Pwtr02ss home build

[pwtr02ss]

Well, now that we can post a picture, I figured it's time to start my thread.

Back in 2023, we purchased 9.6 acres of land to build our forever home. This has been a long process that's been in the making for over 15 years.

I'll add more info as time allows, but I wanted a placeholder, just for @THE YETI

This is the day we signed the paperwork

 

[Tonyrodz]

Well, well, well.
Nice! Here for the progress.

 

[THE YETI]

nominated for thread of the year

 

[pwtr02ss]

When we bought the land, they had the property marker where the back of the Yukon is, in the above picture...this turned out to be wrong and the property line is the light pole.

First thing we did was clear a path to our creek. The creek is the property line for the opposite side of the property (at the bottom of the hill). This required the proper gear and accessories.

Chain saw, private property sign, carhartt's, and muck boots.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Once we cleared the path, we started picking out a home site.

We were originally going to build at the front of the property. We went back and forth for several months. I couldn't make the site work for the house and separate garage. There just wasn't enough space.

We decided that building at the back was going to be our best option.

 

[SirReal63]

I am going to tag along and enjoy this. My wife and I did the same in 2014, 8 acres with no utilities any where near us. I built 2 homes on it, a 40x70 main home and a 24x24 Casita, both Barndo style metal buildings with 14' side walls.

 

[pwtr02ss]

In April of last year, we met with our grading contractor and got the process started to cut a driveway. Final survey was completed, permit was applied for, and at the end of May, progress started.

First step was getting access to the back. It is covered in mountain laurel so they brought out a cutting head on a skid steer and got to work.

Walking up the hill

Looking down from the top

This is at the back of the property.

 

[Tonyrodz]

When we bought the land, they had the property marker where the back of the Yukon is, in the above picture...this turned out to be wrong and the property line is the light pole.

First thing we did was clear a path to our creek. The creek is the property line for the opposite side of the property (at the bottom of the hill). This required the proper gear and accessories.

Chain saw, private property sign, carhartt's, and muck boots.

View attachment 458618View attachment 458619View attachment 458620View attachment 458621View attachment 458622
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So since the marker was wrong, do you have more or less property then you thought you had?

 

[89Suburban]

Sub'd

 

[pwtr02ss]

So since the marker was wrong, do you have more or less property then you thought you had?

Less. I really thought we could just buy the land beside it so it didn't really matter at the time. Land survey was 4-6 months out and we had 14 days to make a decision after they accepted our offer. My concern was a perc test more than anything.

Once we closed on this property, I had my realtor go straight to work on the other. After a year of trying, using three different realtors, sending hand written letters, calling every number we could find, messaging family members on facebook, we decided to throw in the towel for now and get started.

I was hoping to get the property, A. because I wanted more land/privacy and B. because the grade work would have been SIGNIFICANTLY less. If it ever comes on the market, I hope to be able to buy it anyway.

 

[Tonyv__]

Honestly didn’t even realize they fixed the problem when I uploaded pics of my seat lol

Sweet! Ross has been strong armed into making a house build thread

 

[pwtr02ss]

Honestly didn’t even realize they fixed the problem when I uploaded pics of my seat lol

Sweet! Ross has been strong armed into making a house build thread

You're welcome.

 

[pwtr02ss]

We rough marked the driveway "path" with pink ribbon. This maintained at least 20' distance from the property line at the closest point of the clearing.

So anyway, they started blastin' (cutting).

This was eye opening for sure. The first time we got a general idea of what we were working with. The laurel was so thick, you couldn't tell much about the land.

Seeing it for the first time was very exciting and overwhelming.




Looking from the road

Starting up the path

At the top of the hill, looking down.

Yeah, terrible picture but it's the only one we have.

 

[THE YETI]

What's the survey look like? Just curious.

Does that little steam run through the lot? I dig that a lot.

 

[pwtr02ss]

What's the survey look like? Just curious.

Does that little steam run through the lot? I dig that a lot.

The survey is straight lines on the 3 sides (Front, left, and back). It follows the stream on the right side (facing the property from the road). We're hugging the left side property line with the driveway. The lot is like 300' wide at the front, 500 and change at the back. 1100' deep. All these are rough because I can't remember exactly.

 

[89Suburban]

Yeah having a stream rocks.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Next, we started actual dirt work. This began at the end of June.

I had hoped we wouldn't hit much rock and if we did, that it'd just break up with the bucket of the excavator. That dream was short lived.

First scratch of the surface. As you can see, the hill was too steep for the excavator and skid steer...

By this point, I knew I needed a drone to be able to tell the story better. I was having a hard time following along with pictures, and I'm the one that took em.

So, I bought a DJI mini 4 pro. Pretty neat contraption and gave a better perspective.

The property ends at the back tree line

Here is the first flight. Terrible, but gets better as we go. Don't judge too harshly. Available in 4k for those who care about that sort of thing

 

[THE YETI]

Someone left a steam shovel in your lot

 

[pwtr02ss]

Next, we started installing the storm drainage. This is where started finding rock that wouldn't just breakup.

They had to start hammering at the point to make room for the catch basin and get the remaining joints of pipe in the ground

This was also the first time we had been able to drive to the back. Pretty cool.

Next drone video. Not perfect but getting better.

 

[pwtr02ss]

I was really amazed at the amount of material they had already moved, along with all the rock! By this point, I'm sure our neighbors were thrilled with the mess we were making....

Oh well, it always looks worse before it starts getting better.

It started to take shape finally...