ᐅ Waiting as a Homebuilder – What Are You Doing?

Dear future homeowners,

Eventually, after a longer or shorter planning phase, comes the waiting period.
The time between submitting the building permit / planning permission application and receiving approval—the waiting for the go-ahead.

What do you do in the meantime? Check the kitchen, review appliance tests, feel resigned, visit the plot, count shoes, measure clothes hangers, mentally saw up furniture, search online for new furniture, take measurements, plan niches in non-load-bearing walls, buy a garden planner, dig out a Feng Shui book, visit the plot again, call the bank, move the bed back, relocate a door, measure again, doubt the floor plan, measure the design for the umpteenth time, take B vitamins, visit the plot once more, look up sports clubs in the new town, choose tiles, plan sliding doors, go on a shopping spree, order some lamps in advance, check what Ikea offers, doubt the floor plan again, plan niches, call disability insurance, browse forums, doubt the entire house, think “if only we had,” take a mental break, watch Semmelings, pull your hair out, visit the plot again, measure again, annoy forums, ask “what if?”... What do you do during this grey zone?

Best regards,
yvonne

Hello Yvonne,

I could relate quite well to your text, except for a few minor differences due to personal preferences. During the week, I work and travel a lot, so usually only the weekends are available to focus on the house. But nevertheless, the impatience is there: why does everything take so long; when will things finally move forward...

For us, the demolition of the old house is currently a highlight. Next week there is still a meeting with the notary to finally complete the sale of the plot to us. Then there’s also another kitchen viewing – somehow I have to use up the remaining vacation from last year.

Otherwise, as I said: I could really relate to your text...

I wish you the necessary patience and much success!

Best regards,
Michael

Have contractors prepare bids for each trade, compare them, and continue searching for the best value for money. Coordinate again with the construction manager, possibly choose new companies not based locally, and request bids for each trade again. I can’t really see any waiting period on our end.
However, we are doing separate contracts for each trade and are busy around the clock 🙄

Hello Yvonne,

although we haven’t submitted the building permit / planning permission application yet, we have finished the initial floor plan design. Now it’s time to focus on the kitchen. Meanwhile, the soil survey is being conducted and the architect is working on the plans.

I’m already quite excited, but I want to resist the urge to go on a shopping spree and keep reminding myself not to order supposed bargains online. After all, they’d have to be moved as well 🙄

If it really comes down to it, I will probably be busy decluttering. We have so much stuff in the basement, pantry, and cupboards that really needs to go.

If you’re bored, feel free to come by 😉

Best regards,
Julia

@Chasqui, I need a vacation too, but I'm saving it up until I can't go on anymore 😉
@nordanney: with turnkey construction, you don’t have to worry about that 🙂
@Jaydee: I'm already deleting all the newsletters, but recently some ridiculously expensive lamps caught my eye at a low price 🙄 ...
I dread the decluttering... I’m not a basement dweller... everything has to go... my husband will have to handle that.

... yesterday it was my wardrobe’s turn, but I was able to redesign our new dressing room to include 1 meter (3 feet) more storage space. Just need to convince the architect now 😎