Michael and James

Post Agave

2009-05-12T13:55:00.002-04:00

We've been in Dallas for over two years now. We love being here (and our house) but miss Austin. The last time we were at Agave it looked like people were settling in. I hope things are going well out there.

Storytelling

2007-08-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

Gather round children. It's story telling time. No silly, I'm not talking about the half-truths and downright lies that come from those people. I'm talking about the story of a little house that has been under construction for about as long as The Winchester House. Alright, it doesn't have doors to nowhere or halls that end at dead-ends (not that we've noticed anyway), but it has taken a long time to get to this point. Unfortunately, not the end point.

So, the story goes that we had a "punch walk" through the house a few weeks ago (I know it's not new news but we've been busy). Contrary to how the phrase sounds, it did not entail punching anyone, although we've entertained that notion on several occasions. Nor does it indicate a leisurely stroll through a perfectly built-out house with a flimsy Dixie cup of lukewarm Kool-Aid (which I, for one, would've been hesitant to drink).

We were hoping that this "punch walk" would reveal to us that the house was almost finished. Well, not quite. The house has been locked up so we couldn't check it out before this time, unless we looked through the windows (see pictures below). Plus, those people made it clear that they didn't want anybody poking around until we were granted access to the house. Whatever.

For those of you who've never had the joy of a "punch walk," it entails walking through the home in a limited amount of time with a roll of blue painters tape and trying to identify all of the things that were done incorrectly, not at all, or need to be repaired (hereinafter referred to as "addressed"). During this walk, you place pieces of tape on everything that needs to be addressed. We used a lot of tape.

Many of the things that needed to be addressed had to do with dents, dings, and holes in the drywall, as well as cabinets that had paint on them or were scratched up. Several things still needed to be installed - the range, microwave, dishwasher, doors, etc. Some of the lights weren't working. Joe The Builder was also busy pointing out items that needed to be addressed. All in all, a useful exercise. Whether everything gets corrected to our satisfaction remains to be seen. One can hope a new tide has turned, right?

Below are some pictures (not the most recent) that we've taken over the last couple of months. The cement block walls will be covered in stucco and painted to match the house. The architect's rendering calls for a wood "screen" to be on top of the stucco wall closest to the house. It also calls for a matching gate to go in that area, effectively creating a courtyard-type of enclosure. We've been told that the only option for that is the basket weave fencing that's being used throughout the neighborhood. We chose to pass on that and not have the screen or gate installed. We can have something more architecturally appropriate installed later.

Hardscape

2007-06-05T22:00:00.000-04:00

We really like the idea of having something like this for the courtyard area of the Fab house. The trees would help hide the house next door when looking into the courtyard from the living room.

Oh, and a cool pond like this one.

Shopping Therapy

2007-06-05T21:14:00.000-04:00

We've been buying furniture like crazy lately.

For the living room, we got a couple of these

to go on each side of this

and a couple of these great chairs from West Elm

We also picked up a sweet chocolate (pun intended) brown leather sofa, recliner, and ottoman for the t.v. room. They go very well with the "t.v. stand" pictured below.

I think we're going to get this (in a taller version) this weekend.

Maebeaux | no roo for you

2007-06-05T21:02:00.001-04:00

Merlin | i spy

2007-06-05T20:58:00.001-04:00

Retro, you know?

2007-05-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

If you like great mid-century modern furniture, then check out Century Modern. We picked up this sweet buffet to serve as a stand for the plasma. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's a very beautiful piece that's actually darker than the photo shows. The two doors on the far sides swing out, but the middle one drops down. Perfect for hiding all the electronics.

We also got a great "surfboard" style wood coffee table and three-tier side table. Well worth the drive to the Big D (and an overnight stay in Hotel Zsa Zsa or The Belmont).

Catching Up

2007-05-21T22:20:00.000-04:00

Yeah yeah, I know. It's been a while. We really needed to step away for a bit. Those of you who have been in this as long as we have understand what I mean.

