Not so great news but gonna be ok...

I've been hoping all along that the house would be done by the end of January even though my contract is for a 2/15 closing date but I've had to push my closing date out 2 weeks, now to 3/1 because that's now when they're thinking it will be finished.  I was able to negotiate the price of some of the upgrades down as a result of the delay, but still not thrilled about having to live in a hotel for 9 more weeks after I go back to work in January.  Not much I can do about it I guess.

I spent all of Monday morning at the house and was joined by my mom, dad, and Liz.  The patio roof was finished, siding starting to go up, furnace and ducts installed, fireplace installed, plumbing finished, water heater installed, and master shower finished.

I met with the electrician and completed the electrical walk-through, placing every light, outlet, tv, and switch.  We ran into a problem with the electric meter placement and fuse panel placement because the gas was installed in an unexpected location.  So, that took much debate and figuring between the electrician, contractor, engineer, gas company, and the city, but I was left with only one option... to put the fuse panel where I originally wanted it in the basement and the meter where I did not want it on the outside of the house.  They will have to break the stonework and build a box around the meter but I think it will end up looking ok. At least I hope so.  That entire process only took a few hours.  We came up with a solution to the low windows in the master bath by adding can lighting above the sinks.  The only upgrades other than a few extra outlets and lights was rope lighting added in the tray ceiling and lights on the stairs that automatically come on when it is dark.

After that, I met with the audio guy and placed the speakers in the ceiling of the master bathroom, kitchen, patio, pool table room, and media room, and volume controls on the walls.  We also placed all of the cable outlets, phone lines, and ethernet lines.

Today, I updated loan application paperwork and was able to lock in my interest rate at 3.125% which is great!  Next steps will be to finish the siding, build soffits around the ducts, lower the bar ceiling, and begin the wiring.

Siding going up!

Ducts.

Fireplace.

Master shower body sprays.

Master shower controls.

Shower head and controls.

Ceiling shower head and glass shower wall.

Shower 1/2 wall.

Furnace.

Plumbing almost finished

I'm a little behind posting pictures but these are from last Wednesday.  I spent a few days with Austin & Michelle in the Quad Cities but had to take an extra-long route through Peoria to check on the progress.  I met with the plumber and finalized the master shower layout.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I actually spent a few hours in the house just looking everything over and meeting with the superintendent.  I noticed a few things I may need to follow up on.  The ceiling above the bar in the basement doesn't step down to a lower height yet, one of the archways is bigger than it was supposed to be, and I've got to modify the lighting plan in the master bedroom because the windows ended up having to be lower than planned.  Other than those few things, everything is looking great.  All of the shingles are on, the basement is framed, the closet and doorways are now in the storage room, the patio roof is progressing, the bathtubs and showers are installed, and most of the plumbing is complete.  The plumber was planning on being finished by Thursday.  On Monday, I'll be back to meet with the electrician and go over the electrical plans and that work will begin shortly after.

Vents.

Master bathtub.

Master bathtub.

Master bath sinks.

Master bath toilet. 

Washer & Dryer hookup.

Back of upstairs bathroom tub/shower.

Upstairs bathroom sinks.

Upstairs bathroom toilet.

Upstairs bathroom tub/shower.

Upstairs bathroom tub/shower.

Patio roof before trusses.

Garage bathroom plumbing.

Garage bathroom plumbing.

 

1/2 Bath Plumbing.

Basement shower.

 

Basement shower.

 

Media room arched entrance.

Storage room closet.

Utility room doorway.

Utility room doorway and storage room closet.

Storage room looking towards bar area.

Completed roof.

Patio roof.

Patio roof.

Patio roof.

Latest updates

It's been a few days since I've had a chance to post an update but there has been a lot going on lately!  The patio and front porch have been poured and it looks like they are getting ready to start framing the roof above the patio.  The roof is probably 3/4 of the way shingled and looks great.  The big window above the front door was installed and I love it!  The second floor supports were removed from the garage (it is all one big open space now) and the dining room, a wall built in front of the stairs, pocket door frames installed, master bedroom tray ceiling framed, master closet floor put down and closed in, and the studs put up around the basement foundation walls.

I met with the plumber last week.  I added an additional water hook-up in the garage, moved one on the outside, placed the gas line for the grill, got hook-ups for a water softener and second water heater if I ever decide to add them, placed a gas line in the garage for a garage heater, and moved the washer/dryer hook-ups so they will stack.  The only thing left is to figure out is how the master shower is going to be set up but I have until Wed. to decide.  Plumbing starts tomorrow!

I'm actually done working for the year and am staying in Macomb until Jan 2 but it's going to be hard to stay away.  I think my next trip to the house will be on Wed. on my way to the Quad Cities to go over a few things with the plumber.

Back patio.

Back of the house.

Shingles.

Shingles above garage doors.

Lumber for patio roof.

Front porch concrete.

Front door from the outside.

Front door from the inside.

Wall in front of stairs.

Shingle progress.

Shingle progress.

Supports removed from garage.

Patio roof beginning.

Dining room entrance opened.

Basement walls.

Basement walls.

Basement walls.

Basement walls.

Master bath pocket door frame.

Master bedroom tray ceiling.

Master closet floor.

Powder room pocket door.