Begin with that most terrifying of all things, a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you are making, and when you ask yourself why you are making them, find this answer: for me, for me. Because they are who and what I am, and mean to be.
Anna Quindlen
A clean slate. New chapter. Fresh start. With the old mobile home out of the way, we could really put our focus on the future. What did we want to live in? And what was realistic to have ready by winter, given it was already midsummer?
Our camper could only serve us until temperatures dipped below freezing. Time was ticking!
Note: This is part of a series about our DIY house build. If you’re new here, you may prefer to start with these posts:
- The Winds of Change: Move, Camper Living, Demo, and Building Our Own Home
- Seeing the Potential: How We Bought Our New Property
- DIY Mobile Home Demolition: One Piece at a Time
Getting approval to build on the existing foundation
Part of the decision came down to where we could build. I remember my dad suggesting we take the current foundation out of the equation. Where on the land would we really want to have a structure? Ultimately, we decided the placement of the existing slab was our first preference, but there were three hurdles to overcome:
1. It was uneven
The mobile home was more than a trailer – it had lean-tos on each side that must’ve been built in separate stages. The cement that was under the western side addition was about six inches higher than the rest and shorter on each side. We’d have to pour new cement on the east side if we wanted to have one level slab.
2. It was in the floodplain
Flood insurance mapping put the foundation in a floodplain, which is land that’s at risk of flooding and may not allow for houses to be built. And if we could get approval, it would come with higher insurance costs.
Given the foundation was in the highest spot on our land, it seemed likely it could be changed. We took a chance and hired a surveyor to review and redraw the map. It took up precious time and money, but proved to be worthwhile.
3. Officials needed to sign off
Navigating all the regulations and permitting isn’t for the faint of heart. Brett took the lead to work with the county to obtain a zoning permit and a building inspector to get the necessary approval to use the foundation. It all made my head spin!
One requirement we had to meet was distance from the stream. Fortunately, the previous owners had followed this rule and the edge was 75 feet – exactly the minimum amount.
This video was from our measuring day. Of course the captions should say “greater than 75 feet” — clearly I’m not the engineer!
Deciding what to build
While all of this was happening, we had to finalize what to buy or build. From the moment we viewed the property we started exploring potential ideas: a premade tiny home cabin, a big garage to park the camper inside and live out of during winter, a new build… There were pros and cons to every option.
Building a cabin from scratch sounded most daunting, but it slowly made its way to our first choice. Brett drew potential plans, and then we’d come together over coffee to talk through what we liked and what else may make more sense.
Our first iterations looked like more traditional cabins. The more we hemmed and hawed, it morphed into something that fit best in the setting, providing the best views toward the water.
And that’s how we landed on building a skillion roof “cabin” with a loft, small attached garage, and the majority of windows facing east. Brett perfected the drawings and eventually sent them in with our zoning and building permit applications.
Hurry up and wait
The phrase “hurry up and wait” is often used in the military, but it proved fitting for house building. While we waited for approvals, we focused on things we could still work on, including cleaning up overgrown and dead trees around the property – an easier task before there’s a house to accidentally fall on.
Both of our dads brought their skills to this endeavor: my dad with his forestry background and Brett’s dad with his tractor. They identified, brought down, and cleared several oaks suffering or already dead from oak wilt. Sad, but at least they’d provide a steady supply of firewood.
Prepping and pouring cement
Finally, as summer turned to fall, we received the final okay to start building. Brett and Dave prepped the foundation and rallied a group of family and friends to help with the cement pour. On August 28, 2021, two cement trucks drove in and emptied concrete onto the lower foundation. There was no turning back.
Your own clean slate
A clean slate can happen in so many areas of life. It can be exciting, overwhelming, and sometimes, as Anna Quindlen said in the opening quote of this post, terrifying. I love that her message is to use yourself — your own foundation — as a guidepost when faced with choices. Who are you and who do you want to be? Does your choice reflect that vision?
I can’t say we always get it perfect, but overall it feels like we’re on the right trajectory for our goals. Are you, too, or is it time for your own fresh start?
