Operation: Certificate of Occupancy (and I have $21,000 to make it happen)

When our building inspector was out a few weeks ago, one of the main questions Ryan had for her was what EXACTLY is required to receive a certificate of Occupancy (aka – the city approves that our home is now safe to live in- yay!). Believe it or not, you can actually be fined and eventually arrested for living in your own home without a certificate of occupancy. Crazy, right? Thankfully our whole house does not have to be pretty or finished to move in. Here are the basics for us to get our certificate and move in:

• A finished and functioning bathroom with sink, toilet and bath/shower.
• All walls must be finished (dry wall, paneling, etc).
• All electrical outlets, junction boxes and receptacles must be covered.
• All water areas (bathrooms and kitchen) must have water proof flooring.
• There must be a food prep space.
• There must be one bedroom.
• Handrail on the stairs
• Handrail on the front steps to the porch
• Dead bolts on all exterior doors
• Attic has to be insulated.
• Stair treads must be replaced

That’s the bulk of what is required by the City of Huntsville.

We have a few other things on our own list. We want to have the hardwood flooring downstairs sanded & refinished, have the house cleaned and primed for paint, install window casing around first floor windows and doors, and finish the kitchen except for back splash. I think the house will still feel dirty even after we clean and a nice coat of white primer will make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. No MORE RAINBOWS!

Now here is the real kicker. We have $21,000 left in our construction loan to make it all happen. Yep. You read that. $21,000! Did you know the average major kitchen remodel (new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, appliances, and back splash) in 2012 cost close to $50,000. Um, yeah, not happening. We are going to finish a kitchen, a bathroom, living room, dining room and bedroom for $21,000.

Is it even possible? Yes. At least my spread sheet says it is. My spread sheet also says I have a lot of work to do! Ha. I promise to share the details as we go. Maybe you will be inspired to take on a budget friendly renovation of your own.

Without further ado, meet our budget plan.

Lighting	$1,500
Refinish hardwood	$200
Living room fireplace	$100
Drywall & labor	$4,000
Molding & trim	$100
Vinyl Work (just wrote that check!)	$1,350
Plumbing labor	$2,000
Plumbing Fixtures	$1,800
Appliances	$1,000
Cabinets	$6,000
Tile & Flooring	$1,750
Counter tops	$950
Misc	$250
Grant Toal	$20,950

This should be fun. Snug is the nicest word I have for it. Stay tuned! Hopefully we can make this work! Do you guys find it as absurd as I do that you can be ARRESTED for living in your own home? Do you guys have any experience in snug budgets? I would love any advice people have to give! Is there anything else we should add to our pre-move in list? Am I missing something completely obvious (and don’t say finish the whole house!)?

Peace.

Brittney