Scratch That

July 13, 2008 by Black Belt Mama · 8 Comments
Filed under: Building the BBM House

On Saturday morning, we met with the builder rep and completely changed all of our exterior colors, with the exception of the trim and window heads. We totally panicked. While driving through the development after selection, we realized we chose the wrong stone. I hated the stone we chose, up on an actual house.

So, we switched our siding to "frost" (white), our shutters to "midnight blue," and also chose our stucco color (light grayish white) and roof (slate). We basically recreated another house that we like that’s in the next development.

I told the builder representative that this was the last time I’d be "bothering him about this." He laughed and said, "Yeah right." I told him to remember that I specifically said "about this." I gave myself an out, so I can complain and change my mind about other things. It’s one thing to spend a lot of money on a shirt that you don’t like. It’s an entirely different thing to pick out the colors for your dream house and choose wrong.

Speaking of "wrong," we also got our inspection report on Saturday from the marathon home inspection. Apparently we have a radon problem. The EPA recommends that homes have a radon reading under 4.0. Our two cannisters came back at 4.2 and 4.9. Of course, the buyers want us to install a radon mitigation system and retest. I feel sort of like Leona Lewis right about now. "I keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding" because I feel like I’m being completely bled dry of any money I was going to have to buy things like tissue holders and towel bars for the new house.

While Mr. BBM was all zen about it, I was fired up. We’re already giving them seller’s assist in no small amount. I’m not thrilled about having to spend more money on the house I’m leaving in just two weeks. My realtor also thought it was a little ridiculous. The levels were only slightly over normal and those levels can vary depending on the season, humidity level, etc. I read online that they recommend you retest if the levels come in below 5.0 before you put in a radon mitigation system, because you may not really even have a problem.

The problem is that we don’t really have time and I doubt the buyers would want that anyway. Lately it seems to be all about what the buyers want, and I’m not a give-in kind of girl. I told Mr. BBM that if we put this system in, he can expect me to be unpleasant at closing. I don’t know what he’s more afraid of: the possibility of the buyers walking, or the prospect of dealing with a grumpy me at closing.

If I were him, I’d be afraid of me.

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Selection

July 11, 2008 by Black Belt Mama · 4 Comments
Filed under: Building the BBM House

We met our realtor and the builder representative today at the design center. It took us just under three hours to pick most of our colors, lights and other items. Keep in mind that we have to meet directly with the kitchen people and the flooring people within the next few weeks. I know those visits will take hours too.

We chose the color "bone" for our siding which is an off-white. We chose "classic blue" for our shutters, front door and sidelights. We picked white window heads and cottage white colored soffit, gutters and downspouts to match the siding. We also picked a gray stone for the center column of the house and up to the windowsills on the front and garage. We panicked after we left when we realized we picked the wrong stone. We want the stone that’s on a pre-existing home and so we called the selection agent and left a message for him to call us back asap. If we don’t catch him before he copies it and sends it off to the multiple foremen working on the site, we can pretty much forget getting the stone we want.

We’re still up in the air about the stucco color for the doorway. They didn’t have the choices there for us so we have to go back; and he wasn’t sure whether or not we can get the blue toned roof we want.

We picked our exterior lights (satin nickel) and our interior lights (satin nickel). We also chose white marbled tops for our vanities and door knobs for the entire house (pewter levered ones).

Now we’re negotiating to upgrade our hardwood floors to tigerwood and for granite countertops and some staggered cabinets. We wanted to have it all wrapped up nicely today, but it looks like we won’t have it completely done until sometime next week.

It’s all very confusing. We got credits back for not using their mirrors in the bathrooms, and a credit for the kitchen light that looks like a hanging nipple. No thanks. If I want to see something like that I’ll consult National Geographic. If you don’t believe me, just do a google image search for "boob light" and just image that, but more suspended from the ceiling. We’re picking pendant lights instead. We have to make appointments with all the subs who will be working on our house. We even have to meet with the electrician once our house has been framed to tell him where we want outlets to be located. Shouldn’t he know this better than I would?

Tomorrow we’re going to go browse appliances and maybe pick them out. We have some time, but we just want it all decided. We were told that we’ll have our basement within the next week to 10 days and that once the beams and lumber are delivered, our home will be framed up in about a week. By the time school starts I should have some interesting pictures to share with you instead of just a field with some stakes in it.

Mr. BBM and I didn’t argue about anything. We pretty much agreed on everything. I’m thinking that trend won’t continue once we get to flooring and counter-tops. While we were talking about pricing out options, the agent was telling us that if we want anything special when it comes to excavation, we’ll have to talk to a certain sub. Mr. BBM says, "you mean like in case we want a moat or something." After three hours of staring at siding, stone, lighting and fixtures, you get a little bit punchy. I about fell out of my chair laughing because Big I would so love a moat.

It’s overwhelming alright, but I have to say. . . so far, I’m having a blast and enjoying every second of it.