Projects Moving tips! Need solid suggestions! SUCCESS!! OR NOT!!

Keep the info coming, I need all I can get!!!!

 

I hired an inspector to look at my place before purchase, in NY they are not held accountable for anything they miss, but you are required to get an inspection !
Just a money grab in this state for sure.

 

I would go to the Property/Zoning department and obtain a copy of the "map" showing the "supposed" location of the septic field. Don't make a fuss, just ask the clerk to see the print and pay for a copy. Then you can see just how much room you really have. It may be a very small distance and be able to change your plans slightly. Find out if the same regulation would apply to a lean-to or not. If not, start out with a lean-to roof sitting on some posts. Somewhere in the future, get concrete poured in the lean to.
Further in the future add an outside wall.......it's still a lean to. After all the neighbors have gotten to know you and have become used to the lean-to, most won't even notice when you add the back wall and then the front wall sometime after that. By then the zoning will have forgotten all about you. Most of those tasks after the initial lean-to roof and supports are in place can be done quickly on a weekend.

Yes, it takes a while that way, but you eventually get there...........

And if you do pour concrete, don't let them drive over your septic field or your tank.

 

Hey Tow Truck Tom , This was a life learning experience and marathon. As some of my other friends who moved out of Alaska via shipping containers learned a lesson. All these shipping companies bate and switch your loads even when they say that they will not be touching any contents. Well 2 of my friends who shipped via container experienced not only damage from the contents being moved from container to container even both were told nothing will be touched and once the load was transported and ready to be dropped off , these companies squeezed even more $$$ out of my freinds prompting me to take extreme moving measures and haul my own stuff.
I experienced a great vast of knowledge in OTR owner operator truck .A great chapter in my life and glad that page has come and gone . And as mentioned , I have no regrets in my decision.
not a decision for the dreamer nor weak at heart but now I am still sorting and arranging my new building . It was worth every stressful moment.
Vic

 

Christmas came early today, and I got a blessing!!!

The inspector for the Tennessee Dept of Environment and Conservation showed up today!!
A very pleasant young lady, who, in spite of the 35 degree temp, looked at my site and probed the ground where the field lines ended. She only hit gravel with the probe, and hit nothing in several spots at three feet deep.
She listened to my explanation of my plans and why it was not necessary, in my opinion, to move the field lines just to satisfy the 10 foot setback for a garage.

She asked two questions.
1. Does it have any water discharge? No.
2. Will it be just a monolithic slab without deep footers? Yes.

Then she said that she didn’t see any issues and would write a report of her inspection, and approve the construction as long as the two issues were complied with. She then called her boss, who verified her findings and confirmed the approval. She also said that she would apply for a refund of my fees, as no modification was needed!

WOW!! I AM ESTATIC!! Now for some warmer weather to get started.

 

Really great news, I'm glad for you.

 

This is a great thread. A ton of great idea's and good advice, as well as some serious work and emotional roller coaster rides here. Timely for me as I'll be facing a move come spring. I'm almost 65 and have to say, it's a little easier knowing I'm not the only one facing this challenge. Thanks to everyone for posting their experience.

 

Good News Update:

Got the official written inspection report and there are no restrictions on enlarging the shop!
Plus the refund is in the works for the $400 paid up front for a modification permit.

The metal building rep came out and measured everything, shot the grade and went over what I needed.
Supposed to have plans and price quote Monday.

Progress is a good thing.

 

Congrats! That 400 bucks is going to disappear quick soon, but it is forward progress IN WRITING!
As has been related here and in any construction tale, this is heading into the hard part with everyone fighting for time and money. Use the cold time to research materials and contractors.

Hope it all works out and exceeds your expectations.

 

Being in the Army for 31 years, as well as my Pop, who had a long career in the Air Force, I move every three years. My best advice would be "don't move ****". Don't invest, "time, money, and effort" for items that are not worth the effort. Good luck and don't provide the beer until the work has been completed.

 

@COCONUTS and one more thing, now that I've gotten older.
Mandatory stretching warmup before the stuff starts getting lifted and lots of water!

 

Not so fast there, Billy Bob!!
The Grinch stole Christmas.

When I got the go-ahead from TDEC to proceed with the building, I contacted the metal building company and they re-visited and we finalized plans.

A few days later I get the official build quote.
$40,000 for a 24x32, post and frame, metal siding and roof, with no electrical or plumbing! That’s $52/sqft.
Concrete with grading with 2-3 loads of clay fill is included, and a pump (+$) is required to stay off the driveway.
Attached to existing shop. 12 foot ceiling for the lift, (requires scissor trusses). One OH door. Two windows.

I thought that was high, what say you? But I’m not in the mountains of East TN anymore!
Neither is it 2010, when I built the last one. Living in a dream world? Got any comps?

