The Final Countdown

****NEWS FLASH**** Initial (final) walk through is scheduled for October 9th and FINAL Walkthrough and SETTLEMENT are scheduled for October 19th!!! It's official!

I hope that the lame 80's Hair Band song immediately pops into your head...because it's been in mine for about a month waiting for our house to be done.

Still no settlement date (AHHH!!! I could kill someone!), but we're starting to do the final papers for our loan, rate, etc, which means we're not too far off. We've walked through several times and it looks like the "punch out" work is just wrapping up, which is also a good sign.

Today, they put sod down, which instantly makes the house look finished AND means they are not far from turning the house over to us.

Here's our yard to the right of the house (if you're looking straight at it). I couldn't walk back there because, well, I was in flip flops and it was too muddy and cold.

Here's our yard in between houses to the left of the house (if you're looking straight at it). I always see a few deer here where the in between yards dip!

MAN. Why are they not finished yet?!

Moving on. The house was locked tonight, so I couldn't go in to take pictures...not much has changed since the previous pictures. So instead, I just took some pictures of the outside.

I've ALWAYS wanted a Crepe Myrtle in my yard. I didn't even have to ask for this one! Not sure what color it is, but it's cute...and right in the middle of the front yard.

Some of the little shrubs they planted out front. The front row has little purple/pinkish flowers on it and the row in the back looks like some kind of Holly, but not sure.

AND...our view of the street from our lovely front porch. I can't wait to relax out there and take this in every night! Just stunning.

For those of you still mildly interested, here is the COMPLETE schedule, start to finish:

Day #1 - Monday, June 15, 2009: Ground broke and hole for basement has been dug out! Only after about 2.5 months of waiting for our building permit to come through.
Day #3 - Wednesday June 17, 2009: Footers poured and let to rest and set.
Day # 5 - Friday June 19, 2009: Mold for basement walls and foundation arrives on site.
Day # 7 - Monday June 22, 2009: Mold is installed and concrete is poured for foundation walls.
Day #8 - Tuesday June 23, 2009: Mold removed; black, water-repellent goodness sprayed on foundation.
Day #13 - Sunday June 28, 2009: Piping installed under house, rough-in parts for Bathroom in the basement installed.
Day #20 - Sunday July 5, 2009: Concrete is poured in Garage and Basement!! Property is leveled and sides are filled in.
Day #26 - Saturday, July 11, 2009: Lumber arrives and floor and 1st floor walls are framed and assembled.
Day #28 - Monday, July 13, 2009: Second floor added and framed.
Day #29 - Tuesday, July 14, 2009: Roof has almost been completed.
Day #32 - Friday, July 17, 2009: Roof and framing finished.
Day #33 - Saturday, July 18, 2009: Tar tape on roof, ready for shingles!
Day #35 - Monday, July 20, 2009: Sheet Metal Work started.
Day #36 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009: Front Door delivered!
Day #38 - Thursday, July 23, 2009: HVAC Work mostly complete. Gas line installed.
Day #39 - Friday, July 24, 2009: Outside edging complete. Plumber dropped off pipes.
Day #42 - Monday, July 27, 2009: Plumbing mostly complete. Exterior edging complete.
Day #43 - Tuesday, July 28, 2009: Shingles delivered, front porch concrete poured!
Day #45 - Thursday, July 30, 2009: Shingle-work complete on the roof (still needs to be completed on front porch)
Day #46 - Friday, July 31, 2009: Front Porch started! Wood-working around windows started.
Day #47 - Saturday, August 1, 2009: Electrician arrives and starts the wiring!
Day #53 - Friday, August 7, 2009: Pre-Drywall Inspection
Day #56 - Monday, August 10, 2009: Fire safety system installed and inspected
Day #58 - Wednesday, August 12, 2009: Insulation and Drywall arrive!
Day #59 - Thursday, August 13, 2009: Insulation installed.
Day #60 - Friday, August 14, 2009: Drywall installed, not complete.
Day #61 - Saturday, August 15, 2009: Drywall taped and mudded (but not sanded), columns arrive.
Day #65 - Wednesday, August 19, 2009: Drywall sanded.
Day #66 - Thursday, August 20, 2009: Columns begin to be completed. Primer is applied to walls.
Day #67 - Friday, August 21, 2009: Columns finished!!! Walls painted. Trim and Doors delivered.
Day #70 - Monday, August 24, 2009: Baseboards, Trim and Doors installed!
Day #71 - Tuesday, August 25, 2009: Cabinets delivered.
Day #72 - Wednesday, August 26, 2009: Cabinets installed in kitchen and bathrooms!
Day#74 - Friday, August 28, 2009: Front porch finished. Garage Doors installed.
Day#77 - Monday, August 31, 2009: Interior drywall touch-ups, walls painted.
Day#78 - Tuesday, September 1, 2009: Tile and linoleum laid.
Day#79 - Wednesday, September 2, 2009: Hardwood floors installed, plumbing finished, siding started.
Day#80 - Thursday, September 3, 2009: Siding finished.
Day#81 - Friday, September 4, 2009: Granite counter tops delivered and installed. Plumbing and electrical finishing work completed (sinks, faucets, recessed lighting, electrical outlets, etc).
Day#86 - Wednesday, September 9, 2009: Electricity turned on! Day#88 - Friday, September 11, 2009: Appliances arrived, installed.
Day#93 - Wednesday, September 16, 2009: Water pipes connected to city water; carpet arrived; granite totally installed; front door painted.
Day#94 - Thursday, September 17, 2009: Carpet installed; house was cleaned and vacuumed.
Day #98 - Monday, September 21, 2009: Basement finished, insulation installed, sump pump fixed.
Day #105 - Monday, September 28, 2009: Landscaping work complete.
Day #107 - Wednesday, September 30, 2009: Sod laid around yard. Punch-Out work being completed.

Seriously? I'm in agony. Our apartment is packed (along with all of our wine glasses) and completely un-decorated. We both run to the mailbox after work like little kids to see if our settlement letter has arrived yet. It's quite pathetic, actually. We're READY. Tomorrow we turn in our last rent check we'll ever pay, and my Mother-In-Law sent us a card with a note on the back saying "last time I ever use this address!" Enough already with the waiting!

Hopefully when we return from traipsing around the Outer Banks this weekend, we'll come home to that important little piece of paper. Which reminds me that I'm procrastinating...I should be packing. And cleaning. And photo editing.

Have a great weekend everyone!