For the past year, since having Delaney, we started realizing that a new home maybe in our future one day. The tiny front room we had moved Carter into wasn't ideal for a growing adolescent boy and plus we had concerns about the kids being "out of their dual language school" cluster and the long term effects that would have on constantly getting exceptions for them to stay in the Vineyard Ranch, Lopez, Regan school progression with all their friends they had known since kinder. Then, the final decision maker, was finding out in the summer of 2014 that Delaney was for sure NOT going to be able to continue in the same school path to Vineyard Ranch, as the older two had gone. Due to increased high demand and dramatic growth for the Spanish Dual Language program, the half mile away line of 1604 was becoming the hard cutoff and no exceptions or "grand-fathering of siblings" would be made. Although this was disappointing to hear, it is the news that got us started down this big path to change.
Early that Summer of 2014, we got serious about looking at houses just north of 1604 in Rogers Ranch. Without really ever spending time in this neighborhood that was aligned to Vineyard Ranch, this is the neighborhood I had just assumed we would jump to. Well, deciding to make an optional move from both a house and neighborhood that you adore, proved harder than we expected. After looking at a few of the best one-story houses, we had no motivation to make a move. We expanded our search into the deep heart of Stone Oak, which I swore I would never do and found gigantic houses, close together but even more worrisome, 5000 square feet but with only 4 bedrooms and horrific finish outs. Feeling so frustrated with what was out there, I will always remember the house I was standing in when Brigitte Perkins said to me, "I really think you might me the ideal candidates to build your own home." I had never given any thought to that idea until those words came out of her mouth. Some days, I don't know if I should thank her or should have ignored her!?
Over the last 2 years, we had spent a lot of time out at the Perkins new home in Fossil Ridge and although I had sworn I would never live that far out, the trade off of increased drive time to what you get for that time, becomes something we should consider and it definitely grew on us.
So how did our journey of building a custom home come to fruition:
August 31, 2014 - We found out, via Zillow, a lot had come available in Fossil Ridge. We rushed out there and walked around but we didn't love it's location plus it backed up to rooftops of another neighborhoods. But looking back, this definitely was the first big starting point for us getting serious about finding a lot.
September 1, 2014 - after talking about it for 6 months and keeping our eyes out for a lot with nothing good coming available on MLS, I decided to take Mike Perkins's advice and use the list he had printed for us way back in April of the available lots that were left in Fossil Ridge and write a heartfelt note to see if anyone was willing to sell to our family.
Sept 10, 2014 - We finished the 21 letters that didn't have homes built on their lots and we even had kids even sign their own names to add a personal touch. Letters went out.
Sept 21, 2014- We decided to start meeting with homebuilders. Our first official meeting was with Mattern Fitzgerald. We instantly fell in love with everything they said and Jason as a person. Since mailing the letters, we have heard from nearly half of the lot owners. Many just acknowledging our letter and the fact that they had recently purchased the lot and were hoping to build one day soon. We had one serious seller with a 1.7 acre lot available on Wilderness Ridge We received another call today about a lot three streets over from Perkins, with a steep slope up but with a great view. This week, Jason Mattern met us out at both lots to look around and help us make a choice. The funny thing was we even got emails and calls 10 months after sending the letters asking we were still interested in buying.
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| On way to see the 2nd lot we considered. |
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| 2nd lot we considered that was up on a hill, not as secluded. |
Sept 26, 2015 - We decided to move forward on the Wilderness Ridge lot that sloped down yet opened up to a large long flat area and had a large creek bad bottom.
October 25, 2014- We started a our year long driving around different neighborhood's including the Dominion, looking at potential builders' homes and exterior style.
October 31, 2014 - We went out to Menger Springs and met with Paul Allen for a couple of hours. We got some great ideas for home building but it still helped confirm our first meeting of Mattern.
Nov 6, 2014 - We closed on the land and spent Friday afternoon driving around The Estates at Canyon Springs to get ideas about exterior looks of homes.
November 7, 2014 - We got real serious about putting together a 65 page packet of detailed notes with over 50 pictures of overall feel that we wanted house. We weren't told to do this step but, to me, it seemed natural.
