Building a Custom Home and Horse Barn From Raw Land!

It has been far too long since my last post. So much has happened in that time, and now that it is 2023, my goal is to post regularly 😀!

My last post talked about how I sold my house without a Realtor. So, it only makes sense to make my next post about what happened after the sale! I am all about making dreams come true, and this was definitely one of my biggest. Having a home where I could see my beloved horses from the windows, was a childhood dream. 

For those of you that hope to do the same thing, you must already know how hard it is to find land. And, just how expensive everything is! Before I'd sold my house, I had placed an ad on Craigslist seeking land. Having worked with Realtors already, I just wasn't finding what I needed. So...I specified the size, what it needed (perk test cleared, level, horse-friendly, not on a main street, what areas, etc). I also stated the price range it needed to stay within. I wasn't sure anything would come of it. It took a few months, and just when I'd lost hope of finding what I needed, I got the response I'd been waiting for! I quickly went to view it, and the rest is history!

It was raw land indeed. Full of trees, junk, mud, and....dreams! I'd already started thinking about how I wanted it laid out, but also made many notes and images of the final project. Looking back now, I am pleased with most everything. There are a couple of things I would have changed, but you often don't know this till you've done it.

Finding reputable contractors was a challenge, as well as, getting permits from the County. The weather was also a HUGE challenge as it rained more that year than it had in previous ones. 

I read so many great books by Authors like Cherry Hill who wrote "Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage: Designing and Managing your Equine Facilities" 

https://www.amazon.com/Horsekeeping-Small-Acreage-Designing-Facilities/dp/158017535X. 

I spent hours online and in the library. I also visited many horse facilities and asked a million questions! I interviewed several custom home builders with excellent reputations, and knew that I wanted "Stick Built" not a Modular Home. I spent many hours thinking about the floor plan that I needed. This would be one that allowed me to "age in place" so not 2-story (though there is a huge Bonus Room on the 2nd level with attached walk-in storage that is even bigger!). Also having enough space for storage, definitely a home office, and lots of natural light were top on the list! I was so grateful to have found an amazing contractor that did an outstanding job on the house. I wish I would've also used him to build the barn (which is another story!).

Needless to say, after construction started, I drove by my property almost daily as it was being built... which I highly recommend (just to keep an eye on everything). I also had a great friend with a DRONE that took aerial images as it was progressing!

Never had I thought I would be faced with some other unscrupulous contractors, numerous delays from weather and county permits, changes in my septic system design, some challenging neighbors (who did not want change near them), supply costs, etc. However, I am still so glad I did it, and I still feel it was completely worth the challenges!

For months after moving in, I dealt with a dust field! The land had been so torn up by the placement of the septic system, the driveway, and constant big trucks plowing over it. I found a great contractor to seed and fertilize which made a world of difference! I would highly recommend spending the time and money to do this promptly, and in the fall...not the spring!

3 years later, I can sit back with a deep sigh of wonder and gratefulness as I look at all of the work I've accomplished. There is still so much to do and always will be (that is homeownership) but it is an incredible legacy to be able to leave my son!

To see the sun setting over the trees at night is magical. Below is a picture right behind the riding arena. To hear the "sound of silence" is priceless. I can see all of the stars at night, and hear only owls and crickets. 

As a horse owner, there is also no greater satisfaction than to know that they are being well cared for. I'd had so many bad experiences at boarding barns, who charged ridiculous amounts with little in return. At least I always know they are being well taken care of now!

There are so many more details that I may add later, but I at least wanted to share with you where we are at now. My son is now 17, and loving the chance to live on acreage. He has learned so many things and will be so much further ahead when he sets out on his own! There is nothing better than to be able to raise him in this environment and to teach him so many things from it.

Each year will bring new changes as we continue to work on everything. I look forward to being able to spend time with my future grandchildren here and to making many wonderful memories.  

I will close by saying, "If I can do this, you can too"! Don't let fears or worries stop you. You will learn along the way. Life is too short to give up on your dreams!! I wish you the very best of success!!

Design on a Dime!

Well, it is now less than 2 months until I move into my dream house! It's still a bit of a blur, and truly won't feel real until months after I am actually living in it I am sure! Right now, I am just counting the days, and organizing my move.

I have planned to take lots of pictures of each decorated room once I am settled in. It will be my gift to all of you who are inspired by my ability to stretch a dollar more than most :-)! I can actually say that I have nearly found everything I will need to complete my "Pottery Barn" look, but for thousands of dollars less! "How did I do it" you ask? Well, about 9 months ago, a friend turned me onto a group on Facebook called "My Own Repeats". She raved about the amazing deals on there, and persuaded me to join. Well, I sure did join and it made a huge difference! It is a closed group by invitation only and many cities have them, or something similar. It is like Craigslist, but much safer, items are priced much cheaper, and you avoid all of the spammers! The group that was built off that group is called "From My House to Yours" and that is where you can buy/sell anything related to your house (furniture, decor, appliances, housewares, linens, etc). You would be amazed at what you find! I have gotten a Pottery Barn Console Table for $85, a Pottery Barn style full bed with a mattress & boxspring for $75, a Pier 1 Couch that is to die for in brand new condition for $250, and the list goes on and on.

Besides buying items on these sites, I have sold literally thousands and thousands of dollars worth of my own things on there. You just post a pic, and sometimes within a few minutes someone comments "I will take it"! You both then arrange to meet at a good time and finalize things. I have sold so much that I even keep an Excel spreadsheet of my monthly earnings. I like to keep 2 columns on there to show what I have earned, as well as, what I have spent. If possible, I try only to spend what I have made, or even less. It's awesome!! Plus, it couldn't be easier. And, you would be amazed at the friends you will make and the people you will run into!

Since I LOVE Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Ballard Design, etc., I do get their catalogs (not so I can spend money, but so that I can copy some of the great design looks that I see). Believe me, my house looks amazing with what I have done!!! I can't wait to move into my new house! Oh, and the reason I can even move into my dream house, is because of my ability to stretch a dollar! It has paid off big time!!

So, if you use Facebook, do yourself a favor and see if you can find one of these groups close to you. If not, you can just start one yourself. It's easy! I even started one just for the current residential community I live in. I've sold a ton on that one too. There is another called Varagesale.com that is also a mobile app and houses all kinds of fantastic deals. Look these up!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my "Design on a Dime" Lookbook that will be here in the near future!