I get the keys to my new place on April 16th!!

[Mister T]

It was last August that I made a huge leap, and decided to build myself a brand new home. I've been living in the same old house for some 24 years now, and it's time to move to a much newer place.

Neatest thing was getting to decide on what options I wanted, sort of like ordering a new vehicle, which I've never done. It has been a somewhat tenuous process making decisions about lighting, plumbing, paint colors, and especially kitchen cabinets. I think I made all the right choices, and oddly enough, the kitchen was the easiest, as I've always liked natural maple.

Since you all love pics, and since I'm too stubborn to quit using my 35mm SLR camera, we had to do things the old fashioned way, with film.

So here for your viewing pleasure, are some pics from last August to about four weeks ago.

This is the lot I started with last August.

This is from the back yard toward the street.

Another view from back the back yard.

There is a lake about a 9 iron shot from my back yard, I'll have to test that distance out.

And here is the aforementioned lake, no fish in it though, might have to do a midnight walleye stocking, mmmmmmm fresh walleye.

Now this is just dispicable, Mopar junk on MY property.

Here's the foundation, with piles driven down some 20 feet below the walls. The idea is to minimize basement wall cracking. One of those rods took some of my blood too.

This is my $1800.00 steel beam, which eliminates one basement telepost, allowing for a larger room, such as for a pool table.

Some floor joists, sort of need them.

The walls are finally up!!!!!

Mmmmmm, My jetted tub goes here. Don't mind the snow.

All closed in!!!

This will be my kitchen, look out Martha Stewart and that Emiril guy.

My living room, oh where to put the Lazy Boy and TV.

I just love this vaulted entrance.

Oh, what's this, a wine rack for a beer drinker, maybe I'll get "cultured"

Hey, my truck fits, most excellent.

[Smartin]

Congrats, Tom!!! Brace for thousands of $$ in unforseen expenses with buying a new home...

[Mister T]

Congrats, Tom!!! Brace for thousands of $$ in unforseen expenses with buying a new home...

Thanks Adam. Yes, I'm already seeing some of them. 6 new appliances, I'll need window coverings too, and probably some new furnishings, and who knows what else.

Well I do have my old place to sell, and it's paid for.

[Rick]

Looks great! Best of luck with your new house!

[NSBound]

Well done, Tom! Interesting pics, especially (to me) the interior shots showing how they used the roof trusses. . I am about to jump in to the same type of thing, just waiting for the final construction quote based on plans to see if I can afford what I want to build.

[Dana & Beth]

Congrats Tom,
The house looks good, love the pictures of the progress. Best of luck on selling your old one too.

Beth

[pwm72]

Congratulations Tom, there is nothing like moving into a brand new house.
I wish you all the best.

[BignastyGS]

Awesome Tom...
We are hoping to sell this house and build a ranch style house (with a 40x80 pole shed and cement floor with one door) in the next 6-7 years on my 9 acre wooded lot. I am lucky enough to have had a trailer on the lot 10 years ago,so water,electric and a septic system are already on it. Now to just add a house.

[Steve Reynolds]

Hey Tom, it looks great!

I too will be thinking of a new house vs a fixer upper, in the next year. There sure is much to think about. I built my current home about 18 years ago. (Where in the heck does that time go?) It seems like just yesterday I was in the building process! Built my first shop about 15 years ago, and just finished my new storage building/shop last fall. (Yes it sucks that I will be giving it up after finally getting it where I want it!!)
I might consider moving to a warmer climate though. Still not sure about that, as my job is great and it's the only real thing keeping me here now. Not that I don't like Wisconsin, as it is a truly nice place overall, I just really need a change, if you know what I mean!!
Some questions about the new home,

What is your square footage?
What was your estamated cost per sq ft?
Did you do any of the work yourself, or all contracted?
6" walls?
20' below wall level with footings? Wow, I thought we had frost!

Just trying to get some ideas based on different parts of the country.
Anyway,... it sure looks nice!!
Thanks, Steve

[Mister T]

Hey Tom, it looks great!

I too will be thinking of a new house vs a fixer upper, in the next year. There sure is much to think about. I built my current home about 18 years ago. (Where in the heck does that time go?) It seems like just yesterday I was in the building process! Built my first shop about 15 years ago, and just finished my new storage building/shop last fall. (Yes it sucks that I will be giving it up after finally getting it where I want it!!)
I might consider moving to a warmer climate though. Still not sure about that, as my job is great and it's the only real thing keeping me here now. Not that I don't like Wisconsin, as it is a truly nice place overall, I just really need a change, if you know what I mean!!
Some questions about the new home,

What is your square footage?
What was your estamated cost per sq ft?
Did you do any of the work yourself, or all contracted?
6" walls?
20' below wall level with footings? Wow, I thought we had frost!

Just trying to get some ideas based on different parts of the country.
Anyway,... it sure looks nice!!
Thanks, Steve

Steve, the floor plan is 1268 sq ft.
Approx cost per sq ft would be around $111.50, which rises depending on what extras get chosen. I'll be around $145.50, since I selected a bunch of extra cost options.

I was also considering a previously owned home, however, the real estate market here is still going crazy, something like half the houses sell for more than asking price. Plus you don't really know what you are buying, as adding a home inspection to the conditions might mean sellers just go to the next offer. There was a rash of grow ops busted up here, and there was no requirement for sellers to disclose such info to potential buyers.

In the end, building brand new was a little more expensive, but I got to choose what I wanted, plus watching it go up was cool. I've taken about 200 pics so far, lots of them are mundane things, like wiring and plumbing, wall stud location, all the headers around the doors and windows, roof trusses, etc., before drywall went up.

It is all contracted, as I simply do not have the time, or know how to construct the entire building. I could do some of the work, but why bother. I'll be insulating and drywalling the garage at a future time, and adding a storage shed in the back yard.

Probably build my own deck too. I'm also going to take on most of the landscaping, since my lot isn't that huge.

Yes, the exterior walls are 6" thick, plus I built to something called "Power Smart", meaning extra insulation, etc. I also get a $1000.00 rebate on my hydro bill.

Deep footings really help, as our frost line is usually 4' to 4.5' below grade. That and our soil is something known as "Red River gumbo", a very fine clay. In places this stuff is 60' thick. It would be cost prohibitive to go down to bedrock, unless you're building a MacMansion.

Thanks for asking, and take care of yourself, every new day will be better than the one before.

[APVGS]

Hey Tom Later,Tony.

[Skwee-G]

Are you going to throw yourself a little house warming soirée?