Apr 27 2024

Overland Explorer Camp M Review

After an incredible 2.5 years of traveling to National Parks, Monuments, and boondocking sites across the nation, we’re excited to share our experiences with the OVE Camp-M (now known as the Backcountry) lightweight overlanding truck camper. Let’s dive into what makes this camper great and where there’s room for improvement.

The Journey Begins

Our adventure started when we picked up our Camp-M camper from Big Sky RV (Bozeman, MT) in June 2021. As early adopters of the new version with an over-the-cab bed, we were eager to hit the road and explore.

Why We Chose the Camp-M and Toyota Tacoma Combo

Having previously traveled in the Winnebago Boldt for 1.5 years (and dealing with 13 rounds of fixes), we knew we wanted something simpler, smaller, and more durable. Enter the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck paired with the Camp-M camper. Here’s why we love this combination:

  1. Durability: The Tacoma Off Road variant is a rugged companion, built for off-road adventures. Its narrow body allows us to explore even the most challenging terrain. The Camp-M is made from extruded aluminum, the interior is clean and tough.
  2. Comfort: The Tacoma’s interior is surprisingly comfortable, making long drives enjoyable. Plus, the quiet cabin ensures a peaceful journey. The Camp-M
  3. Off-Grid Capabilities: The Camp-M is designed for off-grid living. With its composite construction (extruded in one piece to prevent leaks), we can confidently camp in remote locations.
  4. Winter Camping: Thanks to the Camp-M’s insulation and thoughtful design, winter camping is a breeze. No more shivering nights!

If you’ve never heard of OEV, they’re a branch of LITE Industries Inc., from Alberta, Canada, with a knack for turning any old pickup truck into a mobile home suitable for off-grid travels and life. The campers they produce are completed from composites, extruded in one piece to ensure no leaks and tailored to fit mid-size beds from 5 feet (1.53 meters) to 6 feet (1.83 meters) in length.

We got the Toyota Tacoma TRD Dual Cab with a 6-foot bed. When driving the camper closed with dimensions 122″Lx77″Wx61″H closed and a nice 83″H when open for camping. The interior dimensions when open while camping is 118″L x 72.75″Wx81″H making it comfortable for those as tall as 6’6″. The dry weight is only 925 pounds! The 2021 OEV Camp-M has 20-gallons of freshwater capacity, and no grey tank just empties out the side we just put a collapsible bucket and use Dr. Bronner’s soap when doing dishes and washing hands so it is okay for the environment if boondocking, if at a campground you just can pour out at the kitchen waste disposal. As you all know, we would much rather boondock and go off the beaten path than go to a campground, so we wanted something that could handle a week off the grid.

The Camp-M is great off the grid and has features to make your off the grid experience more comfortable including (this is a mix of what is included and options we selected for exact list visit their OVE Camp M website): a Truma Vario w/thermostat and AquaGo instant water heater, multi-speed MAXXfan roof vent, 20-gallon (91-liter) freshwater tank, and interior propane connection for a portable cooktop. A beefed-up electrical system is also in place and features everything from dual USB ports, a 12-volt auxiliary connection, a Redarc charger, lithium battery and 200 W solar panels. The screen door is a wonderful feature to keep the bugs out but get better cross ventilation and fresh air on those hot summer days and nights! It has a 10-pound propane tank for your heater and cooking needs. We loved the outside instant hot water shower and found standing on your tailgate to shower made it easy and kept your feet clean! Compared to many campers the electrical and plumbing are clean and organized and easy to follow. The extruded aluminum construction makes it very durable, lightweight and long lasting with no wood to fail. The composite panels have the same automotive gel coat finish as a fiberglass boat or Corvette.  The aluminum extrusions are powder-coated white. If you are in a good sunny spot and near a stream for additional water, we were able to boondock a week when we were in Red Lodge, MT.

As you know we like to do a lot of winter camping as we go searching for the powder skiing. The soft walls are rated R-4, made from a coated nylon on the exterior, a thermal fill for insulation, and a fire-rated canvas on the interior.  The nylon they chose has the highest UV rating on any exterior-purposed nylon product on the market.  The exterior nylon is dark grey for the highest UV block.  The interior canvas is light cream to brighten up the interior. The sidewalls are designed to breathe.  That prevents the sidewalls from retaining moisture. With the heater going all night and you breathing we found there was a lot of condensation, we crack the side window to help with that.

