"It's good you're starting to prepare. A few points about your plan:
1. Don't use a sword replica, it'll snap in two
2. It's true that most weapons in the south aren't under lock and key, but that doesn't mean the owner won't beat the crap out of you/shoot you to protect their property.
3. You should make sure you have enough food now, not once you start seeing signs of something going wrong.
4. I wouldn't recommend letting people into your home the second SHTF, but that's just me
6. Do you already have a secure BOL in the desert? If not, you might just wander around until you die of dehydration.

As far as going to walmart and pawnshops to find weapons and food, did you read the new member guide I recommended? There's a link to an article called The Panic in there. It explains that if you go to stores looking for supplies during the panic, you'll probably get hurt or killed, and if you go after the panic, the store will be empty.

http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/The+Ultimate+Newbie+Guide
http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/page/The+Panic"

"I decided not to read this because it was a wall of text, can you please it that so I can properly read it and give you my advice."

"You kidding? With as stupid people are down here (especially the rednecks who generally own all the guns) they'd be the first of the bunch to be turned to zombies or eaten alive."

"Hey! Back off! Us rednecks arnt that stupid!

Anyways..... I applaud you for preparing! Id also like to offer a little advice (Even though the senior members seem to have beat me by the main points.)
1) Like others said, stocking up now is better than later.
2)a) Do not count on simply building weapons with your "free time". Its likely you wont have the time for the hobby, and if you do, that means you should be doing something more productive.
b) Do not count on taking a gun from some country fella. Being one, Im a lil offended. If its still got ammo in it, its gona be in ma hands, and the trigger is gonna be warm. If its outa ammo, Im still gona hold onto it. Trust me. This is seriously a situation where "If you dont have it now, you wont have it then" couldnt be more accurate.
3)Count your people. Decide who is coming, learn what they can do, account for materials and space they will need, and set up a quarantine process. Having a years worth of food for yourself wont do as well when it also has to support 30 people.
4)a) This BOL in the desert? Plan your route to it. Then plan another. Then try tough scenarios: Say there is a road block, and the cars in the way must be moved in order to pass.
b) Is this BOL self sustaining? If it is in the desert, is it capable of growing food and supporting livestock? Do you know how to grow things, and how will you deffend it? You can live off of food for a bit, but your canned goods will not last forever...

In any case, I think you have an good place to start (with the defensible home and use of powertools and such), and most importantly, you have A) the will to prepare and survive and B) the willingness to think things out.
My best wishes to you, and I cant wait to see this plan as it evolves!"

"Most rednecks are quite smart. It is the ones that get on TV that make us look uneducated."

"Well, I have had many personal experiences with the idiots in the area so it's not just TV. I currently live in meth/crack central and if they're not doing that... they're doing something else and they're not that bright. Theres a few that I consider smart but most of them are middleschool/highschool drop outs with zero common sense and generally druggies. Those are the rednecks I'm familiar with... o.o"