We have a contractor!

Karin and I just returned from 5 days in ABQ. The bids from our contractor candidates were due on Friday, March 25. It turned out that we only had two bids, but that was fine because they were both good candidates. After clarifying a few issues with the candidates, we made our selection...Kayeman Custom Homes. Kaye Marshall is the contractor (a civil engineer with architectural training) and her husband Mike Cecchini runs the business side. They have built more homes certified through Build Green New Mexico (kind of like LEED, but only for NM) than anyone else and have the only Emerald (highest level) certified home. This is important to us for a couple of reasons. First, we are interested in the tax credits that come with BGNM certification (could total about $24K!!) But moreover we want our home (and our actions) to tread lightly in terms of both our carbon and water footprint. An Emerald certification will help us accomplish this. Also, we just really like Kaye. We are very much looking forward to working with her.

Unfortunately the bid was higher than hoped...about 20%. So we increased our budget 10% and reduced the spend 10% through a combination of cuts and "sweat equity". Kaye was very open to Karin Lynn (and perhaps Kristin too!) coming out to NM and helping with the build in areas like painting, assembling our IKEA cabinets and laying brick. So our plan is to move Karin Lynn out to stay in  our Airstream trailer set up at the Coronado Campground (NM) in July so she can build our "sweat equity" in the house until it is complete in October or November. My job will be to pack us up and move whenever our house sells (no offers yet). I'd say it is a pretty fair split. :)

Another exciting new member of our team is Bard Edrington, a permeaculture landscaper. He will be designing and installing our rainwater catchment system (including a 1300 gallon cistern!), gray water system and laying out the "dish" gardens which will be "flood irrigated" by rains and the acequia. We hope to use very little city water for our gardens which is very exciting to us.

So "Team KP3" which now includes Bard, our architect Leslie, contractor Kaye, and Kris, Karin and me...will be working feverishly over the next few weeks to finalize construction drawings, contracts and get permits pulled so problem tree (thirsty rogue elm trees) removal and ground-breaking can happen by end of April or early May! It is all very exciting!! :)

Bid packages are out!

The bid packages for the contractors were distributed last week! We expect them back on March 25, the same day Karin Lynn and I fly into ABQ. We will spend several days there to review the bids and hopefully select our contractor before we head home on March 30. Very exciting!

Unfortunately we have not yet heard back on our HVAC computer modeling review. Hopefully we will this week. This report should help us determine the most efficient config for our heating and cooling mechanics.

Oh...and one more bit of very exciting news! Our dear friends Al and Bettina expect to close on a .25 acre lot a long stone's throw from ours!! We are still incredulous that they are actually buying/building a place in ABQ and are absolutely thrilled that we'll have them as neighbors although it may be a couple of years before they break ground.