Day one and we mark all hazard spots to keep crews and city officials safe from falling in holes from old fence posts, also this tells the dig crew where I need a bucket of dirt dropped. Marking drive lets County officials see where we plan to enter the drive off the country roadway. There used to be a drive and old house here, so that made it pass highway and city officials quicker. Just a tip there. Also, I marked trees for demolition, we don't want those old Maple Tree limbs falling on our new tin roof; they must go! I'll plant some more hardy oaks or maple types later on. Now, is the time to mark any water or electric lines on the grounds. We have 9 water bib lines to the barn areas (where old barns used to sit as well) and we have the main electric box at the silo. So, mark those for the dig crew to stay at bay with heavy equipment. I'll call holy moly 7 days before the dig date.
All my approvals from county and highway are in for the final building permit, my surveyor has turned in the site plan, the officials came out and looked everything over and the county surveyor called with approval of both house and pond yesterday. I may need the pond for the extra backfill around house. I'm approving it now, so it won't hold up construction backfill times later!
Bringing in dirt can be about $5k to $10k add on to your foundation bill. Reduce that if you can. Why not pay to dig a pond instead?! I plan to dig 10' deep so that I can legally stock the pond with catfish and bass.
We have a eaterie up the road that buys fresh fish from locals. It's another money-maker as it's a very popular eatery around here.
If you can, have your surveyor put pins on drive location, and at least 2 front corners of your house location. I do four corners. But a good foundation company can shoot those pins when digging if they have one or two pins to go off of. Just more tid-bits there.
So, once I pass all my mini-subdivision approvals (development for a one house dwelling), I then get bids on my project while I get the building permits through. A late snow is coming and it looks like I could lose my fruit crop, I'm hoping not; I do depend on that for canning and giving away to the needy each year! Oh- boy!
Day 2; making sure all my ducks are in a row and nobody is missing in the schedule. Get a game plan and stick to it!
Most costly mistakes, is changing your mind or slow-to-show companies that do a half-hazard job that have to come back again. Never put your electricians and plumbers and HVAC in house at the same time; give them each their due time needed to get the job done. If they don't show up on time, then dble them up. Then they have no right to complain.
Be curteous though and expect the same in return. My crews are all great and work with my schedule with no issues as they know I bring in other jobs.
That gets me better pricing as well.
Be sure and have all your credit accounts set up for deliveries to arrive on time!
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The rest, well, we'll see you on the jobsite! Blessings!
Janie Pendleton