This week’s update is going to be short and sweet, but I just couldn’t wait to share some big news. As we move forward with designing our personal home, we’ve hit a huge milestone, one that’s probably more exciting for me than for you, but exciting nonetheless!
The Vision for Our Home
Our new home will be single-floor living with a conditioned crawlspace. Given our high water table and my years in the industry, I’ve never been a huge fan of basements, especially when water issues come into play. Instead of dealing with the typical musty, leaky, and drafty basement issues we’ve had in older homes, we’re designing a sealed, conditioned crawlspace to house mechanicals, utilities, and some storage. It’s going to be clean, efficient, and built to last!
To help bring our site plan to life, we recently enlisted the help of our good friend Tom (@thetimelessgardener), a talented landscape designer. We were stuck trying to figure out the best layout for our home, shop, driveway, and storage, so he stepped in with some incredible design options. He even included a quick landscape and planting plan, which really helped us visualize the space. Needless to say, we are beyond excited!
A Big Investment in Our Future
As we began removing trees, rough grading, and developing the site, I quickly realized I was in over my head with my small utility tractor and I started to weigh my options. Do I rent equipment, purchase equipment or subcontract the work? The more I considered the long-term benefits and tax incentives, the clearer the decision became. Owning was the way to go.
And with that, we are officially the proud owners of a Kubota Mini Excavator!
Why We Chose the Kubota KX-040-04
We went with the 2024 Kubota KX-040-04, a 4-ton machine that will handle most of what I need for our home build and business projects. A new model is coming soon, which meant we got an amazing deal through Cherry Valley Tractor and Kubota. With the combination of:
• Tax incentives (Section 179 deduction in year one!)
• Zero-percent financing
• Built-up equity in both the equipment and our site…it was an absolute no-brainer.
Here’s what we got with it:
• Hydraulic thumb
• Quick coupler
• 24” and 12” digging buckets
• Full cab (because comfort matters!)
• Angled blade
• Rubber tracks
I originally debated on upgrading to the six-way blade, but it would’ve required a special order, an upcharge of around $15k, and a longer wait time. At this stage, it just didn’t make sense. Hoping I won’t have buyer’s remorse!
More Than Just a Machine-A Family Experience
This purchase isn’t just about convenience or saving money. It’s an investment in our future, both as a family and a business. I have this romantic idea of building our home with my own hands, alongside my family. I want my kids to see it, be part of it, and carry that experience with them for life. In today’s world, not many people get the chance to create something so meaningful with their own two hands.
Will it be challenging? Absolutely.
Will it be worth it? Without a doubt.
This excavator is the first step in making our dream home a reality. I hope you all follow along as we navigate the ups and downs of this build.It’s going to be one heck of a journey!