Let the Contracts Begin!

So today was another big day in this process of building. Today we signed the construction contract with our builder outlining our home plans, allowances for lighting, fixtures, flooring etc as well as the upgrades we were requesting from the start. Greg and I have spent the last several days racking our brains just to be sure we weren't missing something we wanted to include. It seems like such a large and daunting task to outline all of this now at the start. Who know what we may want 2 months down the line?!! Our builder has let us know that we can make changes to the house during construction with a change order form, but it will probably end us costing us. Hence why we have tried so hard to make sure every little thing we have questions about we have addressed over and over with the builder and put special requests right in the contract. Silly us, we keep telling ourselves the better we plan now the easier things will be when the actual construction starts. Funny right? We actually have kidded ourselves into believing that this will be an easy process! I think if we are both willing to be honest we know this is going to be so much more challenging then we even thought it could be. But let's be honest, we both feel so happy to be in a position to build a dream home that it wouldn't seem right if it wasn't a hard, tiring emotional rollercoaster. We signed up for this so let the games begin!

Also, since we are building in a neighborhood, we set our Realtor on the task of getting the Homeowner's Association contact info. They will have to sign off on our house plan, exterior building materials, house position on the lot, landscaping and the list goes on and on it seems. I would much prefer that they just "trust us" and let us get on with it but I know people worry that some crazy will come into the neighborhood and build a pink and white polka dot house that will be a nightmare to have next door. (No judgement if you have a pink and while polka dot house, just sayin' that many might not think your house is great for their resale value if you are next door) So very soon I will be in contact with the Homeowner's to get the plans approved so there is one less thing to worry about and we can get on with breaking ground.

Did I mention how excited we are that the breaking ground could be occuring in just 3 short weeks?!! Well we are super psyched!!! Never having been very patient, this whole waiting thing is sure to be tough. I plan on using my time to tirelessly search the internet for house building ideas, decorating tips and just go plan crazy on Pinterest. It will be to our builders benefit to make sure we break ground soon or I am sure I will just be driving him plain crazy with something "awesome" I saw on Pinterest that I just have to have :)

Lastly, my mother asked me to include a picture of the lot before we break ground. So here it is. The picture doesn't seem to do it justice. This lot is at the end of a cul de sac and sits up on a hill with an awesome view. The first time we met the builder at the site he remarked how cool it will be when a storm is rolling in to sit in the house and have a front row seat. Our thoughts exactly!