Although I'm not that many years from retirement, I've never built a house before. So our anticipated build in SC is off the charts! Since we are maybe 2 years away from actually starting, I've had to try to focus on other things to keep myself from going crazy. It's one of my biggest dreams, so I'm well beyond '10'.

This is our first and last custom home as we're too old! We didn't really plan to build a home, it was circumstances that just kind of led us to that conclusion when we were looking to relocate. There have been highs and lows. Sometimes it felt like we'd never finish (which we still aren't), but then I think you reach the "home stretch" and realize it is actually going to happen.

I'm not in there yet so I can't comment on the other questions. However, if you're like me you'll be in it mentally and visually long before you are physically. I've been planning on how it will feel to live in it since the walls first went up. When I'm actually living in it I don't think it will be a big surprise for my senses because I've visualized every tiny detail for so long. Does that make sense?

I'm so excited for you and look forward to hearing about the entire journey.

Scale 10 when we bought the land (and razed the old, termite, moldy home there)
Scale 8 when construction started, dwindled to about a 3 in the year it took to build. It takes work, and serious communications...the honeymoon period was OVER quickly.

Scale 8 or 9 when we got the COO document! Light at end of tunnel feeling.

Emotions gradually changed come move in time, when it was mostly relief. Plus I had to come here first, while DH stayed behind in old house to sell it and to continue to work. He joined me 4 months later, so there was never a "carry over the threshold" moment.

Still, we have a lovely home. I adore the kitchen, and would do it the same way. It flows and is cheerful! I would have not had them put in 3 floor outlets...they did a crappy job. Had to have them refix, and it ended up we never used them like i was sure we would need them.

LOVE my custom fireplace (never use it though) but is is a work of art, as is my range hood, both custom mosaic/ceramic work, but any buyer after me will have to like them too!

After 5 years, I do need to put some more money into exterior landscaping! Christmas gift to each other!

I am already looking forward to downsizing and getting into a smaller, still custom home in the next 5 years or so. I do not have that "we'll never leave this house" emotional trap...never will. I like change as my needs change! And I can see that I won't want a 3000 sq.ft. home to maintain in the next several years!!!

I have definitely improved my decorating skills though, and that is more fun, infinitely, than supervising a build!!!!

OK, Patty cakes, that's my .02 worth!!!

Acey

flgargoyle, i'm sure you are beside yourself as I can remember my first build when I was a MUCH younger woman. I'm older now, and single, so this home will have my personal stamp of approval, and if there are any screw- ups, i'll only have myself to blame. LOL

Brutuses, how is it going? I'm sure when move in day comes you will literally scream yourself silly!LOL I would think when a build is longer than average, and once it's complete and real, the long anticipated 'birth' would certainly bring tears to my eyes. But that's just me. I can't tell you how excited I am, and ground hasn't even been broken! I've already talked to my son about a visit to New Orleans, so hopefully will get to meet you.

Acey, I feel I should be enlightened by your post, but it just made me scared. LOL I'm not antipating any problems, but maybe i'm being too naieve? The house isn't a custom, but I did make a lot of changes, so hopefully those things won't cause problems. Like yourself, I also like change, hence my move cross country to TX from CA. I'm building a little larger than I probably should, but i'm anticipating a lot of family and friends visiting. Downsizing is always a possibility, as needs do change over the years.

I will probably cry when I move in, and they could be a combination of anticipation, frustration, joy, and the excitement of a new beginning. We'll see. ;o)

Patty, a visit to N.O. I so look forward to meeting you.

I've built 3 since 1990. Each was very exciting as far as anticipation. The first 2 went better with the builder than this one. This one would have been great had it not been for an incompetent plumber and teenagers (they looked) laying the tile. However, this is my favorite.

Been here 2+ years.

What I love the most (I can't pick just one):

A. The integration of land and house works perfectly. Views from the house, lots of outdoor spaces -- patios, porches, pool, water feature, paths, etc. The room that we call the garden room has a fireplace and views of our waterfall. Love, love, love having coffee on a cold winter morning by the fire, reading the paper and watching the birds at the feeders, the deer ambling across the meadows and the squirrels drinking from our stream (one fell in recently, but got out!)

B. The functionality of the kitchen. Everytime I cook in there, I'm so amazed at how right it is for the way I cook -- and my husband and sons (now in grad school) love to cook in there, too.

Are we 'mostly' happy?

We used to like to travel. We now just want to be at home. We used to go out and do a lot on weekends. Now we just want to be at home. We used to eat out a lot. Now we want to eat at home.

What would I leave out?

Being empty-nesters, we don't need all this space. We wanted to do without it. However, the small house with a separate garage that we wanted to build came in at a quote too high for the space. We switched to this house and it came it at the same number as the small one.

Acey, I feel I should be enlightened by your post, but it just made me scared. LOL I'm not antipating any problems, but maybe i'm being too naieve? The house isn't a custom, but I did make a lot of changes, so hopefully those things won't cause problems. Like yourself, I also like change, hence my move cross country to TX from CA. I'm building a little larger than I probably should, but i'm anticipating a lot of family and friends visiting. Downsizing is always a possibility, as needs do change over the years.

Trish, I think you'll be fine. You're in the same shoes as us.. You're going into a community, which I feel is a different process. I've been lurking here for a while, probably since February or March. Some of the posts made me wonder if we wanted a custom build. When it came time to pick between the 12 acre custom build & the community, trying to get info from the custom guy was like pulling teeth.

Things he said to us.. go to such & such architects site, find a plan you like.. I should be able to build you something for such & such price as long as you don't go crazy with cabinets & stuff. Two weeks later, armed with ranchers he tells us.. oh well, only this house will work on that lot. So, we decided that if the community could sell us the exact model we wanted for under the base price with upgrades we'd go for it; they said yes, so we did.

When you go into a community (here anyway), there's less uncertainty.. they have a better idea on prices, budget and might be able to afford to throw things in. We're also going bigger then what we need, but we've been feeling packed in for a few years and it's time to enjoy life a little more before he retires (or so we hope)

On a scale from 1-10 how excited were you when you knew you were going to be building a home?

I'm excited although I don't have a number to put on it. After picking the house my son had to move out for a few months to find himself; then during it my husband had that fall from his tractor trailer (delivering Mazda's). Two months later he is still out of work. We went to the house, they told us probably January..
We don't know if we still qualify for the mortgage, so the nerves are going.. that and we still need to sell this house. So far everything has happened for a reason, and I hope that once we get the word that it's time.. we'll lower the price & sell