learned a lot by untangling many questions that my dad never needed to answer. As I figure more out, more things should get smoother, but I've largely been my own mentor for those activities.

The winter was slow. Spring picked up some, and the season is just starting so I am hoping business picks up more, because it's hard for me not to be a pessimist otherwise. We've got a new house to pay for after all.