Material Quote Status... they are dropping like flies...

Oh I forgot I to tell you, I received a voice message from the head of the contractor's department at BMR (Building Materials & Renovations) last week. He confirmed they have misplaced - let's call a spade a spade - LOST - the request for quote and set of plans I left with them. ...and in this words, "would I be so kind to bring around another copy".

Not likely! Plans are not inexpensive! So I have written BMR off the list and assessed them a minus 0.5 (-0.5).

So the running score is:

Home Depot: 3
RENO: 0.5 (complete)
BMR: 0 (complete)
Home Hardware: 1

NOTE: I am moving primary residences this weekend so posting will resume earlier next week...

NEXT: Coming up next week

• Getting the permit
• Getting the foundation started
• ordering materials (maybe

Moving and Storage

I mentioned in a previous post that the furniture in my home is destined for the cottage (See "The Snow is finally Gone! April 28).

The issue at hand is the furniture needs to come out of my home on or before May 15th, the closing date of the sale of my home but the cottage will not be ready to accept the furniture until likely this fall. Where do I put the furniture as our new home is already furnished - the benefit of marrying a woman with a furnished high-rise condo!

I had initially planned on using a new local storage facility run by Dymon Self Storage, and in fact I have a small storage space there right now. I love the model that Dymon has created:

• Storage is inside, heated, very secure
• Access is 24-7
• Loading docks are all inside - this is great during the winter
• It is clean, safe and just simply a great place

Then, I happened to discover PODS at a local cottage show about a month ago which provides an even better solution for our situation. I provide the following description from the PODS website on how the solution works:


The PODS solution really fits for our situation in that:

• I only load and unload the furniture once.
• No rush to fill the container.
• No trucks to book, pay for and drive.
  
• PODS will deliver the storage container to the Cottage when I need it

I love the Dymon storage model, and will continue with the storage space I have because I can easily access it anytime, and it very close to where I live less than a kilometer. That is the beauty of the Dymon solution - it just fits in to the community an my way of life.

Bottomline:

• A PODS container will arrive the morning of May 10th
• I will go golfing in the afternoon
• On May 11th my sons and I will leisurely pack the POD
• On May 12th PODS will come and retrieve it and store it until I need it delivered

I'll let you know how it goes in a future post...

The Septic Engineering Report

The third reason I was up at the Cottage Lot this Past weekend was to meet with the engineer who will be providing the engineering report for the septic system that I require to get the building permit.

Background: The province (Quebec) put in new legislation about a year or two ago requiring a formal engineering report to establish the requirements for a septic system in order to get a building permit. I know this to be a change because four years ago in my previous but aborted attempt to build the cottage I was able to get the permit without the engineering report. The engineering report specifies what kind of septic system, size and allowed location - this is all based on the expected use of the cottage to be built - generally determined by the number of bedrooms (a proxy for the number of people using the cottage).

Peter Macintosh, the engineer, arrived about five minutes after Doug Zacharias, the foundation contractor (see previous post), so it took some juggling. After another round of introductions and chatting among the three of us, I first dealt with Doug and them Peter.

Peter's adult son came to assist him. So as Doug and I were discussing the foundation quote, the two set out to do their measurements.

Fortunately all the lot markers are visible, and had marked out approximately where the cottage was to go, so Peter was able to quickly assess the location.

I was surprised but very pleased that Peter determined that there is enough space for a complete septic system, tank and bed. He also indicated the best location for the well if I choose to put one in (I currently draw water from the lake).

In about half an hour Peter and team were done. He indicated the report would be completed next week (this week) and he would send a copy to Rick, the building inspector in Otter Lake.

The bottom-line:

• A full septic system can be installed
• The report will be done in five days or less
• I should be able to get the building permit during the week of May 6th. Previously the building inspector stated that he can issue the permit one day after receiving the engineering report

So the reality of my dream cottage is happening! I sometimes have to pinch myself...

NEXT: I discuss a neat way to store the furniture that is eventually destined for the cottage.