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!! :)