I'm happy to say that we now have paint on the outside and drywall on the inside. Hooray! (Let me crack open a Shiner)

Here are some pictures taken before the drywall was installed.

Law for Dummies

2007-03-18T23:22:00.000-04:00

Specific Peformance
n. The performance of a contract as specified in its terms.

Funky 50's house

2007-02-14T21:30:00.000-05:00

I love interesting 50's architecture.

Evolution of Intelligent Design

2007-02-13T01:12:00.000-05:00

We have stucco! And they've finally installed the roof support column at the front of the garage. Still waiting on our recently added window to be installed, though.

We took a few pictures but work was being done around the house so we didn't venture very close.

Pictures will be posted soon.

Inspect Tour

2007-02-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

We had a home inspector out to the Fab hab to give us the skinny on any issues we had not subscribed to. He pointed out some things that our builder had informed us about, but also caught several (minor) ones that were new(s) to us. I highly recommend spending the few hundred bucks to get it done. Caveat emptor, as they say.

The biggest issue has to do with the "grading" of the property. Although the home got a C+, the ground around got an F. Serious drainage issues. It will be interesting to see how agave is going to handle that one. I had a friend who looked at a home in The Villas (down the street/same developer). He put an offer on a home, subject to a backyard drainage issue being taken care of. They refused to do anything about it. He bought in another area of Austin.

On another note, we should be having a pre-drywall walk through soon. March 30 is quickly approaching. I'm curious to see what our next closing date will be. I'm betting anywhere between June and August. I guess I should be thankful. There are others who signed contracts almost a year ago and still don't have a foundation poured. That gets an F too; or better yet - a WTF.

Good Bones

2007-01-25T22:44:00.000-05:00

Odin's Beard! We Have A Neighborhood!

2006-12-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

Sweet Progress

2006-12-24T10:38:00.000-05:00

I went out to Agave Saturday to check on the house. The images were taken just prior to the 3-4 inches of rain that came to town. But it was cold; and I was alone. But not in the rain. Not at that point.

Christmas in Austin

2006-12-24T10:29:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone, our millions of readers, has a great holiday.
2007 will be golden!

Building Up

2006-12-11T22:36:00.000-05:00

Went out to the property this past weekend. Things are really progressing nicely. The metal roof supports are mostly up, electrical wiring has been installed, the majority of the windows are in, and the roof was going on. Sweet. I know I've said this before, but the new builder is fantastic. He even sent us an email letting us know what had recently been completed and the items set for completion in the near future. That was very unexpected yet very appreciated. A couple of minutes to type out an email - it can make a big difference.

Saw the new one-story Emily Little design going up. The vaulted ceilings in that house are spectacular. Last I heard it was still for sale. It has a great view from the living room. Met another "Agave-ite", Celeste, while we were out there. She's a blast. Too bad she won't be living closer to us.

We'll try to get some new pictures up soon. Our camera is misbehaving but a good friend took some photos for us.

Happy Holidays!

Closing Time: Last Call?

2006-12-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

Today, we finally got an amendment giving us a new closing date of March 30, 2007. Why is it that we, the buyers, have to remind these people that they need to send out amendments extending our closing date? Where is their sense of responsibility?

This will be our third closing date. Some have had as many as five. I have to wonder if they're still telling those with new contracts that the build time is six months.

At least this new closing date comports with the ETA that the builder gave us. That's just coincidence, mind you. I've recently learned that the closing dates aren't meant to be real closing dates - they are dates assigned to groups of us without regard to the particular building schedule for our homes.

Closing Time

2006-12-02T21:24:00.000-05:00

Well, our second closing date, November 30, came and went. Our house isn't close to being completed but we weren't even sent an amendment giving us a new date. No calls. No communication. Nothing. I'm not sure who's responsible for issuing the amendments, but whoever it is should be fired - immediately.

A Break in the Clouds

2006-11-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today we got to meet with Julie and Joe - our new builder. We went over our plans, some changes we requested early on in the process, some original details they were still trying to work out, and did a walk through the house.

