Moving Forward…

We have started digging! This is huge, and it was a long time in coming. But I guess that’s been true of everything so far, right? Maybe I should just be adjusting my expectations. We had a few setbacks along the way to getting the basement dug, so it’s amazing to see an actual big hole in the ground where our house will go!

I’ll admit though, my excitement is very much tempered by the sobering reality of trying to build a house right now. This is what is represented by the “…” in the title of this post. I want it to be, Moving Forward!!!! There aren’t enough exclamation points to convey the excitement for that progress, especially after how long it took to get digging. After a couple of false starts getting the big digger moved, it finally arrived on the property only to break down after pulling a few stumps. The part needed to fix it was backordered, which meant that giant excavator sat motionless for 2 whole weeks. Now 17 truckloads of stumps were hauled away this past weekend, leaving us, finally, with a flat piece of earth suitable for building.

But meanwhile, lumber prices kept climbing.

And I am excited, really very excited at the prospect of getting started. But I’m also thinking a lot about the hard truth of how hard it is to build a house this year, and that’s damping my enthusiasm a bit.

People have asked me a lot recently, how are you doing with the lumber prices? Are the lumber prices affecting you much? So I’ll just answer that directly – it’s not good. We pored over those plans, we sweat every detail and every square foot to include everything we needed and nothing we didn’t. We designed it with simplicity in mind to keep the costs as low as possible, and we are stretching as far as we can to try to build something that will meet the needs that are trying to meet for our family and beyond.

So to have all these plans made, and then to watch as the price climbs higher and higher without an end in sight, it’s kind of a sickening feeling, honestly. It feels like a kick in the gut every time I change the price column in the spreadsheet to calculate the new total.

I’ve had a lot of doubts and worries about trying to make it all work. I’ve wondered if we should wait, if maybe now is not the right time. Some obstacles you have to bust through, but then others are caution signs that should be heeded. How do I know which one this is?

I mentioned in my last post the average house build cost is up $37,000. I think an average house is probably about half the size of this one, so looking at my lumber budget that sounds about right.

But I don’t want to sit here and dwell on the worst case scenarios, because we’ve decided now is still the time to move forward. How is it going to work out? I’m not sure. But we’re going to try. I’ve heard we’re probably 2 years away from any meaningful drop in prices, and we aren’t willing to wait until 2023 to build this thing. But that decision to move forward is causing 2 big problems:

1 – Cutting corners. I budgeted for some decent vinyl plank flooring throughout the house that would hold up well to wear and tear. Not crazy expensive, but middle of the road stuff. Same for cabinets, countertops, bathroom fixtures, etc. Moving forward means cutting every corner that we can. So cheap flooring, cheap cabinets and counters, re-store vanities, etc. Wherever there is something we don’t need in order to get occupancy, it will have to wait. The concrete driveway is out. Same with the small patio. But even so, there just aren’t enough corners that can be cut, which is leading to the second problem.

2 – Cash flow. Ordering materials with long lead times means tying up money until those items can be installed and I can draw from the construction loan for them. That loan money can not be accessed until the materials are already purchased and installed. Buying cheaper items from big box stores means cash up front, not buying on account. My home equity loan was going to be that in between cash option for ordering things like that, but the increased prices of the very first commodity I need to purchase means that won’t be an option moving forward. That problem is going to mean slower progress while waiting for payments to catch up before ordering materials.

So right now I’m thinking a lot about material cost and cash flow, 2 things that did not occupy my thoughts a few months ago.

But then I’m also amazed walking around this property that was so heavily wooded not so long ago, that now is a big open area where our yard will go. I’m able to stand and look out over what will be the front yard, and the back yard. The trees have grown in green all around now, which makes it all look so fresh and alive, and like we’ve just carved this yard out of the middle of a forest. I walked a little bit in the woods behind the property this morning and remember how much I love walking in the woods, and how fortunate I feel to have such an amazing spot in the middle of this city.

And we really can’t wait to be able to live there.

So if you see me and ask about the house, yes I’m really excited about it. My face probably won’t show it because I’m also feeling the weight of the whole thing, but it’s there. I’m excited to begin. The foundation is being poured soon. Floor and roof trusses are being ordered, so we’ll have materials on site within a few weeks.

Pray for us, please. Pray for everyone building a house this year, actually. I’m thinking specifically of some friends who are living in their camper while they build their house, so maybe pray for them first and then for us:). We’re all just hoping to be able to get materials and be able to afford the end result. It’s tough on everyone.

It will help to have pictures of an actual structure being built soon! Until then, here are some property, woods, stumps, and a (then) broken down excavator:)

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