Why did I think things would go more quickly in Manasquan? Or that the building trades were looking for work at reduced rates? Or that a budget meant anything to anybody other than me?
We closed on the Manasquan house and the next day had our plumber correct a violation we were aware of but the seller refused to fix. The sump pump emptied into the sewer pipes and that is a No No in Manasquan. It also did not allow us to get a CO, Certificate of Occupancy at the closing. But we were aware of it and wanted the house, so we sucked it up and decided to fix it after closing. We also had asbestos covered pipes in the basement and we wanted to get that remediated before occupancy. That was done within the first week after closing. The basement was encapsulated and an environmental company in Belmar sent specially protected personnel into the basement to remove the asbestos and coat the pipes.
Now we are waiting for the sub-contractors(framers,electric, HVAC, plumbing, insulation, sheetrocker, painter, siding, roofer, etc) to present their estimate for the architectural plan they received. Any guesses how close they were to the total concept cost we were given at the start of the project in April? Where's the Irish whiskey when you need it. Cost came in at 50% over our "absolute maximum or we can't do the project price". Some of that is due to the increased scope of the project. The second floor bath which was going to be left alone is now planned to be gutted. Our 3 season porch is changed to a heated, insulated year round room. And the second floor walls which were going to be touched up as necessary are going to be taken down to the studs for ease of wiring, insulation, plumbing etc. So we are faced with the decision of knocking the house down and building a modest retirement home on a very lovely lot in Manasquan or delving into the 'do not touch' savings which would provide a measure of comfort and security in our waning years.
Comfort and security are overrated, so we gave a go ahead to the project and submitted plans to the borough for a construction permit.
A week goes by and I stop at the Borough hall to talk with the codes and enforcement officer. He informs me that he needs a grading plan. It doesn't matter that previous homes built by our builder have not required a grading plan. A new requirement is imposed on us because we are displacing more than 500 sq ft of lot earth. It takes about a week to get a survey company to do the job and another week to get the completed document.
Recently, a permit to start the demolition portion of the projet is given and the plumber arrived Monday morning to begin the removal of everything in the basement-plumbing and heating pipes, hot water heater, furnace. We plan to fill in the basement, and eliminate water problems and its associated stress. Many people have voiced their concerns over this decision because we will lose the basement space. To Ronnie and me it will bring a peace of mind that is far more valuable.
In the meantime, I continue flying, mostly the King Air to Maine during the summer, and have only a couple of days a week to oversee the project. ( That's Rockland harbor in the background and Islesboro, my destination in the follow on.) An occasional trip comes up in the Hawker, like a recent one to St Louis,
And very foggy trip to Maine.
