Building Dreams in Nagano

We met with the architect again last Sunday and before we went I went over the estimates again highlighting all of the same items from the first estimate in one color and the different items in another color making sure that all of the extra costs were correct and necessary. But then I looked at the estimate the architect did after receiving the first estimate from TOTO and his estimate was even less than TOTO's even though there were more items on it, like basins outside the bathrooms, etc. So that is when I remembered he said they would give a retail estimate and the actual cost to us would be about half of that. Phew! Still within budget! I was able to confirm that with the architect on Sunday too, and he told me not to worry. We could afford all of the things we chose. Yippee! Here are the new drawings: First floor Second floor Loft  These drawings are a little more detailed that the previous drawings. They have been to the architect who looks at them and deci...

I think I wrote in my last post we were doing so good with the money set aside for bathroom, kitchen and toilets I wasn't worried about all of the upgrades we chose. Well, the estimate came back today. We are now ¥700,000 above the original estimate. :/ I don't know what to do. I don't think we need to make any drastic decisions about cutting stuff right at this moment, but we are definitely going to need to figure out a way to cut back on some stuff. I think this alone puts us ¥300-400,000 over budget, which isn't bad if that's all we go over budget in the end, but I'm sure there will be other places that end up being more expensive than originally thought too. ARGH! Anyway have any friends in high places at TOTO? I went to the bank today too. I spoke to the new loan officer and he assured me the loan will go through and we are fine on that front. It's just organizing all that needs to organized until then. Getting the two buildings officially registered ...