Under budget? Yeah, baby...

We've had a tense couple of days communicating with our banker.  Somehow, the way the draws were set up, it looked like we were going to be about $21,000 OVER budget.  Mark and I have been very diligent in calculating our costs and estimates.  We knew something had to be screwy.  So, we sat down with our builder and realized that many things that were listed as line items on our side were being duplicated on his side.  We haven't turned any billings in that over-lapped that way, it's just mainly the amount we need for completion.

So, after all our craziness, it looks as if we may actually be $5000 under budget or more.  That is with the additions of the roof and HVAC.  How you ask?  Sweat equity.  And a lot of it!

Paying a sub-contractor to paint the interior of our house was going to run about $5,000.  We are doing this ourselves.  I think with paint, primer and supplies purchased, we're saving a little more than $3500.  We also decided to forgo a few of the additions we had planned.  Our siding on the existing house will wait a year or so before it's replaced.  (This will drive my control freak self nuts of course)  We had intentionally over-estimated some of our unknown costs as well.  Our flooring will be considerably less expensive than we budgeted for.  As was lighting, and some of our bathrooms items.  We opted to not re-tile Peyton's shower...she can live with beige forever, as far as I'm concerned.  The tile is in excellent shape, it just may not be the prettiest.  :-)  And, she's 12.  And will have her own bathroom.  It's ridiculous, really.

As for progression of work, we finished our priming on Saturday.  They came today to texture.  It needs to dry for 24 hours or so, but I think we will wait until Thursday night to spray the ceiling.  After ceilings, we spray walls.  Many of the interior doors are being installed.  Although, any that will be over hardwood will have to wait...until we actually have hardwood.  After paint, we will install flooring.  We are actually installing the wood floor ourselves.  Mark works with a couple guys who used to do it for a living.  I'm not worried.  Much.

After flooring, we do cabinets, the remaining doors, toilets, light fixtures, tile for the shower, etc.  Not necessarily in that order, of course.  I got a call today that my custom-made back door is ready.  Yay!  I can't wait to see how it came out.

No pictures to share today.  Well, maybe one of me cruisin' on my new ride.
You know, since I have so much free time and all...