Inside the Camp M, sitting above the cab, you’ll find the bedroom with a 4″ memory foam queen mattress with an extender and additional memory foam to make it a King bedding suitable for two guests plus a four-legged friend or small child. (The new version has storage under the bed). A dinette sits at the foot of the bed. This dinette can also be converted into a sleeping area ideal for another smaller occupant and has storage under the seats. The cushions are made from marine grade fabric that is 4” medium-density foam. At the entrance of Camp M, you’ll find the kitchenette with a countertop, sink, faucet, gas connector for your stove, more storage and the tray for your cooler style refrigerator. We purchased the dependable, efficient Truma C63. The vinyl flooring is pretty indestructible, easy to clean and functional. The dimmable LED lights are one of our favorite features, especially as you wake up in the morning and don’t want to get blasted with a bright light right off the bat.

On the outside you have plenty of lights on the back and side, MOLLE racks to add additional Rotopax water we store 2, 2 gallons. They use a Sigiva (Bullfinch) outside shower connection.  It’s a single-point hot-cold port (the Aquago is an on-demand water heater system).  Storage for your outside shower hose, hose to fill water, we store our Jetboil cooking system, shovel, ax, soap, etc. It has a beefy rack for you to hang an awning of your choice, we got the Alu-Cab shadow 270 coming from Australia it is fantastic and bomber! It can handle rainstorms and the wind. It comes with (4) Manual Rieco Titan Camper Jack and we can say these are tough! As we were building out our property, we lived in the Camp M for 6 months and had no issues living in it on four blocks with these Jacks. It is pretty easy to put on and off the truck bed. It also has (4) Torklift Anchor Guard Derringer Tie-downs, that are very strong.

Improvements:

  1. Cooking- If the Four Wheel Camper Fleet can fit a two-burner propane stove why can’t OVE fit at least a one burner? They give you a low-pressure propane connector, but all camp stoves are high pressure, we could not find a connector to work. We tried 5 different camp stoves, and nothing worked. We did find one at Camp Chef but it was too big and too high powered that it would set off the carbon monoxide detector. In the end we gave up on cooking in the inside and just bought the JetBoil System with its own propane tank and it fits perfectly in the outside storage compartment and works fabulously.
  2. Talking about the carbon monoxide detector, we highly recommend you installing a quick release (thanks to the guys at Techniquevo in Bend, OR)! Because the area inside is so small, the carbon monoxide detector is very touchy and the carbon monoxide from your breathing can set it off if you don’t crack a window or the vent in the winter with your heat going. Three times we had it go off at 2AM and were those campers in a campground you do not want to be. Having to pack-up and drive off in the middle of the night and try to figure out how to stop your alarm is not fun. (We fixed this issue in our camper.)
  3. The lock on the front door is plastic and wears out easily, with everything being bomb proof you would think they would install a stainless-steel door lock and handle. Again, thanks to the guys at Techniquevo in Bend, OR for installing a great stainless steel door handle and lock alternative for us!

As you can see, these are very minor issues and issues we resolved with our friends in Bend (highly recommend Max and team at TechniqueOVE). If you want a great overlanding camper that fits on a Tacoma, so you can go anywhere –consider the Camp M or as it is called now BackCountry 5.85. We’ll see you in the wild.

Apr 17 2023

Yurt Raising

If you’re thinking about building a yurt, you need to keep in mind that the center is 14 feet high, and there’s a big heavy dome to construct, as well as steel or wooden beams. So, you’ll need some strong individuals to help you with the construction. In the yurt-building communities, where I joined, most people suggested having 4-8 helpers on your team. It is important to have someone who has building experience as one of your helpers or at least on speed dial.  Two months before starting the project, I began recruiting possible team members, reserving scaffolding at the equipment renting facility and checking with neighbors and contractors if they could help us move the yurt up the driveway when it is delivered.

Many people asked why we didn’t just hire construction or handy men. However, it was a sellers’ market in the early fall of 2021, making hiring anyone nearly impossible. Additionally, they were demanding premium prices of $50-$85 an hour. Most people raise a yurt with family and friends, so we decided to do the same. We also chose to do it on a long 3–4-day weekend, Labor Day weekend, to accommodate people’s schedules. Luckily, we had many retired friends as well.

Despite being super busy getting our property ready, we took the time to get involved in our community by joining local organizations such as the Pend Oreille Peddlers (our local mountain bike non-profit) and volunteering to help build trails and support local races. We also joined conservation groups like the Idaho Conservation League, Kaniksu Land Trust, and Friends of Scotchman Peak thanks to some local friends’ suggestions. We found wonderful people who became fast friends and several even volunteered to help with our yurt raising.

