In 2015 I began going to all the Parade of Homes or Showcase of Homes put on by builder's associations around the area. This included Central Wisconsin (Wisconsin Rapids, Plover), Wausau, Green Bay and Fox Valley (Appleton, Neenah, Oshkosh). I especially focused on energy efficient homes and those that were Focus on Energy New Home Certified. Focus on Energy is Wisconsin's energy saving program supported by the state and is quite extensive. This way I was able to not only see the latest and greatest in new home building concepts but also meet builders and ask A LOT of questions.

I engaged the services of Andy Kunkel of A-K Design Professionals in Mosinee to draw up plans in 2016. Mosinee is close to me in Wisconsin Rapids so it was much easier to meet with him. It took several iterations to come up with something I liked, and I had a nine month setback trying to get a site plan from a civil engineer (we won't go into that one!) But finally, January 2019, I got a Bid Set of the plans and started looking for a builder.

The builder search was frustrating and time consuming. We are in the middle of a housing boom and EVERYONE is super busy. I wanted a house that was New Home certified under Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program. Or, at the very least, a high energy efficient home using the latest in building techniques. So to start, I went Focus on Energy website to find contractors that were part of that program. Alas, no one in Florence country was on that list. One qualified builder I had talked to at a Home Show, located in Phelps, WI, was not at all interested in traveling as far a Florence - an hour away.

I asked everyone I knew and quite a few people I didn't know for builder recommendations in the Iron Mountain area and I struck out all over the place. In a lot of cases I left messages or emails, and they never even bothered to respond. I had been talking to Dickinson Homes, a local manufactured home builder and they were willing to get Focus on Energy certified. So I started there. However, I felt I wanted at least 3 bids. I finally found 3 other builders in the Green Bay area that met my requirements and were willing to travel to Florence County.

In the end, I selected Nick Holtger Construction from Oconto Falls area as my general contractor/builder. His office is 1 1/2 hours from Spread Eagle. Originally we planned to start excavation the first week to September. But we had problems finding an excavator willing to tackle the job. Because the house in 10 feet down the hill and built into the hill, we need to basically remove much of the hill to pour the foundations and then back fill. And with full employment excavators could stay busy with much easier jobs. But Nick found Duame Sand & Gravel who was willing to do the job - although we then started late - October 9th.