Homebuyer's Toolkit
Toolkit Menu
The Construction Process
Now that you have your financing approved and your selections made, we are ready to start building your home. During the first month after signing the Purchase Agreement the builder will be busy getting permits and filling out purchase orders for the materials needed. Custom plans will be created and the home site prepped. All of this happens during the first month when it may appear to you that nothing is going on. Nothing could be further from reality.
Over the next three months your excitement will mount as you watch your new home take shape. The actual building time will be from 3 to 4 months. Your New Home Consultant will be taking photos to send you as well as a weekly update on your home's progress. As we approach the final month, we can firm up your closing date so you can make plans.
Pre-Construction Meeting
After selections are complete and the plans are drawn, the builder will meet with you and your New Home Consultant to review the plans. At this time, you will all make sure that everyone understands your wishes and that everyone gets a chance to ask questions as necessary.
Site Prep & Foundation
All the necessary planning, permitting, and ordering is done. The time you've been waiting for is at hand. The lot is cleared and the soil compaction testing is complete. Your home will be sited and laid out, followed quickly by the pouring of footers and the foundation's concrete slab. Plumbing prep will be completed before the concrete is poured. At this stage, weather plays a major role.
Framing & Rough-ins
Although seeing your foundation makes the home seem real, it's when the walls go up that you are able to finally see each room take shape. Before long you'll be able to walk through each room and get a sense of the flow and the space.
Inspections
One of the reasons a brand new home is a good investment is that it must be built to the latest home-building standards and cost-saving energy efficiency. To ensure this happens, at every stage of the process your home will be inspected by the appropriate county officials or regulatory agencies.At times, progress may be halted as we wait for the inspections to take place.
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Pre-Drywall Walkthrough
Once all inspections on the plumbing and electrical, and other required inspections, have been successful, we will schedule your first official walkthrough of your home. This is called the "Pre-drywall Walkthrough" because you will have a chance to see all of your electrical and plumbing before we erect the drywall which will encase all or most of these items. You will check placement of your outlets and be sure all customized items on your plan are being taken into account.
Drywall, Trim and Paint
It is time now to enclose your rooms in drywall, trim them out, and paint the ceilings and walls. Obviously, this is when you truly get a feel for the space as your eye is confined to each room and not looking through the walls into other parts of the home.
Exterior Finishes
Outside, everything is taking shape as the siding goes on and any brick or stone accents, if you chose that option. Your front door is painted or stained. Outside trim is added, including shutters if your home calls for them.
Cabinets & Flooring
The magic happens when the kitchen and bathroom cabinets go in and the flooring goes down. The moment you walk in and see your gleaming countertops and walk on soft carpeting, it feels like a home. The final transformation is when the appliances are installed. At this time, we will conduct our own quality control inspection and then have the county building inspector come so we can be issued a Certificate of Occupancy. You're counting the days now!
Landscaping
About this time your landscape package and sod are put in place. If you purchased an irrigation system, then it will be installed prior to the sod. When the grass and shrubs are in, we will keep them watered until closing. The finishing touch is pine straw mulch and a wash-down of your driveway and sidewalks. What an inviting picture your new home makes to all who pass by.
Orientation
This is the moment that you and the builder have waited for since you signed your purchase agreement -- the Orientation and Final Walkthrough. Your building superintendent will schedule a convenient time for you but during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Please allow a couple of hours for this important step. You will be shown your new home, inside and out. We will demonstrate how your major systems work and give you pointers on maintaining them. A "punch list" will be created as the walkthrough progresses, and these items will be addressed before closing.