Nov 14, 2014 - 3 hour initial meeting with Leslie of MSA Architecture and Jason Mattern. We also starting meeting up multiple banks and we had one with RBFCU about a loan, this week. I remember getting up from that initial meeting feeling very confident and Leslie saying, "Well that was defiantly the most prepared anyone has ever come to a first meeting."
Nov 21, 2014- More home building tours with Trinity Builders and meeting with another lender about a loan.
Dec 6, 2014 - The initial plans came back. We were incredibly impressed with how well Leslie listened to us. We are continuing to meet with other builders. Recently - Dale Sauer. Each and every model home tour and meeting has helped us increase our knowledge in the process and also our confidence in our home builder we have chosen to move forward with - Mattern Fitzgerald.
Houzz has continued to be where I spend any and all free time but I know I need to be spending more time researching design and architectural aspects at this point.
We are debating on a pool. Up until now, for safety reason we decided against having a pool until Delaney was 4 or 5. But after talking to Scott Lay, we feel like it might be worth doing it at time of build.
December 19, 2014 - No-stop reading architecture and interior design books like crazy:
December 20, 2014 - Our second set of plans came back. I am nervous because it got bigger than I wanted. We are trying so hard to think long term, like in 10 years when kids start leaving for college but also trying to keep in mind that Delaney won't graduate from college for another 20 years.
Dec 24, 2014 - we had a 45 minute conference call with our builder, Mattern Fitzgerald, to ensure we were on the same page as far as design and budget and staying on track.
Dec 25, 2015 - After opening all the gifts from Santa on Christmas morning at home, we got dressed and took the kids out to the lot and surprised them and told them we were building a home and moving. It was SO MUCH fun and we have it recorded on video! The Perkins dropped by then and we all celebrated together and Addison got to officially tell Ella the news! Blake had even gone out the week before and tied a huge bow on one of the trees that he thinks we will be able to build a tree house in soon.
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| Hopefully, a year from now, we will have a beautiful house behind us. |
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| The Perkins came out to celebrate with us! |
Dec 30, 2014 - We submitted changes to architect to bring the house back down into our original parameters of size, under 3900 square feet, and made some changes around doorways to decrease some costs.
Dec 31-Jan 7, 2015 - I am continuing reading House building books and we are playing the floor plan through our minds as we wait for Leslie, the architect, to get back to us. I started an official plan for the house by getting card stock and making a sheet for every single room in the house. I can measure out the rooms exactly and write ideas I have for design and eventual decorations as they come to me. It feels good to have one place to write down all the ideas that I can carry with me for the next year.
February 2015 - Random things are in my head to start finding... like the little bit of animal print carpet for the Master Closet
March - May 2015: So much has tapped, this has definitely turned into a part time job. After staying close contact with Jason Mattern and staying in his guidelines, his bid for the house came back in late February and completely knocked the wind out of us - being at 20% over our budget. We literally did nothing for March and took slow, deep breaths and doubted everything. I see how so many people get to this point with full plans and end up buying an existing house and selling the lot. It was heartbreaking after butting so much effort into into the whole project for 8 months solid. In April and May, we decided we had to slow down and start talking seriously to other builders. Either they would confirm Mattern's price or we would be educated and getting a much better value. We had been recommend to talk to John Connell by a few people and Dale Sauer. So we started both of those long and slow conversations and series of meetings.
June 19, 2015 - After getting our first draft of our final architectural plan back and moved forward with electrical and cabinetry design, we had a 90 minute cram packed meeting with Leslie and invited John Connell to join us. We went through a HUGE detailed list about electrical changes and adds-ons, as well as cabinetry details.
July 1, 2015 - John Connell had his concrete people go out and use the plot and lay out exactly where the house would sit on the lot and how high the foundation would be. We were very surprised with how high the foundation was near the dog room. We met John out there a couple of days later and we discussed moving the house over 15-20 feet and angling it more towards the street to optimize blocking the west sun and the getting the most out of the flat backyard grass area. We are probably going to do one cut near the girls bathroom area to try to bring the foundation down some. John says as of July 3, he can have FINAL bid numbers in within next 2 weeks, he is just waiting on steel windows numbers and electrical and to visit live with his foundation person, one more time. Dale Sauer's still emailing us wanting us to sign on dotted line. We told them we are still waiting on 3rd bid as comparison. We have learned that each and every meeting empowers us and we learn so much that we can apply to the whole process. I am certain this attention to detail, slowing down and multiple bids will pay off.