The other issue is they can go ahead and do the slab but can’t erect the building for 8 weeks!!
The delay of waiting for the TDEC ( 1 month) pushed me back in line and they have a lot of business. But, if I would had to move the field lines, that would have been several thou.

That would put me into March to move the cars and get moved in and organized
Does this sound reasonable or acceptable in your opinion?

Or do I look for another company? I wanted to deal with a local with good reviews,and there aren’t
many to pick from. Of course there are a lot of out of towners who won’t be there if a problem comes up.
I’m waiting for call backs from a couple.

Just disappointed, aggravated, impatient and tired of the delays. Thanks for the vent.

 

Im thinking with the grading and concrete thats not a terrible price.

 

I have no recent or even distant numbers to go by other than what I've read here. You might get a bit more experienced eyes on this over at Garage Journal, but even then it's obviously location dependent.

I would imagine that with the concrete and grading included, that isn't bad. Those have been climbing for a long time now. I'll also say that any timeline is always going to stretch, never shrink. Especially when winter weather is involved. Get your other local quotes and hopefully some reviews before making your decision.
I'd check on bare minimum electrical and plumbing you must have and an idea of what it will take to make it what you want too. While a roof and walls are nice, if it ends up jut being bare storage due to costs, take that into consideration, too. Try to avoid sunk costs and ugly surprises.

 

Update from the front.
Just ANOTHER bit of bureaucratic BS today.
There is an official form to fill out for the building permit. Supposedly doable on line.
Well the form won’t allow you to fill out the required info.
So I called the planning dept. and talked to a very pleasant young l***.
So now I have to print it, fill it out, take it downtown, and submit it for scrutiny.

Then I find out that they also have setback requirements. (?)
I informed her that I already had approval from TDEC to build within the 10 feet requirement.
She says that’s great but we have our own setbacks. WTF?
You’re the folks that said I had to go through TDEC FIRST!!
So, it’s some more hoops to go through before I can turn the first shovel.
This is ********!! It’s an extension of an existing structure that was already permitted!!
Oh, and that will be from $250-$285. Thank you very much.

Your daily ***** session has now concluded. Back to your regular programming (for a while)
My wife just informed me of a water leak in the guest bath.

 

Safety FIRST !
Whatever you do, don't cut corners to save a few bucks. 11 years ago, I almost dropped a complete small-block Chevy off the lift gate on a moving truck...on top of me after I slipped off the lift-gate in the rain. I was in a hurry to get the truck loaded and the truck door closed. I really saw my life p*** before my eyes and thank God every time I think of it to this day.

 

Update to the seemingly never ending saga of attempting to build a shop when you’re not in the country anymore.
Well, the water leak proved to be non-existent . We won’t go into details.
Just a trip under the house in the crawl space. Just another day of shop prep time missed.

Monday morning, I got all my s**t together and went downtown to the Rutherford County BUILDING permit dept.
Had a lovely visit with a very charming lady, who told me that, unfortunately, I would have to go upstairs and get a ZONING permit first.
Found out that they have their OWN form. Filled it out and with my proof, presented my application.
Oh, that will be $150. Fine, here’s my Visa.
Oops, our card system is down and has been for two days. No checkbook, so a 10 mile round trip to the only branch ATM in town. Christmas shopping traffic is bumper to bumper, stopped
Cash in hand, I creep back to zoning, and three hours later they decided that instead of a weed farm, strip joint, casino, or hog farm, I was only wanting to extend my shop, so Voila’, I am officially approved by zoning.
Next morning, Tuesday, I’m back to Permit, who said they got the approval from zoning and would accept my app for the building permit, but that would probably not happen until Monday, with the holiday.
Could I bring my application back then?
Uh, NO! You have the OK from zoning, you have my completed application, why would I want to make an extra trip? Just KEEP IT until Monday!
GEEZ, I ‘m about to get out of the holiday spirit
Good thing the cute, charming, female bit of joy came to my rescue. All solved.
HMMM! Thinking back, maybe two trips WOULD have worked!

Holding my breath now in great anticipation of not only just getting the permit, but with the added joy of being able to help support Rutherford County with an additional $250 donation!
FWIW, They did get their IT folks to fix their CC application.

But wait, there’s more. Later that day my OT pickup wouldn’t start 35 miles away at my granddaughters, so it sat for two days and today got a spanking new $241 battery. Oh joy. At least it’s home now and ready to go pick up the anticipated building permit on Monday.
And see the charmer.

 

Is there a snow load rating needed?

 

Don’t think so, although they have the plans with the truss specs.
Instead of snow, perhaps a ******** load rating.

 

Red Tape doesn't just fall from the sky, there's a permit to carry it aloft and drop it on the building to check load rating!
You need to do***ent all this and keep track of everything. Here's one basic checklist.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/do***ents/fema_checklist-acquire-building-permit.pdf

 

Thanks! I have tagged all the bases so far. I’ll find Monday, or Tuesday or Wednesday………………