The next step is official acceptance of the work. We need to get an Elevation Certificate. This entails a surveyor to certify that the house is at +8.00 feet above sea level. This elevation allow us to supposedly buy flood insurance at a lower price. That is why I raised the lot elevation to allow for an elevation of +8.00 feet. The other part is to make sure the house is not taller than the legal limitation of 40 feet above the highest street elevation of about +/- 5.00 feet above sea level.

This was completed this past week. Not with out the usual trauma for me. The first reading came in at +7.7 feet above sea level. I begged them to find a different street marker to start the measurements. The second reading came in at +8.0 feet above sea level. The document that was close to being submitted was the +7.7 reading! There would have been no end to trying to submit a different elevation after that. So both correct documents are now submitted.

The insurance companies expect us to provide additional verification of the the house quality. The next document is a 4-point inspection of the house. They review HVAC, electrical system, plumbing, and roofing. Since the house is new, we won’t have any problem passing any inspection. The real reason for this inspection is to verify that we have added extra roof truss tie downs and the air leak numbers are within an acceptable range to make the AC work efficiently. This report shows a house that is well insulated. These added reports may give us the ability to obtain cheaper homeowner’s insurance.

Since the guys putting in the filter fabric and gravel were in a rush, something else got pushed back. As usual it’s the landscaping! That is the last thing we need to do before we call for a city inspection and our Certificate of Occupancy. Now I need to redo some work to find my irrigation lines and heads. I have a person who can make the irrigation automated, as the city requires and the last guy did not! Just another delay!

Then we apply for the Certificate of Occupancy. The City wants the house “livable” not necessarily completed. All utilities, safety items, plumbing, electrical, mechanical work make the house livable. The Certification of Occupancy allows the house to be occupied, use the legal address, have mail delivered, and have garbage picked up!

I’m working on getting residency in Florida so I can take advantage of the Florida homestead law. The benefit is that it keeps the tax increase to a maximum of 3% a year. Similar to California’s Prop 13.

The next and last step (I hope) is to have the house valued for taxation. Here in Florida, the tax assessors come out, look at the house, and assess value of improvements and comparable properties, and then assigns a taxable value to the house. It’s a little more subjective than California’s tax value based on a percent of the initial sales price.

What value they will place on this is now a concern. It’s a dry lot, but designed for what we want.