Joe seems like a really good guy. He's articulate, knowledgeable, and attentive. More importantly, he genuinely seems to care about the house being built well. Whether the developer lets him continue on that course remains to be seen. For the first time in 8 months I feel like somebody is involved in the building process that actually appreciates, and strives for, a job well done. Joe is also the first person with Agave to give us an honest estimate for completion of the house - sometime in late February or March of '07 - almost a year after we signed our contract (we were told it would take 6 months when we signed). As long as it's done right we don't care how long it takes, but we could really do without the false closing dates.

Due to time constraints, we didn't get to choose our new cabinets or master shower tile, but we hope to do that soon. We also have to make some decisions this weekend with regard to the addition of a window and the type of door we want leading into the master bedroom.

All in all it was a good meeting. I really hope Joe stays on board.

Dreaming of Floors

2006-11-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

While we're waiting for something to happen with the house, I've been thinking about those items on the To Do list.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the floors throughout the Agave house will be polished concrete. The floors in some of the earlier homes look great - they have a lot of large aggregate in various colors. The floor sample we were shown looked similar. "It will look like a terrazzo floor" we were told. Our concrete floors don't come close to the sample we saw, nor close to the good looking floors in some of the earlier builds. In fact, there's very little aggregate. It's really just a dull gray cement floor with a smattering of small rocks here and there.

So, we've discussed some options with regard to the flooring. One is to have the concrete scored in large squares and then acid stained. That's great and all, but the whole acid-stained-concrete-thing has gotten old. You really don't have many options when it comes to color either. Plus, we have that in our current home.

Another option we've discussed is terrazzo tiles made of recycled glass and other materials. I like this option for a couple of reasons: (1) it's environmentally friendly, and (2) it looks good. I haven't done a cost comparison to see how it stacks up against other more traditional options, but frankly, I don't care. A good looking durable floor is an investment well made. Here are some samples of the tile. Personally, I like the blue. It's subtle but not boring.

Nothing

2006-11-13T22:51:00.000-05:00

Nothing. That's pretty much what has happened on the house lately. We're supposed to have a walk through with the new builder on Friday. More after that...

Cabinet Refacing

2006-10-27T22:07:00.000-04:00

It was announced today that the developer has decided to discontinue its relationship with the original cabinet maker, European Standard Enterprises (ESE), and has now negotiated a deal with IKEA. I'm somewhat concerned about the quality of the IKEA product. However, some information has been posted on the Agave neighborhood group which leads me to believe that the IKEA cabinets are of the same quality as the ESE product.

Who knows? Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised. So far, the surprises have been anything but. Fingers crossed...

Waterworks

2006-10-20T22:50:00.000-04:00

I was just innocently window shopping on the www when I came across these lovely ladies.

She should grace our kitchen sink

and she should grace our master bath sinks.

Illuminata

2006-10-20T22:02:00.000-04:00

Since we'll likely replace the fluorescent light sconces in the baths, the ceiling fans, the kitchen pendants, and the exterior lights going into/onto our house, I've been searching for a good source for replacements of all those things. I finally found it. Lighting Universe has an astounding number of lighting options, in addition to very reasonable prices. It's definitely worth a look. Be forewarned, there are thousands of lights.

Closets - and the doors that cover them

2006-10-16T23:11:00.000-04:00

I'm resisting the urge to make any closet jokes and instead just posting some pictures of the sliding closet doors being installed in the homes. For me, when it comes to doors they're really striking out. I've requested that the high end floor tracks be omitted from our house. It's a sacrifice in style - I know. Supposedly, the brass pulls will be replaced with ones that have more of a nickel finish. These doors look like they came from a mobile home supply store. You know, from certain angles our FAB house does look like a double-wide with a metal roof. These doors will feel at home there. Happy, happy doors.

