Let the Games Begin

A big milestone in our big, amazing renovation: a signed contract. Finally. After nearly a month of negotiation, we agreed to hand over our firstborn, and other assorted, but highly valuable, limbs pay a princely sum in exchange for what amounts to a better house.* As we were reviewing the final(ish) contract last night, the contractor asked if either of us are practicing lawyers. Not sure if he meant that as a compliment or not, but that's how I'll take it. Sure, we may be almost completely ignorant of the process we're about to embark upon, we have little or no experience in home renovation between the two of us, but at least we know and accept these weaknesses, and I'll be damned if we're not extra thorough and cautious because of it.

From here, it should take about 3-4 weeks to come up with mechanical drawings, present those drawings to the City for permit approval, and once the permits are in hand, we're just a hop, skip and a few sledgehammers away from demo. Wheee! Goodbye functional kitchen, hello dust and construction noise!

;o)

* Newly restored windows, new wood siding and corresponding paint job, new kitchen, new powder room, new closet that while considered small by most standards, will almost double our storage space, better drainage, better access to our backyard, and other assorted improvements. If these things do not a better house make, I don't know what does.