So...big news...we're building a house!
We are so so so excited! Yet, at the same time, I don't feel that excited. When I talk about the house, look at the plans, visit our lot/house, or blog about it, I get really excited, but just day to day, randomly thinking about it...I don't feel that excited, but I think it's cause it just doesn't feel real! I wonder when it will hit me...
Anyways, here's the story! Our cousin Ryan works for Richmond American Homes, and one day (actually it was at Gemma's birthday party) he mentioned something about his community to Tyler and they got to talking and came to the conclusion that us building with him might possibly be in the cards for us! So sometime mid August (wish I could remember the date!) we went to Ryan's model and started talking. The following week we took some time to think (and pray!) about it.
We both felt it was right. Things just started falling into place. Decisions, big and small, we made weeks and months beforehand, made it possible for us to do this, even though we had JUST bought a car, and weren't planning on buying a home for another year!
So, we got the ball rolling!
....
August 28, 2015
(The day after our 5 year anniversary! Happy Anniversary to us!)
It became official! We signed all the contracts and from there we just had to wait for a phone call to schedule our Home Gallery visit. The Home Gallery is where we got to choose all our options and upgrades for our home!
September 29th
Our first Home Gallery appointment! I was so excited for this part! I knew exactly what I wanted for the kitchen and for the flooring in the entry/living room/kitchen, but beyond those things I wasn't picky about the rest of options.
I'm obsessed with the flooring we chose! I love the dark wood and texture on it!! I heard that dark wood floors are kind of a pain cause dust shows up on it like crazy, but I don't care. I love these floors so much that having to Swiffer them every other day will be worth it!
Our banister/railing will be white, with the post that is on the far right.
We will only have carpet in the bedrooms. I was going to choose the one on the top right, but Tyler liked the top left one so we went with that. (I didn't have a strong opinion on it, either way)
"E-granite" sink. Ours will be white.
The large gray tile is what will be in our bathrooms!
I love my floors, I love my cabinets, I love my marble counters!! Can't wait for my kitchen!
(The far left is the granite we chose for the bathroom counters)
October 9th
We had a second Home Gallery appointment to go over everything, make changes if needed and then finalize! After that it was just a waiting game for the permits before the builders could begin.
I got a call from Ryan letting us know he got our permits and to schedule a meeting with the construction manager. I think it was either that day or the next that they started digging. I was still in California so I wasn't able to run over there and check it out!
We had our meeting with the construction manager, Bernard. The meeting only lasted about 20 minutes and we walked away feeling like this whole thing is a little more real.
The foundations are up!
This is the front of the house! I'm happy with the direction our house will be facing. The morning sun will come into our bedroom, dining area, and living area. The evening sun will come into the front entrance and Gemma's room. The best part is the hot afternoon sun will be mostly on our garage, and just one bedroom wall! (And our master bath).
November 18th
Backfill (is that what it's called?) is done!
I love how many tumbleweed are in our basement. It made me laugh.
November 23rd
Basement has been poured! No more tumbleweeds...for now!
December 9th
Tyler sent me this picture while I was in Disneyland!
December 13th
We visited the house quick for an update, and it's crazy how much has been done! You can finally tell what our house will kinda look like!
(this was actually Dec 12. We just ran in to see it, but went back the next day to take pictures)
The view from our garage
South side
The back! This is facing east.
North side!
The view from our back door. Love the view of the mountains. It's a shame they'll be mostly covered by other houses ;)
Now for the inside!
In this photo, Tyler is standing in our master closet.
Awesome sunset. So excited to see many more with this view! Lucky us, there will be a park right behind that house, so our view won't be blocked!
Master bath.
Master bedroom!
Full view of the great room.
Tyler in our dining nook.
Front entrance!
Tyler standing in our guest bedroom.
Tyler, standing in Gemma's room!
Front entrance/hallway
December 18th
I didn't take a picture, but the roof is done! Shingles and all!
We got windows! Can't wait to see them on the house!
Bathtub in 2nd bathroom
Laundry room
Fireplace framing!
January 9th, 2016
We've visited here and there, but not frequently, and not a whole lot has changed. Most of the windows are in. Our fireplace is in. There are stacks of the drywall in the house waiting to go in. All the wiring is done! We're pretty excited, but I still have yet to feel the "come on, come on, be done already" feeling! :)
February 16th
It's been a while since I updated. The outside of our house is mostly done. Drywall is up! All the rooms look so much smaller now that the walls are up.
I'm beginning to feel nervous that I won't like some of the options I chose. Like, will I regret the floors I chose? Or having the banister be white instead of dark to match the flooring? I guess we'll see!
February 25th
So much has happened!! They put our cabinets in as well as a banister around the stairs. Our appliances are here too!
Something they will be fixing...hanging the drywall too low over the closet! Whoops!
March 3rd
They've painted and they put the tile in! I'm happy with the color we chose, but now I'm wishing I had chosen 12x24 tiles instead of 12x12. Oh well! Still looks nice!
Just a view of the mountains from down the road.
March 10th
Our counters and light fixtures are all in! And we have a garage door! Oh, and under all that red paper on the ground- our wood floors!! (Well, laminate).
March 24th
Getting closer!! Here, Gemma is pulling painter's tape off the floor. We put it down to get an idea for where our couches would go.
April 4th
Just a short visit to our house again!
So...the carpet. Some of our carpet was stolen, so they had to put this mismatched carpet on the stairs temporarily to pass inspections. They switched it to the right carpet within a week.
Took our first (and probably not the last) family bathroom selfie!
April 13th
The one photo I took the day we moved in! Should have taken a photo of everyone who was helping!
On April 12th, 2016 we closed on our house! The very next day we got our keys and began moving in! We had plenty of help from family and we're grateful for it! We can't wait to start unpacking and decorating!! Once we're really settled, I'll post pictures of the inside of the house all done!
We are so so so grateful to Ryan and all his help! He really helped this dream of ours come true! Richmond American has been great too!
We are also very grateful for all the people who helped us move out of our apartment and into our home, and all the people who took us in while we were "homeless."
Aunt Kimi and Uncle Matt especially! We were lucky enough to stay with them quite a while! My parents, Tyler's parents, Paul & Jennifer Frampton, Megan & Travis Golledge, Cameron & Marissa Conover, Ryan & Rachel Bailey.
And thank you to Tyler's dad (Steve), my whole family and Corey for helping us move!!
But...
The two people we owe the biggest thanks to is Ryan and Rachel Bailey! Ryan, of course for all the work he did to help us build our house, but on top of that, he and Rachel allowed us to store 95% of our belongings in their garage and basement for 2.5 months! We took up most of their basement and most of their garage. They weren't able to use their trailer cause our furniture was on it, nor were they able to park in their garage for that time. I know that Rachel was dying to get her house and rooms rearranged and she couldn't until our stuff was out, and I appreciate the sacrifice they made for us! We are forever grateful for that! Their generosity was one of the biggest blessing we received throughout all of this.
So thank you thank you thank you! We love you guys!
We are immensely blessed and not a day will go by that I won't feel lucky to have a home we can call our own. We are ready to start making memories!
