Two steps forward, and one back

So the elevations and remodeling all of a sudden came into focus! Well no problem as realistically we are doing less than 50% remodel.... (the as built portion! haha). But that 50% is from the assessed value not the SF. So our assessed value is $25K. TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND??? Is the tax dept smoking crack??? So we have to go get an appraisal and bring it up into the modern world!

The final design plan is coming together and apparent as we do a few more things each day and really know how we will use this house.  We do know we need to not get carried away with adding bedrooms!! All of sudden in our plans we had 5 bedrooms and 4 baths???? REALLY????? haha  So we are back to the realistic three and we did keep 3 baths and a powder room.

I tell all my clients to operate from a plan even if it changes sometimes. But have a direction! haha Now its time to take our own advice!

Our Water Supply

For those of you that don't know - we get our water from a catchment tank (it's the equivalant to a mainland cistern). Rainwater gets collected in a tank that holds about 5200 gal of water. Since we get 60+ inches of rain a year this size tank should be fine at most times of the year. (July/Aug might be a little sketchy.)

Matiu backplastering the k-11

We wont go into the politics of Kapoho Vacationland and the KKWA (Water association down here) but suffice it to say that a few days before the wedding we lost our other water source although we knew it was coming. Robert and the guys had been working on the existing catchment tank, refurbishing it and putting the k-11 on it.  Chris (my brother) helped Robert plumb the pressure tank and pump and within 3 days we were back in business. We now have a sustainable water system (as long as it rains, and if it doesn't we can order 4000 gals at a time!)

We filter it and it is probably way more drinkable than any city water. I usually have a load of clothes in the washer and as soon as it starts to rain, I turn the washer on and do laundry till it stops raining. You do have to think about adjusting your usage - unless you are from the desert and used to being spare with water!

Overall the project has cost us about $1500 - and we still have about $400 to spend on the UV filter. After about 50 months (4 yrs), our water will be free from there on! (Water from the KKWA runs about $60-90 per month.) We did weigh the option of having a well dug but we are too close to sea level to not be inundated by salt water.

This is the tank filling up from rainwater. We have two sides of roofs draining into it right now and we are adding a third today!

Builder's References

This is a subject that comes up again and again and again. When you are spending that much money - who do you trust?

An example I am going to use is Mrs. X They were building a house. She needed concrete done. She hired a good concrete guy. He got the job done well. She complains to everyone she knows - because the concrete is rough. Her concrete guy told her and also made her sign an acknowledgment - that it was not a good day to pour concrete. (it seemed like it was going to rain. It did rain. Hard.) and yet Mrs. X feels no need to acknowledge her mistake. She blames the concrete guy. (she has also complained about everyone involved in the project.)

My suggestion is - go look at their work. If you like it, use them. Go with your instincts.