Survey

Even before we knew we could afford the building, Russ and I spent a lot of time on Craigs List. Back in November, we found a cultured marble bath tub that we really liked. We had several discussions about whether or not we should buy it. These tubs usually run about $600 and it was priced at $250. We decided that we could re-sell it if the house didn't come through. So we made a second trip to Seguin to pick it up. When we returned home with the tub we put it on our one acre lot. I would add a picture, but we've had so much rain, we can't get back there right now.

When Russ's dad gave us the acre, we called a few survey companies to get the cost of the survey. One company wanted $2500. One company said they could do it for $800. Now, Russ was forthcoming with all the information. His dad was giving us an acre of land but we also needed a right of way for our driveway - all the way back to the acre that we chose. The acre is about 1/4 mile back but the driveway meanders its way back there and will be about 1/2 mile long. The less expensive company said they needed the land cleared before they could do the survey.

Russ called several places about renting a bulldozer. He found that we coud rent one for a week for $1400. We decided to put an ad on Craigs List for someone to bulldoze the property. We had a lot of responses. Some were more than $2000, and some came in for about $1000. We had a guy from Austin offer to do it for $800 and said he could do it in one day. Besides clearing part of our acre, they also had to clear a path for the building to come through that was 30' wide. The guy with the dozer and his partner were available on our wedding day. So, on November 28th, Russ helped them in the morning and married me in the afternoon. :-)

When the surveyors came out, they couldn't believe how much work they had to do for $800. The guy in charge here was going to call the office. Russ explained that what they were encountering was exactly what was explained to the gentleman who gave the bid. So they did the survey. Russ realized, after they left, that they did not leave markers for the acre and they had to come BACK out and finish the job. Russ says that the moral of THIS story is to hold people accountable.