I love our FAB double-wide, mamma!
(but we'll be changing out these doors)

Dreaming of Doors

2006-10-08T18:05:00.000-04:00

We went out to Agave today to check on the progress. Things seem to be moving along at a nice pace. Our misplaced living room window was moved ... to the wrong place. Sigh. We walked through a couple of the other houses again. The tile work does seem to be much better than it has been in the past. However, there are still some finish-out decisions that are being made that don't make a lot of sense - and really look half-assed.

We got a glimpse of what the sliding doors to the patios are probably going to look like on our house. Another disappointment. So, we're looking at another additional expense to upgrade something on our own that will make the house look like it should. The sliding doors being installed look pretty low budget. They are three sections wide, but only one section opens. It would make more sense to have at least two sections open out onto the front and side patios. I'm also not a fan of the storefront door that is being installed. It looks great on some of the other home designs. I'd prefer something that looks more contemporary and has cleaner lines. This company has amazing stainless steel entry doors. I covet them. They start at $5k. I'll continue to covet them.

Here's a picture of the style of sliding doors that I'd like to eventually have installed. I must have these doors.

Los Colores

2006-10-05T21:42:00.000-04:00

Cedar Edge is the color for the body of the house.
New Linen is the color for the metal roof supports.
Fortune Leaves is the color for the rafters and possibly the front door (depending upon type).

Other Homes in Agave

2006-10-04T20:43:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of other homes being built (or already built) in Agave.
(click on an image to enlarge)

Taking shape

2006-10-01T15:19:00.000-04:00

Happy October! This year is flying by.

Our house is finally taking shape. The walls are up and the frame for the roof is going in. Everything seems to be progressing rather nicely. The only hitch so far is a window in the living room that was put in the wrong place. I've been assured that the builder is aware of the mistake and will move it to its correct position.

We've also been informed that the architect has chosen some new colors for the exterior of the homes. We're excited to see the new options as we weren't really crazy about the choices we had several months ago. Once the colors are confirmed, I'll place a swatch up here.

Although concrete is our only flooring option throughout the house, we're looking at upgrading the flooring once the house is finished. The unfinished concrete floors in the more recent builds aren't nearly as nice as the earlier ones. I'm favoring a recycled glass terazzo, but we'll have to see what the budget allows after we buy fencing, more landscaping, an exterior storage building, better appliances, furniture, new light fixtures, new ceiling fans ... you get the idea.

We have a slab...and plumbing...

2006-09-17T20:36:00.000-04:00

Drum roll, please.

We now have a slab poured for the Agave house, along with plumbing. I received an email Friday indicating that our frame would start going up next week. I never thought this day would come.

We recently attended a neighborhood happy hour. It was a pleasure to meet some new neighbors - Paul, Riley, and Sybil - and to see many of the other neighbors we've grown very fond of. Another neighbor, Peggy, recently posted a comment on our blog. I'm not sure if she's discovered our neighborhood group yet, but I've pointed her in the right direction. What a great community Agave is turning out to be. I'm really looking forward to this time next year when many of us will be settled in. It truly will be unlike any other neighborhood in Austin.

New Closing Date

2006-08-13T15:43:00.000-04:00

It's been pretty obvious for quite some time that our original closing date of September 1 wasn't going to happen. We've now received an amendment that moves the date to November 30. Considering that we've only had piles of dirt on our lot for going on three weeks, we doubt the new date is an honest one. If history is any precedent, there is no way they will have our house built - from slab to finish out - in just a little over three months. It's much more probable that we won't actually get to close until early 2007.

Great people and tacky plastic yard decor

2006-07-13T21:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, a gaggle of Agave'rs met at Hotel San Jose for drinks and fellowship. It was the first time Mike and I met everyone face to face but, through the Yahoo community and everyone's blogs, I felt fairly connected to everyone already. It rejuvenated us. The building process is a pain in the arse. I guess anyone who's ever had a house built knows about all that. But Agave is a bit different. At least we know many of the great people we'll call neighbors soon.

Wendy--of Adam and Wendy--and I were talking about having the privilege of having a unique new house built alongside people you like and admire. Mike and I hold on to that as we grind our teeth through the process.

