Building a hypothetical home in NID! (snake, property, area)

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

CF, what would you like to do on the property over the next couple of years, and how much can you afford to spend? It might be nice to be able to put a camper on the property, that gives you a nice place to stay if you come up in the summer. In a perfect world, it would be really nice if you could have power in, your well drilled and septic in, then you could just "plug and play" with a camper, and they are all things that need done when you build anyway. Bad news is that all of these things are pretty pricy and don't "show" well. I sunk our well before we built, just to have it over with and know we had water...referred to it as my $10k hole in the ground...

If you decide to do some of the work on the ground yourself, you can rent a dozer for a week for a fairly reasonable cost and do some clearing yourself, plus have fun playing with a cool toy. It's nice just to do property cleanup, burn downed trees and take care of the forest. That's pretty much my entertainment...of course I'm easily amused. I think elousv is right though, having the forest cleaned up really lets you fet a feel for where you want the house and how you want to orient it.

[elousv]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Thanks, Elousv! Sounds sensible. We have to start small--I'm just impatient! You got the place in Hauser, right? Bet you're excited! Going up this summer?

Title co just sent the paperwork today, tomorrow we sign and send them a wad of dough and that should be it. First trip up is May 3rd, champagne is chilling.

[shades_of_idaho]

Congratulations.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

CF, what would you like to do on the property over the next couple of years, and how much can you afford to spend? It might be nice to be able to put a camper on the property, that gives you a nice place to stay if you come up in the summer. In a perfect world, it would be really nice if you could have power in, your well drilled and septic in, then you could just "plug and play" with a camper, and they are all things that need done when you build anyway. Bad news is that all of these things are pretty pricy and don't "show" well. I sunk our well before we built, just to have it over with and know we had water...referred to it as my $10k hole in the ground...

If you decide to do some of the work on the ground yourself, you can rent a dozer for a week for a fairly reasonable cost and do some clearing yourself, plus have fun playing with a cool toy. It's nice just to do property cleanup, burn downed trees and take care of the forest. That's pretty much my entertainment...of course I'm easily amused. I think elousv is right though, having the forest cleaned up really lets you fet a feel for where you want the house and how you want to orient it.

Toyman, thanks for advice. What I see happening over the next 2-3 years is cleaning up the forest, getting the trail/driveway into the clearing improved, get power, and then clear an area and put a concrete pad/slab in for an RV which we hope to borrow next year for the summer. But that could also be used for a camper or a small prefab cabin. I don't think we'll need a well until we decide where the main cabin is going etc. But the main point of the trip this summer is to sort all that out. We'll take you guys' advice and do property cleanup. Which will be fun. But what I really want to do this summer is get a ranch gate put up! So who cares if there's no driveway, I want my ranch gate! I've been wanting one of those things all my life... But I'll probably have to be practical...half the fun is the planning (when you don't have a deadline!).

Elousv, I'm so happy for you guys! Congratulations, and all the best wishes for your NID future!

[elousv]

Ooo, something like this?

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Toyman, thanks for advice. What I see happening over the next 2-3 years is cleaning up the forest, getting the trail/driveway into the clearing improved, get power, and then clear an area and put a concrete pad/slab in for an RV which we hope to borrow next year for the summer. But that could also be used for a camper or a small prefab cabin. I don't think we'll need a well until we decide where the main cabin is going etc. But the main point of the trip this summer is to sort all that out. We'll take you guys' advice and do property cleanup. Which will be fun. But what I really want to do this summer is get a ranch gate put up! So who cares if there's no driveway, I want my ranch gate! I've been wanting one of those things all my life... But I'll probably have to be practical...half the fun is the planning (when you don't have a deadline!).

Elousv, I'm so happy for you guys! Congratulations, and all the best wishes for your NID future!

You'll have fun, playing on the property and seeing results is nice, especially with the view I envision you havling around that area. I wish you were a touch closer, I'd drive the tractor over and help move some dirt...but 50 miles or so at 8 MPH is a long trip

We need pics!

The pics part goes for you too elousv, sounds like both of you have nice pieces of land.

[elousv]

Here is the entrance to da hood:




The shack:




My agent tells me there is a lake out there under the white:





Manly place:

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Elousv, that looks like a really nice house, and in a fantastic spot! You've got to be excited. There is supposed to be decent fishing in Hauser Lake, I think the state record, or near record, tiger muskie came out of there a few years back.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by elousv

Ooo, something like this?

Exactly, except I want it bigger! And we'll call it "Lost and Confused Ranch."
Or maybe not. Sometimes less is more...

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

You'll have fun, playing on the property and seeing results is nice, especially with the view I envision you havling around that area. I wish you were a touch closer, I'd drive the tractor over and help move some dirt...but 50 miles or so at 8 MPH is a long trip

We need pics!

The pics part goes for you too elousv, sounds like both of you have nice pieces of land.

I appreciate the nice idea with the tractor, but 50 miles is way too far! I'll try to figure out how to post full-size pics.

Elousv,
Gorgeous pics! Looks fantastic now, and it will look breathtaking in the summer and fall. What a cool place. Isn't it great to know that a long search paid off, and now we get to see a dream come true?