July 6, 2017 - We received Leslie's changes back and have to go back through them with a fine tooth comb. Blake and I are having 5AM meetings in the mornings before we get going with our busy days.
July 7 - Blake went and met with Cody and Prestige Pools and both high level quotes were about the same. Blake preferred the Prestige's owner more.
July 27, 2015 - John was finally ready to meet with us to present the final bid he had for us - it was more than we had thought it would be from him. Apples to Apples with Sauer, it was only 8K less. This makes it so tough so we had to start considering all aspects including time to be in the house. With one, we felt like it would be 18 months out minimum and the other, we felt like there is a chance we could be moved in with in a year. This became a big factor.
August 1, 2015 - Regarding the pool, we decided we should just do it now. I was at peace with it as long as we designed it to have a completely separate fence around it. We contacted 5 pool companies - Prestige Pools, Keith Zars Pools, Cody Pools, Pool Concepts and Nick Thompson with Pristine Pools. We started getting designs and bids back. So far, we have liked Zars' design the best and Zars' bid came back in the middle, Cody - the lowest and Pristine Pools - over the top high!
August 3, 2015 - After they had consistently and appropriately continued to follow up with us via email and text, we decided to meet again with Dale Sauer today and we gave them our detailed spread sheet and told them what they would have to do to get competitive with the other bid. Since it had been well over 6 months since we had met with them, we gave them opportunity to rebid and stressed to them how serious we were about real steel windows. We left for San Diego the next day.
August 10, 2015 - We are feeling VERY READY to get signed and moving forward. We are more and more unsure if John could finish house by next May. This is concerning. He followed up this week after blake talked to him after his final bid presentation was higher than we anticipated. He said we would have to find creative ways to take 15K off of house.
August 20, 2015 - We had our last meeting with the Sauers to go over updated bid and specs. WE SIGNED and are FOR SURE MOVING FORWARD WITH DALE SAUER HOMES. This was a HUGE day and after 6 builder interviews and 3 full bids, we feel like it was ALL worth it and are 100% confident moving forward with Dale Sauer Homes. We even write check right then and there to get started!
August 25, 2015 - We met Sue with SPS Desgins out in New Braunfels to select EVERYTHING for the exterior - both rocks, stucco and trim color, grout, garage door, everything!!!
September 1, 2015 - We met Sue at Triton Stone for all counters and found my beloved White Macamus natural quartzite for the kitchen. We then went straight over to Stone Solutions to start selecting tile for all bathrooms, etc... There wasn't much there, so we went back to her office. After 4 hours, we had a basic frame work for what I wanted. This has been an exhausting process for me. Prior to each meeting, I have a 8-10 document laid out with pictures from HOUZZ, Pinterest and Instagram to try to keep my ideas organized.
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| Leathered Gray Pearl for outside kitchen at Triton - Level 3. |
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| Porcelain tile in a marble for master shower. |
September 2, 2015 - We submitted the house design to the Fossil Ridge HOA for approval and it came back approved in about 2 weeks.
September 4, 2015 - We met the landscape architect out at the land to get her started on a design. The lady that Dale recommended was the exact same woman who we had found 10 years ago to do our Buroak Rdg landscape design.
September 7, 2015 - Our design meeting this week was at Sue's office and she had pulled different tile options now that she knew what I liked. We are still struggling with master bathroom.
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| Middle right is what kitchen backsplash will be - the warm gray similar to what we have now and love so much. |
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| The girls bathroom will be a 8X8" black and white diamond chessboard. Decided to have a little bit of fun in a classic way! |
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| We are doing a porcelain tile in a slate look alike for Carter's bathroom floor. This will be paired with a white matte 3X6" subway tile with charcoal gray grout. |
September 8, 2015 - I decided to head out to True Blue on my own to start looking for remnants. It was 2PM and the hottest day imaginable. I found this beautiful piece and tons of man made quartz like Cesear Stones that I love.