So , at the San Jose courtyard, drinking wine and getting to know new people, I tossed out the concept of The Pink Flamingo Beacon policy. Picture all of us this time next year, happily settled into the neighborhood. Let's say I discover a great inexpensive wine or cool new cocktail. Well instead of going the pedestrian route of calling everyone to come over after work, there needs to be an adopted beacon to signal neighbors to come over at leisure to enjoy a little hospitality. And that beacon, my friends, is the epitome of yard and garden flair: the plastic pink flamingo. The flamingo a little played out? Well, these are boom times for plastic yard decor. It could be anything. We just need to agree what creature will be the universal beacon. I'm a frog person, myself. Certainly, the universal beacon should be very inexpensive and widely available. Everyone should feel free to put out the universal beacon whenever they welcome neighbors to come over for drinks, food, whatever. Comments? Should we move this critical topic to the Yahoo group?

Today we met Julie at Brock and Gina's FAB house, which is our house design, to go over some issues. It does seem like they are getting their hands around this a bit more. Maybe I was just impressed with the fancy Agave info binder she gave us. Anything from Agave that's coordinated and organized is highly refreshing.

Timing

2006-07-08T13:27:00.000-04:00

Good morning.

Saturdays are just the best thing.

We saw some really good friends last night who both were in town for conferences and meetings. Of course we had to take them to Esther's Follies, which never fails to delight visitors. If you've never been-even if you think you don't like live or skit comedy, magic, or camp-just go. They do serve booze but you really don't need it.

O.K., the Agave thing is losing its freshness. You know they built the forms to pour our slab, you saw this in the previous post. Now the forms have disappeared! Before they poured the slab! It's just empty, lifeless, and scraped of its vegetation. The story is that they needed to further grade the site before they pour the slab, which is great since a good slab is always preferable.

We just get the sense that this hasn't been a good collaborative effort thus far. It seems like planning and coordination have not been a priority. Wouldn't you think that inspecting and approving the site's grading would be an important milestone to achieve before setting up the foundation? Best practices? It's not like home building is a new market in central Texas.

Also, our Sept 1 closing date has skittered all the way to November-ish. Great. I can deal with all the broken agreements in getting this house built but how do we sell the house we're in? We have two great danes and moving into an apartment for two months isn't an option. I can't help but worry that we're missing the peak selling season of the summer, trying to get a good price on our house during the holidays.

Whatever. At least we have perfect dogs.

House! Maybe?

2006-06-29T21:56:00.000-04:00

Probably safe to say our Sept 1 closing for the new house is a whacked-out delusion. But I'm the grateful type. I was super excited to finally see the form built for the slab. Of course, now the form has stood fast, alone, untouched for a couple of weeks.
At least it gave Mike and I a reason to use the camera. You just know we'll capture and post every inch of progress!

I should be working, doing laundry, housework...

2006-06-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

Good for me that Michael just told me he set up our first piece of cyberspace. I can't possibly work now.

So what's the best practice to introduce yourself on a blog?
We live in Austin, have two fantastic puppy companions, Merlin (browndog) and Maebeaux (spottydog)--pronounced MAY-bo--for whom we are total suckers, and we both work a lot. Mike works in law; I work in public affairs.

We hooked up about 8 years ago and have been kicking ass ever since.

We've been in Austin about a year and a half. We bought a house about 8 months ago but have since fallen in love with Austin's latest not-so-best-kept secret, Agave, a contemporary green neighborhood shaped by some of the most clever architects in the region. That's the downside of having a close friend in real estate.
Soooo...we're selling our house and buying in to Agave. Our future home is a dandy one-story designed by FAB Architecture (For A Better Archtecture).

So we may eat it on the front end trying to sell our current house but it looks like we're going into Agave with some equity before the slab is poured. That's the rumor anyway - sales tactic? Possibly.

I do need to finish some work so I'll leave it at that. We'll be back soon. All, have a great Sunday afternoon.