First Permit Approved

Well, the first permit, for use of a storage container on our property, was approved yesterday. We also dropped off the building plans with town, so they should be approving the actual building work within one week. At that point, we are ready to go - we are waiting on nothing. The builder may begin. So, we really need to be packing up this weekend.

Today is the 13th - we officially begin renting our temp place starting the 15th - Sunday. We can move some stuff in there now. Water and electricity should be on, in our name, starting today. Gas is set to be turned on Tuesday.

A few things we still need to do:

• Put in change of address with post office, once we know we will be out
• Change cable/internet to new house - once we are really in there

Insurance, insurance, insurance

Well, today I learned more about homeowner insurance then I really wanted to know. The good news is, renter's insurance is pretty cheap (few hundred dollars a year). It sounds like my homeowners policy will not cover our belongings if we are renting somewhere else. So, we will probably need to set up additional renters insurance.

The bad news - most homeowners policies will not cover building material, and things you own in the house, during a major renovation - there are standard exclusions. So, we will probably need to get a "builders insurance" policy, also. Since we will have no stuff in the house, I think its really just to protect the work-in-progress.

Also, most things I have read recommend uppinig the insurance policy at the start of work, for the new value of the finished house. So, will probably need to do that as well.

Also today, I started calling around to get things turned on at the new rental house - gas, electric, cable. What a hassle - especially seeing we don't know when we are moving in!

We have a place to live!

Well, we have officially found a place to live while the renovation is being done. Of course, our builder had originally estimated we would need to be out of the house for at least 4 months - we are not going to dare to try to live in the house for the renovation, though that is possible for some families. We were getting desperate to find a place, to be in sometime in May. By happenstance, a neighbor and friend, who owns a second house in town, had his scheduled renter cancel, and let us know. We jumped! So, May 15 we are officially renters.

Also, we heard from the town on Friday that the permits are "going to be approved", so - this should be official this week. At that point, the builder will get us a storage trailer (which we learned will need to be placed in our backyard, and not the side yard). We load it up, try to move out by the 15th, and pray the builder shows up and starts work soon.

One last note - I have a bunch of prep items on my plate for this week - I need to schedule activation of gas, electric and water for the rental place, check about cable and internet service in the new place, check on what needs to be done for insurance - building and rental, and then start scheduling electric and water and cable to be turned off at home. And, do something about mail. Yipes!