At about three weeks before the start, we had three people confirmed to come from Portland, Oregon, and three people confirmed to come locally, in addition to Greg and me. A week before people arrived, I made sure everyone had their COVID-19 vaccines and noted their food preferences and allergies. We also went through the installation manual about 5 times to ensure we had all the necessary tools and the list of parts. This meant several trips to Home Depot, local building supply stores and we made sure to have a local friend who had power tools or knew people with power tools to call on when needed. A few important tools to make sure you have included scaffolding that reaches at least 12 feet, several ladders, lots of power drills and impact drivers, a concrete impact driver if you have a concrete slab, a mallet, different-sized levels, ropes with carabiners to pull down vinyl, canvas, insulation, and lots of different drill bits.

It is important to take care of your volunteers, so I made sure to have plenty of drinks, snacks, and all meals covered for the 3-4 days of the build. I also purchased a gift for each volunteer to thank them at the end of the build for taking a holiday weekend away from their families to help us. Designate one person as the leader who guides the team at all times and ensures steps or parts are not missed. Everyone should have a job so no one feels they are wasting their time just sitting there, even if it is cooking, cleaning up, or organizing parts and materials. Every job is important and must get done so things flow easily throughout the project.

The night before the big kick-off, we took out folks who were interested for dinner. Each day, we began by planning for the day, assigning specific jobs for everyone, and addressing any issues from the previous day that needed to be resolved or improved. We welcomed feedback and ideas on how things could be done better. We especially valued the input of people with construction experience. During the build, it’s important to put your ego aside and listen to everyone’s suggestions. We were often saved by friends who had built an addition or a home and could offer ideas on how to do something better than the installation manual suggested. Sometimes, the manual doesn’t fully explain how to do something, and you’ll need to interpret and wing it. I always had one person helping me layout all the parts of the next step, so it was ready when the team completed the previous step. This gave us enough time to run to Home Depot or home to get missing parts or tools. Make sure you have the yurt company building lead in your contacts, and agree on their availability for phone calls or texts during the build. You’ll be calling them for help and guidance many times.

It’s essential to ensure that everyone takes breaks, eats lunch, and ends the day at a reasonable hour. You’re moving heavy equipment and using dangerous power tools, and you don’t want anyone to get hurt. Our Yurt from Weatherport was all steel (very heavy), so we made sure to take a few breaks in the day.  We made sure to end the day by 4-4:30 pm, so people weren’t working exhausted. We provided ice-cold beers, sparkling water, and dinner for those who wanted it. At the end of the day, we also held a debrief to discuss what could have been done better and what we needed to focus on the next day. We saw people working 12-hour days and in the dark on yurt sites. We highly recommend against this. 

We would have completed our yurt raising in three days, but unfortunately, a few of our vinyl and insulation pieces were incorrectly made. We had to have the yurt company recut the pieces and send them out. The company sent out a couple of guys to help us finish the yurt and fix a few items that were incorrect in the manual and missing parts. A lesson learned from us: if you get a yurt company that makes you a custom yurt, double and triple-check the drawings they send back to you and question the dimensions. Take the time to slow down and check again before you sign on the dotted line or ask for additional drawings when something is unclear. We were so busy getting the property ready before the yurt arrived that we okayed drawings that did not have exact dimensions. Hindsight tells us that we should have asked for the dimensions. When they arrived, windows were placed where they could not be, and what I interpreted as a certain distance, the yurt company interpreted as a different distance.

Really think through your heating options. At first, we planned to use a wood stove, but we realized we didn’t have enough room when our couch was pulled out as a bed. Then we rushed to get wall electric heaters when we should have planned for a mini-split in the first place. In the end, we installed a gas fireplace 6 months later (we had to wait for the ground to thaw to install supports for the flue).  It doesn’t need such a big flue, it was a lot less than a wood stove, takes zero electricity, it can stay on when we were gone, it’s easy for guests to manage and its beautiful to watch.  It is also a huge cost savings, on the coldest month our electricity bill was $450 while the following year even colder month is was $220 with using just gas.

Since we still had three people from Portland still here, we built our barrel sauna.  After 1.5 years of use, we love our barrel sauna.  With the dramatic temperature changes in Northern Idaho our sauna was expanding and contracting so much, we were worried om the longevity of the structure, so we built a roof for it this year.  It does a good job keeping snow and rain out, so the wood doesn’t expand and contract as much, and we don’t get drips in our face when enjoying the heat.

