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
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
We completely redid the floors and walls, except for the bathrooms. In hindsight, that was probably a mistake, since the subcontractor tiler provided by the house builder did a poor job, unfortunately still within all tolerance limits. I should have insisted on doing it myself.
So, here’s what we actually did:
Primed 600 sqm (approximately 6,460 sq ft) twice
Installed 1,200 meters (about 3,940 ft) of wallpaper (65 rolls)
Painted everything twice
Laid 100 sqm (about 1,080 sq ft) of cork flooring
Had 30 sqm (about 320 sq ft) of tiles installed
Laid 40 sqm (about 430 sq ft) of parquet flooring
We needed nine full weekends and eight additional days, sometimes with just one helper. This was far more time than we initially estimated.
We probably saved around 7,000 to 9,000 euros.
I’d rather not count the hours spent wandering through furniture stores. Since we had a very basic (student-flat style) setup before, we had to buy almost everything new. Without unlimited funds, we had to compare prices and accept long trips. Our little one will need the MOT soon; I think he already clocked his first 1,000 km (about 620 miles) in his car seat 🙂
So, here’s what we actually did:
Primed 600 sqm (approximately 6,460 sq ft) twice
Installed 1,200 meters (about 3,940 ft) of wallpaper (65 rolls)
Painted everything twice
Laid 100 sqm (about 1,080 sq ft) of cork flooring
Had 30 sqm (about 320 sq ft) of tiles installed
Laid 40 sqm (about 430 sq ft) of parquet flooring
We needed nine full weekends and eight additional days, sometimes with just one helper. This was far more time than we initially estimated.
We probably saved around 7,000 to 9,000 euros.
I’d rather not count the hours spent wandering through furniture stores. Since we had a very basic (student-flat style) setup before, we had to buy almost everything new. Without unlimited funds, we had to compare prices and accept long trips. Our little one will need the MOT soon; I think he already clocked his first 1,000 km (about 620 miles) in his car seat 🙂
Fortunately, our total wall and ceiling surface area is not quite as much as yours. 😉
It should only be around 450-500m² (4,840-5,380 sq ft).
Luckily, we are able to take most of the furniture with us.
What’s still missing is the sofa, coffee table, bathroom fixtures, a few occasional cabinets, and our headache—the kitchen extension.
The extension, including a tall cabinet, a corner carousel, and a new countertop with finishing strips, would cost us about as much as the entire kitchen with appliances has cost so far. Negotiations are still ongoing.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve already started paying attention to the furniture. I guess this will continue a few more times during the quieter period.
To be honest, I’m really dreading sorting through the cabinets and basement.
It should only be around 450-500m² (4,840-5,380 sq ft).
Luckily, we are able to take most of the furniture with us.
What’s still missing is the sofa, coffee table, bathroom fixtures, a few occasional cabinets, and our headache—the kitchen extension.
The extension, including a tall cabinet, a corner carousel, and a new countertop with finishing strips, would cost us about as much as the entire kitchen with appliances has cost so far. Negotiations are still ongoing.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve already started paying attention to the furniture. I guess this will continue a few more times during the quieter period.
To be honest, I’m really dreading sorting through the cabinets and basement.
Well, for me it’s been a case of getting rid of everything I haven’t touched in the last 3 years.
In conclusion, I think I could have ordered a dumpster instead of constantly driving to the recycling center. It’s incredible how much junk you can accumulate over 15 years.
This will end this weekend... then it's moving in, and we won’t have a basement anymore 😉
In conclusion, I think I could have ordered a dumpster instead of constantly driving to the recycling center. It’s incredible how much junk you can accumulate over 15 years.
This will end this weekend... then it's moving in, and we won’t have a basement anymore 😉
P
perlenmann19 Mar 2013 08:10Everyone,
when I read this, I realize how quickly you forget the difficult times! The move was almost exactly a year ago, and there are still things to do 🙂 But fortunately, only minor tasks in the garden.
I started clearing out the basement more than a year before the move, but ended up filling it again with bargain items that were needed for the house anyway 🙂
And using a container is actually not a bad idea!
when I read this, I realize how quickly you forget the difficult times! The move was almost exactly a year ago, and there are still things to do 🙂 But fortunately, only minor tasks in the garden.
I started clearing out the basement more than a year before the move, but ended up filling it again with bargain items that were needed for the house anyway 🙂
And using a container is actually not a bad idea!
Oh yes, the gray area... we are already experiencing it while waiting for the architect’s designs and cost estimate 😕 ... it’s just terrible when you’re eagerly waiting.
And now we have to wait almost another week!! I don’t even want to think about what else we’ll face during the building permit / planning permission phase 🙁
But maybe it’s like Nordanney says, and we’ll be busy with the tender process afterwards—if we decide to build with the architect (which we are assuming). So for now, the main thing is to get through this week and finally find out if our dream house is feasible 🙂
Good luck
milkie
And now we have to wait almost another week!! I don’t even want to think about what else we’ll face during the building permit / planning permission phase 🙁
But maybe it’s like Nordanney says, and we’ll be busy with the tender process afterwards—if we decide to build with the architect (which we are assuming). So for now, the main thing is to get through this week and finally find out if our dream house is feasible 🙂
Good luck
milkie
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