September 2015 - The appraisal came back today and it was slightly lower than what we had thought so we decided to fight it with appraisal and added 3 new build properties since we are still waiting for Sauer to be ready. We ultimately have the appraiser more information and other local comparable houses to look at in the area and the appraisal came back great. This was a pretty stressful time.
September 21, 2015 - We had another 2 hour meeting at Sue's office confirming all tile for the house. Regarding many of the tile selections, I took matters into my own hands. Thanks to my last Friday's proactive tile hunting and shopping to American Tile - I found a 18" gray and white tile for the bathroom floor. I am super excited and confident that our selections came all together and on budget! We also started looking at wood floors but I feel that I need to go to a retail store that has ALL the samples for me to see. We also started discussing paint. We are throwing around testing out SW Snowbound for trim and doors, Eider White, Revere Pewter or 70% Revere Pewter for the walls. We also found a great super dark rich gray for the "Dutch Door" into the pet/utility room.
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| Here are the samples of the gray and white 18" squares I found for our master bedroom, paired with the marble tile for the shower and the marble hex for around the tub. |
September 22, 2015 - Blake and I had a meeting with SA based San Marcos Iron Doors and then I spent an hour on the phone the following day with Lone Star Iron Doors, out of Dallas area. I am leaning towards Lone Star because I think they will give me the overall look that I want and have been impressed with Matt, the owner. This is the look I am envisioning.
September 23, 2015 - Met back out at True Blue for Counters selection, this time with Sue, our interior designer for 2 hours. We found a beautiful quartzite reunite for dining room. We have found remninates for every single part of the house except our office and the outside kitchen. I will probably head back out there in 2-3 weeks to see if anything else great pops up. We also stopped by Metro flooring today and think we have found our hardwood floors - we are staying with our Shaw product just doing a darker non-red color, we are staying with 3" planks. Pictured below are our two top choices - The Mannignton and Shaw products, both within 10 cents of one another in wholesale cost:
September 24, 2015 - Dale Sauer emailed and said he is ready to go! Of course the appraisal update isn't back - otherwise bank said they can close us in five days. Of course, Friday at 5PM and still not appraisal update.
Picking out the finish outs for this house has seemed like a part time job. Mostly, it is right up my alley with lots of research and decisions. Blake and I gotten through it together it it has actually brought us closer than ever.
Over the months, we regularly take the kids out to the land to explore!
September 16, 2015 - We closed FINALLY on the house building loan. We choose a competitive one-time close mortgage that will allow us to put the entire amount of the sale of our Buroak Ridge house once we movie into new house and re-cast the loan with no fees. This was the biggest benefit and reason in our specific case.
Afterwards, over lunch, we headed out to the land to look around and make some more final decisions on house placement!
It's real! We are really going to be building! It's such a long process but we are happy with the time and research we have invested because we have NO doubts that we understand everything and are truly getting everything we want!
October 17, 2015- The first REAL day with activity on the lot. We happened to drive by on the way to soccer and the tractors had just pulled up to clear the lot! They were spine within 4 hours! Meme happened to be in town visiting that weekend!
4 hours later, the Perkins drove by to find a clear lot!
The next day- Sunday 10/18/2015: we all headed to the lot to explore!
This is the monstrosity being built next door to us. They have been clearing and framing for over 6 months!
Carter in the center below here:
Our very first F. R. Neighborhood Halloween! 10/31/15
After clearing, it was slow going with the cut! On 11/8/15- we finally had a partial cut and a port-a-potty delivered that same week! We are so blessed to have our best friends drive by almost daily to keep us updated on any progress being made. On this Sunday, we got to do some exploring in the far back along the creek bed. We also cleared out the cacti under our favorite climbing Oak Tree.
BLUEBONNET UPDATE: We planted bluebonnet seeds October 5, 2015 and they are coming up- now on 11/8/15!! Yea!
11/15/15- We quickly stopped by and think they have finally finished the main cut (which has taken an exact math to do since the lot was first cleared.) We are trying to be so patient but it is getting harder!
We have a detailed Instagram account to journal the next 10 months of actually building our dream home.
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