Tuesday - early
I woke up early, tried to get back to sleep, knew that wasn't going to happen after 30 minutes of trying and just decided to get up.
The project has started, sort of. The permit is paid for and now we are in a holding pattern, waiting for that to hopefully go through. Meanwhile, I went to the electrical supply store today and got the new panel with meter. I've asked James to help me out with doing some of this since he no longer has a side hustle going, those people are leaving town for extended vacation.
I decided I best get the electrical part going, I need to call the power company and ask them if there are any requirements I need to know about before they will go ahead and approve another metered outlet. Mainly, does the setup they have installed, ie: the transformer, capable of handling another 7 lots and probably another small bathroom with laundry? I want that assurance because if it isn't, they're going to have to come out and upgrade it and that could and will take months.
They aren't in a big hurry. You get on their docket and it's a month and a half to 2 month waiting list. Get this stuff done and out of the way now so there aren't any surprises when I want them to come out and turn on the power. I've spent a little over $1,200 on electrical and permits so far. I knew the beginning portion of this would be one of the most expensive parts.
Water, fortunately, is much easier. I don't need to do anything but tap into the 2 inch line I'll T off of the main, put a valve on it and then I don't have to have the water off for too long and can take my time with the rest of it.
Today, I'm calling 811 to have them stake out where the line is running underground, James requested that so he doesn't accidently dig down and attempt to put a post in the ground where there is a high voltage line. I don't blame him at all and I am not in a big rush for this. I knew it would take time, it's just something that took a bit to get into my head: get this thing rolling or it's never going to happen and do it now while I'm still physically capable of handling such projects.
So that's that for now. I'm going to be out there staking out the lots here pretty soon. I need to figure that out so I can take down a few trees and get that tractor out there and see if I can smooth out lots with the box blade on it. That would save a ton of money if I could do that. You have to know where your lots are going to be first so you know where you are going to dig your trenches. I like the setup the contractor did for the electrical and water/sewer outlets, I'm going to mimic that the same as I am mimicking their power meter setup.
I think I will try to get 3 power pedestals in advance as well. I want to try to get 3 lots going at first. i was going to do just 1, then 2, but 3 sounds about right. The money coming in from those lots once I get them rented out will go straight back into the project to create more lots. Remember, I will be installing 14, maybe more, lots on this phase. I have 16 on the first phase plus laundry, so I may up it to 15 anyway.
It's just that phase 2 will necessitate building another driveway and that will be costly. Dozer work and then having endless truckloads of gravel brought out. I can see 5 grand worth of dozer work and 20 grand worth of gravel, unfortunately. I know where I want the driveway to be installed, it's going to have to be about 400 feet long, that's where the cost comes in. So, the sooner I start saving for it - by getting new lots rented out - the sooner I can get the other 7 lots installed. That's down the road, yes, but you have to plan for that in the beginning stages. I just feel fortunate that I can use existing driveways to facilitate the first part of this expansion, it will save a lot of money.
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Wednesday - afternoon
Never finished yesterday's post so just adding on to it here.
Work was easy enough. 6-1/2 hours going up to Gurdon, unloading and driving back isn't bad at all. It's not even 2 o'clock and I've been home 20 minutes.
Just got off the phone with 811. That's the underground line detection, they're going to come out and mark everything where I need it marked to ensure we aren't going to accidently dig into high voltage lines.
I also got approved for a credit card consolidation loan today. I mean, to the point it's been approved and the funds are being transferred. It's not at the interest rate I wanted, but it's 10% or more less than going rates right now on credit cards. I am going to spend some time writing down all the payments on all of them, figure out what I will be able to get rid of but I am sure I can free up at least $700 per month.
I've been going the rounds with looking for a loan for several weeks now, this one was a new one that had popped up on CreditKarma and I was surprised how fast and easy it was. Upstart is the loan company in case anyone is wondering. I'm going to pay off the highest balance credit cards and the 2 small loans that are sitting out there gobbling up my money. Freeing up that kind of money is almost liberating in and of itself, it can go right back into the expansion project.
Anyway, I figure I can pay on that for a year and then hopefully find another loan to replace it and get a better interest rate. I mean, if the Fed brings the interest rate down by then? And hopefully, I might be able to pay on it for half a year or something and get the loan to do the 25 lots at the rear of the Park area.
Anyway, I'm really tired right now, didn't sleep well yet again and I need a nap.
