His lot is nice. It is also on the golf course with a big pond. There are reeds growing up in the water so there are tons of fowl. they have Koots,ducks, loons, Herons, and the white osprey. It was nice, but we wanted to be on ours.
While we were gone they poured the concrete which was colored and stained the original concrete to match.
They also started building our deck with a leaf pattern in it.
This deck pic is actually toward the end of the month because I had them take out another pillar.
They continued to work on the framing of the living room entertainment area and continued on the landscaping.
Living room, entertainment center, storage and storage benches
Kitchen counter on left with most of appliances; Island has micro, drawer, oven & storageSince we came back they have continued their work and we have had to make some changes. One was to change the shape of the entertainment center so it wasn't blocked from the kitchen, or so it wouldn't block the view.
We took out another pillar at the back of the deck to enlarge the deck and also because it was absolutely unnecessary.
During all of this build out obstacles keep getting thrown at us. The really frustrating thing is that they are outside changes.
The first step in all this is to submit a plan (drawing) to the Architectural committee here at Rancho. Once they approve it you go down to the county and get your electrical, roofing and plumbing permits. Due to the metal being used to build the walls and cabinetry we were not required to have a building permit from the county. The committee approved our plans and we obtained our permits in July. So we proceeded. Eric started digging and forming and Greg started putting in all the underground conduit for the electrical. Then we had the inspector come in for the underground electrical. It passed, but while here the inspector told me if we did not have a plumbing permit we could not cut a hole for a sink or run any pipes up to the counter or he would make us rip it all out. I passed this on to Eric. In the past you could do what are called "futures" and get everything ready but not hook it all up until you had the permit. We knew we could not get a plumbing permit until the septic system was certified and that was supposed to be done while we were on vacation.
When we got back we found that we had not been certified and in fact our septic sys failed and has to be fixed which will be a couple months from now (it is 4 Nov as I write this) Ok, so no washer, sink, dishwasher for a while. So we continued.. The counters got all built so Greg put in all the wires and boxes for switches, plugs, lights etc. The inspector came out to inspect his rough in and would not sign off because he wants Eric to have a permit for his walls. This is a change and they were not required when we built the walls. Frustrating. So Greg cannot go any further.
Meanwhile, Chris, who is going to build our Palapa was supposed to have submitted his new drawings to the engineer and get the new permit while we were gone but he never got to it. Now the county is really backed up and he has 2 weeks of no work because he is waiting on 3 permits and he hasn't even put ours in yet. We have no idea when we will have our palapa started.
Work progressed and we continue to be patient.
One day we decided to measure the width of our rig at it's widest point with the slides out. So we did and took these measurements over to our lot. We discovered that when the rig is in place with all the slides open there is only 2 1/2 feet between it and the counter on the island where bar chairs are supposed to go. Not enough room to get around if someone is sitting at the counter. So, we had to get them to move the counter. Much better now.
Themonth was coming to an end and someone wanted to rent Eric's lot for the entire month of November. Lucky for us and him. For us it meant we got to go back to our lot. So on the Friday of Halloween weekend they cleaned up our lot and we got to go home.
The next obstacle was that Pete of the Arch, committee came by and told me the President of the Homeowners Assoc was going to make me take out our Canary Palm because some of the branches hang into the street. He also told us the section behind our lot which has a mow curb and will have plants, decomposed granite, and flag stone has to come out because they don't want them to have them anymore. I was very, very, very unhappy about that. Then the following week, the straw that broke the camel's back, was that we can't have any 220 elec. which means no dryer or oven, AND all the appliances have to be built in with "door" covering them. I hit the fan. The electrical was the last straw and as I was talking to Eric about it he told me he had a meeting with the Arch committee that morning and would I like to come. OH YEAH! I had three hours to prepare so I grabbed all the paperwork I had pertaining to the CC&Rs, the Arch. committee guidelines, the HOA rules and regs and I went through them and I highlighted everthing that had to do with our lot. And I showed up. First sitting at the table were just two members of the committee, but while we were waiting for Eric who was stuck in traffic they went and got the Pres of the HOA and the secretary to take notes.
Now I have talked we two of the three committee members and the Pres of the HOA at various times since we started, making it clear that we were following the rules, not doing anything without permits, getting updates about the septic sys so we could get our plumbing permit etc. I actually have a good relationship with all but one member and that is only because he has been away and just came back. He is the one who told me about the tree and the back.
Well, I went through all my highlighted documents and pointed out the regs and how we had to have approval, and how they had approved everything and pointed out their signatures and the dates of the approvals etc and any changes they want to make for people building after me is fine and dandy, but they already approved me so stop f------ with me. They were first shocked, then impressed, then agreed with my point and stated that I was fine. Now my issue is with the county and only with the county and so I will have to go and talk to the honcho down there.
I will again have to point out that we have permits to do certain things and that changes they made after they issued our permit must affect those after us and they must honor the permits they gave to us. Soooooooo please fine family and friends, keep us in your thoughts and keep your fingers crossed that they will honor our permits and let us go forward with our plans or the whole thing will have been a total waste of a lot of money.
Mean while, here are more current pictures as of today (November 5th)
Our fountain in the center of the golf cart turn-around with its landscaping
Our view from the kitche into the dining and living rooms and deck
From the front with the rig on it
Utility area left and right are bike lockers, the center is for the washer, dryer and storage
The back extension which will have plants, decomposed granite and flagstone
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