In the morning, I picked up the meter base from Dominion Power. Dawn sent an email two days ago which indicated where we should pick up the meter base.
“The meter base can be picked up at our office at 907 W Glebe Rd. Alexandria VA in our storeroom. Storeroom hours are 7:30am-2pm M-F. You will just need to go to our storeroom give them the work request number and they will issue you a meter base.”
The frame work is considered done. The frame work walk will be taken on Monday 10/12/15. The next step is Mechanic stage. 
More windows have been installed.
Dawn emailed us: The meter base can be picked up at our office at 907 W Glebe Rd. Alexandria VA in our storeroom. Storeroom hours are 7:30am-2pm M-F. You will just need to go to our storeroom give them the work request number and they will issue you a meter base.
After roof is done, windows are being installed.
Dawn also sent several emails regarding the frame walk and also mention that we can view and select the slab for our granite countertops.
email 1:
Framing is almost complete and you will be meeting your Project Manager for your Frame Walk on Mon Oct 12th at 9am. Please remember to bring your 400amp single service meter base with you if you have already done so. The next critical phase is the mechanical stage.
· HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical Rough In
· Insulation/Energy Seal Package Installed
· Close in inspections
· Schedule Pre Drywall Walk
Mechanical Stage
The mechanical trades (plumbing, HVAC & electrical) will be conducting their mechanical rough in’s. After the mechanical trades are complete, the house will be insulated and the energy seal package will be complete. As a reminder, the house will soon become locked at all times. Access will be granted during normal business hours only and will need to be coordinated through our office. NDI policy states that keys and lockbox codes are for NDI contractors use only.
Mechanical trades will rough in your home, this includes HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors. After all trades finish their rough ins, a close in inspection is called before we can start drywall. After your utility companies run the lines from the street to the house you can then call for them to come back to install the meter(s). Siding & brick contractors will be working outside as well.
The Pre-Drywall Walk occurs after the mechanical trades have completed their rough in’s. The purpose of this walk is to verify that all of the special options you have selected have been installed in their proper location and to answer any questions you may have.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks, Dawn
email 2:
You have an opportunity to view & select the slab for your granite countertops. We request this because each lot can look different within certain granite selections. This is not mandatory but we find that most customers like to take advantage of this opportunity. Please contact A&S Sales at 301-898-7400 to schedule an appointment or to let A&S know that you are waiving the selection process. A&S is located at 9834 Liberty Road Frederick, MD 21701 and your current granite selection is: BLACK PEARL.
The shingles on the roof have been installed. The roof is now water proof. The stairs have installed after the roof is done. The next step would be install the window.
上个月由于特殊原因, 我需要尽快注销我在国内的户口. 因为我是美国公民, 请在国内的父母代办此事需要委托书(Power of attorney). 委托书必须经过三级认证. 国内才认可. 为了这事我着实愁了好一阵子. 感谢帮忙的朋友们. 现在终于办成了. 分享一下过程和经历.
1. First step, prepare the documents in both Chinese and English version. Make sure the documents meet the requirement. You may consult people in China or Chinese embassy. Once you have both English and Chinese version ready, go to Fairfax circuit court to get the notary. You might be able to get the notary from other places as long as the person who provides the notary service is certified within the same state. You need to call county to confirm though. I think it would be easier to just get the notary from the local circuit court. The following link is the notary office information in Fairfax county.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/pdf/notary-information-sheet-ccr-a-220.pdf
4110 Chain Bridge Road #116
Fairfax, VA 22030
The cost is $2.5 for each document. I paid $5 for both Chinese and English documents.
2. After finished the notary, Fairfax circuit court notary office gave me an “Authentication Request” form. The following is the form image. Please follow the instruction and fill the form and mail it together with all documents plus a check. ($15 in my case because I have two documents) and the prepaid return envelop (I used USPS.com to print the shipping label using the priority mail flat rate envelop at $5.05 ). It only took four business days to receive the VA authentication.
3. Once I received the VA authentication, I mailed all documents to US State department for authentication. The following link explains where and what need to be mailed. You need to fill the form DS-4194 and mail the form and together with all documents, plus check (in my case $16 for two documents) also include a prepaid return envelop. (I used USPS.com to print the shipping label using the priority mail flat rate envelop at $5.05. )
It took me 13 business days to receive the US authentication. It is longer than I expected. Their website said it only takes 4-5 days. I did call them and they said mail in documents need to be screened first before send to the State Department. If you are in a hurry, walk in instead of mail. The US authentication was signed by John Kerry. Not printed but really signed by hand. That really surprised me.
4. Once the US authentication has been received, the next step was to visit Chinese Embassy. The following link explained this step in detail. I went there on Monday and picked the documents on Friday within the same week. $20 per document. Normally the waiting line is longer in the morning. Afternoon would be less crowded. Make sure get there in time because the door closes at 2:30pm. http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/ywzn/lsyw/gzrz/zn/t710860.htm
Timeline:
8/26/15 morning got the notary from the county notarize service. Same day mailed to VA state for authentication.
9/2/15 received the VA authentication.
9/3/15 mailed the document to US State Department for authentication
9/19/15 received the US authentication signed by John Kerry.
9/21/15 went to Chinese Embassy for authentication.
9/25/15 picked up the Chinese Embassy authentication.
Everything is done within one month. If you need the documents in a rush, choose walk in and also pay rush service fee.
P.S. (updated on 10/8/2015)
全部材料准备整齐以后, 我选择美鹰快递(703-728-0683)邮寄中国. 周日 9/27/15, 由于我要去中文学校, 没有时间把文件送去快递公司. 公司的Helen主动在周日的下午, 赶到中文学校, 取了文件. 她生怕文件信封太小, 容易遗失, 还帮我用盒子把文件装好. 她说邮件将于周三登上从纽约出发的飞机. 当时正赶上国内庆祝国庆节, 放七天长假. 我很担心. 不知道什么时候才能收到. 最后, 在国内周三(10/8)的早上, 文件寄到了. 快递费只有$16. 比到邮局寄更快也更省钱. 大力推荐!
Heavy rain poured last night before the roof was finished. No work was done due to the heavy rain. 
Monday. Started to working on the roof. It will rain so hopefully the roof can be up ASAP. At the end of the day, most part of the roof is up but the middle still not completely covered.
Dawn sent an email to update the status.
Hi Helen, trusses were delivered Friday and being set today. Then plywood, paper and shingles to follow. These materials are made to withstand the elements so nothing to worry about there. Thx, Dawn
Foundation Stage (Approximately 30 Business Days) Apply for utilities now (water/sewer, power & gas)
· Excavation
· Foundation Footing Formed & Poured
· Foundation Walls Formed & Poured Sewer determination to be made (hung vs gravity)
· Water-proofing/Drain Tile/ Backfill/Plumbing Ground Works
· Basement & Garage Slabs Poured Construction entrance will need to be extended to garage slab
FOUNDATION WALK 9/17/15
Frame Stage (Approximately 30 Business Days)
· Floor Joists and Sub-flooring
· Wall Framing and Roof Shingles
· Windows & Exterior Doors
· Stairs
FRAME WALK Bring meter base & place add’l purchased items (MM/outlets/lights/etc.) as well as island
Saturday. The crew started to install the trusses.
