Met w/window guy, signed off on almost all windows, minus a sizing question or two for the architect. Says I'm the first homeowner who's ever brought an architect in to order windows.
There is not going to be a single mistake in numerous oddball windows, not even handle finish or screen material color. It's nailed.
Later note:
Sliding door backward
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Developmental Impact Fee
Eventful day!
Met with contractor, discussed how to progress with demolition given the permits delay.
Architect arrived during contractor meeting by coincidence, in pursuit of a sewer cleanout as the city's Public Works requires be added (do we already have one? looks like not). Ah. Nothing like seeing your architect and your contractor talking to each other.
This morning we sent an email to the city asking some of the strange fees on the comments list, expressing waning confidence in the whole process. For example, one of the requirements was to upgrade our water meter -- which we already did in 2004. Doesn't the city have a record of this?
This afternoon, someone from Public Works showed up at our house taking photos. Rare, but Dave and I were both home. We asked the guy about the comment "The new accessory building would add the following fees: $1157.13 fee for the SS" that was hand-crossed-out. He said that was a "developmental impact fee," then asked how many bedrooms we have now (4 or 5 depending on if you count closets), then said it was for adding a bedroom. Shrug when I said it's a suite and might not be two rooms, then something about it depends on how you play the rules. Little did I know at the time he wasn't talking about 4-5 bedrooms to 5-6 -- he thought the house had 2. And what's SS?
Encroachment permit? For water meter upgrade. No way Jose, we already did that in 2004, got the signed and paid permit right here. More hand-waving about a sewer cleanout, saying it had to be half-on city property, but a brick retaining wall forces it entirely onto our property, so how could we need an encroachment permit? More hand-waving. Claims neither of our sewer laterals are in the city's records (what, we're on septic?). All public utilities easements and services are supposed to be on the plans, he claims.
Finally, he put us off about the "developmental impact fee" by telling us to look at the fee schedule on their Web site. We did: City of Sunnyvale Fee Schedule. Nothing obvious about "developmental impact fee."
We're documenting all this and will request a full fee itemization. For almost $10,000 in permit fees alone, we're entitled. Unfortunately, this is costing valuable time too.
Met with contractor, discussed how to progress with demolition given the permits delay.
Architect arrived during contractor meeting by coincidence, in pursuit of a sewer cleanout as the city's Public Works requires be added (do we already have one? looks like not). Ah. Nothing like seeing your architect and your contractor talking to each other.
This morning we sent an email to the city asking some of the strange fees on the comments list, expressing waning confidence in the whole process. For example, one of the requirements was to upgrade our water meter -- which we already did in 2004. Doesn't the city have a record of this?
This afternoon, someone from Public Works showed up at our house taking photos. Rare, but Dave and I were both home. We asked the guy about the comment "The new accessory building would add the following fees: $1157.13 fee for the SS" that was hand-crossed-out. He said that was a "developmental impact fee," then asked how many bedrooms we have now (4 or 5 depending on if you count closets), then said it was for adding a bedroom. Shrug when I said it's a suite and might not be two rooms, then something about it depends on how you play the rules. Little did I know at the time he wasn't talking about 4-5 bedrooms to 5-6 -- he thought the house had 2. And what's SS?
Encroachment permit? For water meter upgrade. No way Jose, we already did that in 2004, got the signed and paid permit right here. More hand-waving about a sewer cleanout, saying it had to be half-on city property, but a brick retaining wall forces it entirely onto our property, so how could we need an encroachment permit? More hand-waving. Claims neither of our sewer laterals are in the city's records (what, we're on septic?). All public utilities easements and services are supposed to be on the plans, he claims.
Finally, he put us off about the "developmental impact fee" by telling us to look at the fee schedule on their Web site. We did: City of Sunnyvale Fee Schedule. Nothing obvious about "developmental impact fee."
We're documenting all this and will request a full fee itemization. For almost $10,000 in permit fees alone, we're entitled. Unfortunately, this is costing valuable time too.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Plan comments
Dave and architect went to the city's building department today at 4:15pm, ready to pick up comments on our plans. Comments were ready!
One department had signed off, but that hadn't been entered into their records. The comments from Building were extensive, and involve a fair amount of work to meet their requests. They insist on five new sets of complete full-size plans (at $50 a pop!) for re-submittal.
One piece of good news: USAA's upgraded property valuation put our house value higher than it's ever been (? huh? In this market?), so we can increase our credit line without any trouble. (Turned out USAA couldn't understand why we'd want to increase it when we hadn't used it yet and it had a zero balance....umm, because, doesn't it make more sense to line up all the financing before you start the project?)
One department had signed off, but that hadn't been entered into their records. The comments from Building were extensive, and involve a fair amount of work to meet their requests. They insist on five new sets of complete full-size plans (at $50 a pop!) for re-submittal.
One piece of good news: USAA's upgraded property valuation put our house value higher than it's ever been (? huh? In this market?), so we can increase our credit line without any trouble. (Turned out USAA couldn't understand why we'd want to increase it when we hadn't used it yet and it had a zero balance....umm, because, doesn't it make more sense to line up all the financing before you start the project?)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Living room window
Met with window salesman and architect to review window selections. Windows almost ready to order, pending a few questions such as about operable awning windows with grilles.
Apparently it's tricky to size, install and level a bay window with a countertop flowing into the bay, so it's great when your architect and your window person are talking to each other, instead of through you (well, me). Lots of other problems prevented too (only one of those $800 windows needed, tempered glass in a stairwell, hardware finish selections, knowing left from right in hinge-speak).
Our talented Architect has designed a most beautiful living room window, based on the original dining room window.
Apparently it's tricky to size, install and level a bay window with a countertop flowing into the bay, so it's great when your architect and your window person are talking to each other, instead of through you (well, me). Lots of other problems prevented too (only one of those $800 windows needed, tempered glass in a stairwell, hardware finish selections, knowing left from right in hinge-speak).
Our talented Architect has designed a most beautiful living room window, based on the original dining room window.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Working together
Super productive meeting w/ contractor and kitchen designer together. Together! Verify measurements, do floors or cabinets go in first, who installs cabinets, when to order...lots of great stuff. It's so comforting when your main resources cooperate.
This too: architect and contractor scouring the plans, preventing one problem after another, catching things, deciding things, finding things. Together. Before demolition. Yay.
This too: architect and contractor scouring the plans, preventing one problem after another, catching things, deciding things, finding things. Together. Before demolition. Yay.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Rental lease signed
Lease signed for rental house, 9 months, starts May 23. 4BR/2BA, yard,nice neighborhood...not bad. We'll live. We'll move early June.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Contractor signed
Yay! We have our contractor! I'm delighted with him, so organized and thorough. It was nice to hear him say, "I'd really like to do this job." It really got old begging contractors to take our money and completely disrupt our lives.
May Construction is known for keeping schedules, and that's because they manage in both directions. I'm on notice to select all our finishes, so I don't delay the project. Demolition doesn't start for another month, but I need to be picking tile now!
May Construction is known for keeping schedules, and that's because they manage in both directions. I'm on notice to select all our finishes, so I don't delay the project. Demolition doesn't start for another month, but I need to be picking tile now!
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