If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, it’s important to be prepared for condensation in your yurt. We neglected to prepare for this issue and experienced significant flooding during the first snowfall and extreme temperature changes. To solve the problem, we invested in two dehumidifiers that run continuously throughout the day and night during the late fall, winter, and early spring when we can’t open our windows. However, it’s important to allow your yurt to breathe by opening windows or the dome for at least an hour a day when the weather is mild and dry. Additionally, we worked closely with the yurt company to improve insulation and better fit the windows to prevent condensation from forming between the layers. This required some significant work, including fixing doors and windows, but in the end, we were able to get everything resolved.  It is very important to seal the inside and outside bottom of the yurt to keep critters and cold air/water/snow out.

If you plan to install a cement floor, we highly recommend giving it a month to cure and then sealing the floor before building the yurt, if you have time.  This will prevent staining, make it stronger if you drop items on it. We recommend a product from Amazon that is reasonably priced, dries quickly, and provides great results.  I really like the look; you can also add a stain for a different color.  We had to stain ours while living in it (very stinky and prepare for headache). We may try that when we reseal in another couple years. 

After completing the yurt, we installed two non-load bearing walls for the kitchen and bathroom.  This is something you can do yourself and don’t need a contractor (there are great YouTube videos to guide you).  This was a bit more challenging than building standard 12-foot interior walls, as we had to fit everything under the 7-foot loft. This meant cutting the 8-foot 2 x 4 studs, installing the bottom plate, and drilling it into place on the cement while cutting squares for the electrical and plumbing pipes. We then had to toenail the far right and left studs in place, install the top plate, toenail it in, and screw it to the steel beams at the top of the loft. Finally, we toenailed the stud to the top and bottom plate every 16 inches. This process took us two full days, despite it only taking eight hours under normal circumstances.

Once we completed the interior electrical and plumbing work, the state inspectors conducted a final inspection, and we were able to close the walls. Instead of using drywall, we chose to install ¼” birch, which is more attractive, less messy, and takes up less space. Cutting out outlets, thermostats, etc. required precision and working backward, as the material chips easily when cut. We recommend buying a few extra pieces to account for any mistakes. Once we had installed all the appliances in the correct spots, we brought in the electrician, plumber, and cabinet installers to finish the bathroom, kitchen, and overall yurt lighting/outlets.

For most of our appliances and furniture, we purchased from Home Depot, Amazon, and local furniture companies. This allowed for free shipping and returns, support for local businesses, and ensured that furniture arrived after we had a place to store it, see previous blog for links to our suggestions.

A few recommendations for a smoother Yurt Raising:

  1. Tools:  When your yurt arrives it comes in huge, heavy, wooden boxes, make sure the tractor or skid steer has extra-long forks to move it and can handle 2-5000 pounds, 6 feet wide, 6 feet high and12 feet long.  Be ready to rent tools or borrow tools last minute.  
  2. Gas stoves are cheaper in the long run, offer better sleep, and reduce back pain. While you may have plenty of wood on your property, wood stoves can be very expensive right now due to the long flue required. Additionally, you will need to stoke the stove in the middle of the night and venture out into the cold and snow to gather wood. In contrast, gas stoves are half the price to purchase and install, and they warm our yurt perfectly while being easy to maintain. We found that our electric wall and toe kick heaters were very expensive during the coldest month (costing us $450), but our bill was reduced by half when we switched to gas heat.
  3. Planning for the future can save you money in the long run. Although we knew we would eventually add a garage, we didn’t plan ahead and have a freeze-free water spigot installed, nor did we run the electrical line beforehand. If we had, it would have been easier to build the garage later on, as all the trenches would have already been made. Instead, we now have to add a breaker, run a new trench and line down to the garage, and find another electrician with availability to install it.
  4. Keeping extra parts on hand is always a good idea, as you never know when you’ll need them. For example, we had a few finished plywood pieces for the loft floor that were cut incorrectly and needed to be replaced. Rather than throwing them away, we found a creative use for them by making a desk that had the perfect circular angle cut. We also had extra vinyl that we used to reinforce the holes we cut to feed the gas pipe and flue. We used the wood boxes that the yurt came in as wood storage.
Apr 10 2023

Site Preparation for a Yurt

The process of building a yurt can be long and complicated, with many hurdles to overcome along the way. In this blog, I discuss our journey as we try to build our yurt on a piece of land in Sandpoint, Idaho. We had to navigate complex regulations and permitting processes, find reliable contractors, and deal with soaring wood prices during a time of high demand. Despite the challenges, we persevered, were ultimately able to complete our project and hope this helps you not make the same mistakes we made.

