Homework

David Lee
Sun, 01/12/2020 - 6:15pm

About this blog:

  • The Fixer Upper

    HOME SWEET HOME was embroidered on a framed sampler the living room at my grandpa and grandma’s farmhouse up on the mountain where we lived long ago and far from here.

    Those were the first words of wisdom I learned to read, write and understand. Looking back today, I realize how this inspiring motto guided me throughout my life’s work of building my own home . . . sweet and truly mine. That plus my collection of bumper sticker wisdom.

    I grew up, left home and explored various careers until I became qualified to teach Industrial Arts at my hometown high school. My plan to have my own home was in motion. I bought a modest little fixer upper at the edge of town. My intention was to fix it up, add an addition, live there awhile to make sure everything worked, sell it and finally start building my own home. I figured I could get most everything done during summer vacation. I was young and optimistic.

    I learned a great deal from that first building project. So much that I’ll have to tell you more.

    Meanwhile: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Recent Posts:

Back Again
 
 
Well, it has been a quiet week here at Millennium Lodge, one of our two private residences. It’s been quiet at our other home too because no one is allowed to stay overnight, cook food, use the facilities or occupy it at all, especially us. 
 
It’s a really nice home. I started building it in 2015. It was to be our Dream Home for our retirement. I had it mostly done by June 2018 when I got a visit from from our town's Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer who informed me that I was in violation of numerous code regulations including missing inspections I was supposed ask for, missing paperwork I'm pretty sure I filled out back when I applied for the permit that I was mandated to submit to, failure to pay fees for various things, and . . . by the way, my building permit had expired.
 
I was told I would have to make our new home code compliant. For this to come about it would be necessary to demolish enough of the building to inspect the sewer drainpipe under the concrete slab floor and I would have to pay to have that done. My building permit would be extended for a fee and a fine. They told me the paperwork violations could be corrected by paying triple the fees plus fines associated with such slip-ups. 
 
The demolition turned out to be unnecessary. The sewer pipe had already been inspected - twice. The fees and fines settled for somewhere around $1000 and I would be required to pass a final inspection before we could occupy the property.
 
Piece of cake! During the time the government red tape was being dealt with, I had what I thought was the final inspection and, except for a drainpipe that needed a re-vent, I was good to go. It was not to be. When the Building Inspector came to see my now code compliant plumbing he noticed other violations. I made the necessary adjustments. 
 
More violations were found during the next four visits. I attended to those as well. Finally I decided not to ask for more inspections. That was in the fall of 2018.
 
Fast forward to July, 2019. We decided to sell our Dream Home and engaged a Real Estate Auction Company to handle the sale. During the preparation of paperwork it was suggested we try for the final inspection again because it was assumed we needed an Occupancy Permit from the town. We didn’t, because our town has not adopted the building code that grants Occupancy Permits. We didn’t know that then.
 
The Building Inspector and the Code Enforcement Officer came at our request, found thirteen more violations and said they retain the right to come back again to look for even more. 
 
Guess what happened to our house sale?
 
Okay, that’s all the whining I can handle today. Next time I’ll fill in more of the story explaining the reason this harassment is happening to us and any Owner Builder who wants to build the home of their choice without help or hindrance. I’ll also discuss what we are doing to expose and end this behavior.
 
A clue:  Agenda 21
 
 
 

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