In Contract!

This week we signed a contract with Alturas to build our new home!  We can't wait for March when we are set to close and move in.  One of the things I appreciate about Alturas is what comes in the "base" price of the home.  So many things that would normally be considered "extras" are standard for Alturas, such as a dual zone heating and cooling with separate controls for the first and second floor, an audio system with ceiling speakers (including back patio speakers) and stereo connection, pre-plumbed for central vac, an appliance shelf in the pantry with electrical outlets, outdoor gas line to grill, Cat5 wiring throughout, etc.  I am excited to work with the guys from Alturas (most of whom I happen to have connections with from high school).

I was reading a website earlier where people contributed to a list of small things they wish they had done when building their house.  Some of them we have already discussed with our builders, such as putting in electrical outlets under the eaves of our house for Christmas lights, adding in a pull-out step in the kid's bathroom vanity, etc. but there were several other things that I hadn't thought of that I wanted to write down here so I don't forget.

• speakers in the garage (connected to the rest of the main floor speakers)
• plug-ins in some closets
• plug in master toilet closet for night light (so you don't have to turn on the light in the middle of the night)
• vac pans in bathrooms for hair (connected to the central vac)
• a pull out drawer in the bathroom with a plug-in for my Sonicare
• hose outlets and power on all sides of the house (outdoors)
• pantry light on motion sensor, and maybe in closets too
• 4-plug outlets near bed in master bedroom
• light switch near the head of the bed in master bedroom to turn off lights
• dimmer switches 
• watch for placement of air vents - don't want them blowing air right up bedroom curtains
• easy access water shut off valve
• take pictures of the plumbing/electrical before the drywall/sheetrock goes up

There are also a couple things we're planning on doing on our own, such as putting an epoxy cover on the garage floor before we move in and adding planter beds before the landscaping is complete so they don't put sod in and so we can make sure there is drip irrigation.

So, don't be surprised if I have lots of house postings over the next several months.  Our new house is always on my mind!  Here's a picture of our dirt lot.  We selected this lot because there is a one-story house behind us :-)