Once we ordered our yurt on June 28, 2021 we had until August 28th to get our property ready. The first thing we did was apply for an address with the county and the US Postal Service, as an address is required for many aspects of property development. Next, we visited the local library to research permits, regulations, and costs associated with developing an off-the-grid property. We looked into well-drilling, solar panels, grey water systems, platforms, and composting toilets. We researched the best composting toilets that did not require plastic bags since we wanted to maintain our eco-friendly lifestyle.

To our surprise, we learned that preparing non-developed land for development requires a lot of work, and it is not as easy as we initially thought. We assumed that there would be very few permits needed in Idaho, especially since our property was outside city limits and not subject to CCRs or HOAs. However, it seems that Idaho requires just as many permits as just about any town on the West coast. The advantage of living in a small town is that you can obtain the permits much faster than big cities if you take the time to meet with everyone in person and you live on your property full-time during development.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was drilling a well. We learned that the average cost of drilling a well was between $15,000 to $35,000, depending on the depth. After speaking with neighbors in the area, we found out that we would spend a minimum of $25,000 on drilling a well. We contacted several well contractors, but they were booked out for 18 months. Moreover, locals warned us about issues they faced with their wells, such as drying up due to new development and needing to be redrilled, with additional costs of $5,000 to $10,000. We decided to connect to the local Syringa Water District instead, which would cost us about $6,000. We filled out the necessary permit requirements and attended a local board meeting to request that three adjacent neighbors get water on our property on the North Idaho version of fast track. The board was understanding and promised to get us connected in the next 2-3 weeks, just in time for our Labor Day weekend yurt-raising. 

We also discovered that due to the long, grey winters in Idaho, we would not generate enough solar energy to power all of our electrical needs. The better option was to connect to the local electricity grid and send energy back to the grid during summer months when there is a surplus of power. This is referred to as a net metering system.  Therefore, we decided to connect to the local electricity grid and natural gas line, as I love cooking with gas and we might get a gas fireplace in the future. This required more permits and applications with the local utility company (AVISTA). Fortunately, AVISTA was understanding and worked with us to meet our short deadline so that we could get all utilities in, concrete poured, and set before September 1.  Don’t forget the solar permit is a different permit from your electrical and before AVISTA will turn-on your net meter, they need the approval from the state inspector.  You need to find an electrician who will dig your trenches (if you don’t want to), lay all electrical cables, meter install and transformer.  There are forms your electrician must submit to AVISTA on your behalf.

To obtain a site building permit, driveway permit, water, electrical, solar, and gas permits, we needed a detailed site plan. Fortunately, I had taken architectural and technical drafting in high school, so I was able to create one. We measured everything precisely, ensuring that we were 25 feet from the property line and had a 7.5-foot utility easement. We measured the length of our road, the distance between each corner of the property lines and our yurt, and the dimensions of our patio, which we put on the permit.  We learned that it is important where temporary property line markers are to put up metal property line markers (you can purchase at Home Depot, we bought the 6 footers and used a stake driver to place them in the ground).  You don’t want to have to pay for a surveyor when wildlife, trees or snow knock them down.  (Note: You will modify this many times, do it in pencil, and be ready to modify it with contractors and inspectors onsite and you can take a picture and send it immediately while they are onsite.)

I had initially planned to install a Sun Mar composting toilet in our yurt and had found a cabin-on-wheels company in Spirit Lake, Idaho that sold them. However, due to the state’s regulations, we were not allowed to have a composting toilet and direct city water in the same dwelling. Instead, we were required to install a grey water system, which was a large concrete tank with a pump that filters the grey water and only allows us to use the water to water trees. After researching various solutions, I found Hydra-Loop, which had innovative technology to filter our grey water so that it could be reused for watering trees, gardens, and even for washing clothes. However, we were told that Hydra-Loop wasn’t eligible by Idaho DEQ standards and we would need to contact the company to get approved before we could use what I was suggesting. The company was willing to go through the application process, but it would take over a year, which was too long for our 3-month deadline. Therefore, we opted to give up on our composting toilet and grey water system and instead applied for a traditional septic system, which would cost us almost the same amount.

Oh well, best laid plans!

While researching all the regulations and permits required, we were also trying to find a contractor to build our yurt deck platform, make our driveway, and do all the necessary trenches. We had to consider various factors such as the distance between the water, electric, and gas trenches and the most logical spot to put them to make it easy to dig up in the future if there were any issues. (Note: Water, gas and electrical lines can’t be in the same trench). We also had to consider the opportunity to share costs with our neighbors who were also putting in their water, gas, and electricity. After multiple revisions to our site plan, we finally found a solar guy who was an electrician and could do our electrical trench, put in our electrical meter, and do all the yurt electrical. We also managed to secure a plumber and someone to do a gravel pad for our shed and driveway, but it was a challenge due to the high demand and escalating costs for contractors.

During this time, we were living full-time on our property in our truck camper, which made it easier and more convenient for all the inspectors and contractors to stop by. We were working tirelessly in the hot summer to limb up all the trees in the area of where the yurt would be built. Our five acres had been previously logged, and there were dead limbs everywhere, so we had to create six huge burn piles of dead limbs over the next three months. It was exhausting work, but we were making progress. One day, while taking a beer break, one of the driveway contractors drove by and asked if we needed a gravel pad. He was about to finish a job and said he could come over in 15 minutes to give us an estimate. After talking with him, we were able to secure his services, and things were finally falling into place.

As mid-July approached and trenches were being dug for water, gas, and electrical lines, we knew we needed to make a decision on our yurt platform. We searched online for platform plans but ultimately decided to do it ourselves, calculating the costs of timber, cement bases, and various materials needed. We also began obtaining quotes from septic contractors. Fortunately, my childhood best friend’s dad, who owned one of the other 5-acre parcels near us, had already researched septic costs and feasibility before purchasing the property. We contacted several contractors, one was available and provided us with a bid for all the necessary work, including trenches, septic installation, and driveway construction. After some discussion, we agreed to have a simple cement pad for the yurt and a cement patio, which would be less expensive and lower maintenance than wood. The contractor went to work prepping our property.

It is important to note that before purchasing a property that requires a septic system, a perc test should be conducted to evaluate soil drainage. The perc test helps determine the best location and size of the septic tank and drain or leach field, which distribute treated wastewater into the soil. If the property fails the perc test, a septic system cannot be installed. It is also important to build your home/yurt above this spot to take advantage of gravity and avoid the need for a pump house.

As someone who loves to cook, a real kitchen was important to me. We ordered all the necessary appliances (stove, refrigerator, washer/dryer combo) cabinets, countertops, bathroom sink, kitchen sink, toilet/bidet combo (saves on toilet paper), shower, hot water heater from Home Depot and Selkirk Glass and Cabinets.  It takes around six weeks to receive all the necessary components, so it is crucial to give yourself ample time to have everything ready for installation.  We were able to store most items in our shed until the yurt was built.

By August 25th, we had completed all necessary preparations and were ready for our yurt materials to be delivered on September 2nd, with our crew of friends and neighbors scheduled to arrive the following day for the yurt raising. In our next blog, we will discuss how to organize a yurt raising party and what it takes to raise a Weatherport 24’ yurt. But first, some lessons learned.

Lessons Learned:

  1. Be nice but persistent! If you live in a small community, take the time to meet all of the permitting officials in person, be super friendly, and do everything they want on the spot. Several times, officials made changes to our plans while on-site, and we made sure they were happy before sending the changes with them or via email. Being nice is critical, as you are the one with deadlines, not them. Being rude or mean will not help you, as they can ignore you and move on to the next person. Many officials expressed their appreciation for working with us because we were organized, had everything filled out properly, were nice, available, listened, made necessary modifications, and tried to make their jobs easier. When a permit was taking longer than expected, we gave a friendly nudge via voicemail or email.
  2. Live on-site! With so many people building right now, many are doing everything remotely. Officials and contractors appreciate your presence, as they can show you issues, and together you can make the necessary modifications and understand their concerns.
  3. Keep it simple! In the end, the simplest solution was often the best. Concrete was easier and less expensive than wood. However, it is crucial to remember that all plumbing, electrical, and gas lines must be laid before the concrete is poured. It is permanent and cannot be moved, so ensure that everything is in the correct place. Also, make sure your contractors are measuring from the same spot and clearly mark all your spots to avoid confusion. Have a detailed drawing indicating where sinks, toilets, showers, drains, and supply lines are being placed with exact dimensions.