Buying Is Easy...Moving Stuff Is Another Matter

So here we are, home owners living in an apartment. Luckily, we had a full month left on our lease when we closed....because we HATE moving...with a passion .....never want to do it again.......staying in this house as long as possible.......good thing we love this house. The rooms are empty for now...we'll move the small boxes over the next few weeks, paint on the week-ends, then load up the u-haul ....drag the furniture over and set up house. Here's the latest snaps, before painting and stuff....

The End Justifies The Effort

Well, here we are, after a long/short 6 months.....and we have a home!...construction traffic...grass!...a private residence sign!...no newspapers delivery (yet)...great neighbors!...a workout center!...a great view of the common area!...


What an experience....not six months ago we were wondering when things would begin...and now we have to load up the camels and start the caravan from the apartment. My back is aching already.......

Signing Our Life Away

Before the big signing event, we had the 'delivery inspection' to go through. We reviewed the punch list from last week, made arrangements to correct a couple small things, and enjoyed the view from our completed screened porch! After months of waiting, countless visits to the site, and almost weekly discussions with the Winstar representative....the house was about to be ours.......if we could survive the closing......

I had heard horror stories about closings......incorrect paperwork, hours of reviewing documents, last minute re-scheduling....cramps from signing paper after paper.... Either the Gods were smiling on us, the angle between the sun and the moon was correct, the stories were dramatized a bit, or some combination of the 4, because it was a very smooth process. After 45 minutes of questions, review, initialling and some signing, we received the keys, and became genuine ... honest to goodness property owners. Holy Crap...how did I become an adult?

The Walk Through

I was surprised to find workers painting the exterior of the house when I arrived for the final inspection. Additionally, the screen porch had not been installed, and our shower was missing a panel of glass. On the plus side, we now had a kitchen floor, and the house was a comfortable 70 degrees.

Before our inspection began, our realtor met us at the house, and gave us the unofficial results of the home inspection we commissioned that morning. She gave Martin and Jim a short list of the findings before we began.

The walk through was well organized, and flowed nicely for us newbies. Things started with the new home manual, which contained directions, maintenance, and product information for all the major house components. Need to know who installed the heating system? What's the ideal height for the grass in summer? how do you light the pilot in the water heater? Its all there. As a long time apartment dweller, this will get me started in the right direction, now there's no maintenance staff to call...

After the orientation, and explanation of the punch list process...we started the top to bottom, inside and out inspection of our future residence. Problems were flagged, notes were taken. It felt a lot like grading a term paper... or what I imagine grading a term paper is like. Lose a few points for fit and finish in a few areas, but get them back for spotting and flagging some things before we do. Extra points for the bonus archways, and the slate stepping stones from the back porch to the garage. The final grade comes next week....but overall things are looking good.....

Small Setbacks Happen

Now we're talking....grass, flowers, porch rails, guys painting the front door and the chimney stacks.....closing on the 18th of December is in sight! But there was a surprise waiting in the kitchen for us. No, not the nice gas stove....the missing flooring! There was a small leak...these things happen...so out with the flooring.... Did I mention the walk through is scheduled for the 12th?

Moving On

A lot can happen in 2 weeks around here. This week's visit, we find the carpet going in, the hardwood floors are down and covered, and the stair rails are in. Outside, street lights are appearing in the green space in front of the house.

Unexpected Bonus

Winstar has given us another unexpected bonus....The doorway between the entry and the living areas is now arched. Just another detail they added to make things just so...... Most of the light fixtures are in, and the house seems a lot brighter.

The Race to Closing

WOW! Fixtures are going in, counter tops have been installed, tile is going in, the second floor porch has been decked. Interior wise, we're waiting for the flooring, crown moulding, stair railing, and the final finish work. Making a mid December closing may be close....

On the exterior, we still need some siding, trim work, gutters, garage door, sidewalk, and the landscaping. The homes close to us are in the same stage of completion, so we should be a neighborhood very soon.

Clean Up on Lot 5

Things continue to move along street side and inside. The exterior of the house has been painted, most of the exterior trim is up. Inside, the drywall debris is gone, floors scrapped, cabinets are going in, and the fireplace mantel is up! We're in decorating mode now. Taking measurements for curtains, finding the space between bedroom windows for furniture, measuring closets, and considering which flat screen to top the fireplace.

But, we did receive a little bad news....the development has made some changes to the plans for the green space in front of our house. Seems they are not planning to install a fountain, or wi-fi. We're all waiting to see how this pans out.....

Dry Wall and Debris

Bring on the dry wall! All the dry wall was up, and the joint mud was still drying when we made our way through this week end. What a mess! Mud, drywall scrap, and puddles of joint compound cover the floor. No worries though, all this will be swept and scrapped up before long. Things won't be clean again until well into the finish work. We're changing into old shoes to tromp around the site in, after my mud bath.

The Framing Inspection

Yesterday we had our framing meeting with the head contractor. Luckily, it had been raining all day, so the site was plenty muddy, and very slick. For those that know me, you won't be disappointed what happens....

So the contractor walks us around the house, as workers are installing the drywall . We go thought the check list of cable and phone outlets we added, and he answers a few questions we had about time lines, finish work, when we might close. Then we go outside. When I say we, I mean the head contractor and myself, my wife didn't like the look of the muddy back yard. So we go outside, I get a little to close to the edge of the underground utilities ditch, and splat, in I go. I wish we had our camera, it was a priceless moment.

Yes, I had mud to my knees, and of course I had a meeting at work after we were finished with the inspection. A word to the wise....hip-waders anytime your building site might be wet......

Enter The Design Center

Going to the design center is an experience. I had heard from acquaintances how a trip to the center caused arguments, hair pulling, and the momentary loss of all reason for a number of people. Fortunately, this was not the case for us. Granted, we had some issues imagining what a few of the combinations would look like, but it was actually a pleasant 2 1/2 hours last night.

Surprisingly, it didn't feel like that long. A bit of advise, make as many of your decisions as you can before you go. We knew most of the available options when we placed the lot deposit, and had decided what we wanted in the house weeks in advance. Knowing where we wanted (hardwoods, tile, extra crown moulding, etc...) gave us time to work out the hardest part....carpet and wall colors..... After years in apartments, I couldn't wait to get away from white walls and beige carpets!

The final word for our house:

• hardwoods in the kitchen, dining room, living room
• tile in the bathrooms (master, 1st floor half, both second floor baths) and laundry
• double crown moulding on the first floor and 2nd floor common area
• a carpet upgrade through the house
• gas stove
• microwave/hood over the stove
• granite counter top in kitchen
• bronze hardware and lights upgrade
• trim package around windows
• screen rear porch*
• upgrade staircase*
• fourth bedroom with 3rd bath*
• glass block window in master bath*

The last thing we need to decide on is a refrigerator. We may go to Lowes or Sears, depending on the finishes available from the builder. We're not a fan of the way a stainless 'frige collects fingerprints.

*upgraded in July, before building began.

A View of the Community

One of the features we really like about our house, is our front porch view. From the second story porch, we get a great look at the common area that will feature a fountain, benches, and a wi-fi connection!

Another great feature is our neighbors. The development hosted a party in September, and we met a number of the other buyers. We're going to have a great group of folks on our street!

A Pause in the Activity

Not much has changed since last week. It looks like they are ready for the inspections before insulation and dry wall are installed. We grabbed some shots of the tiny back yard, and a preview of the view from the second floor porch to share. We're making another run to the design center next week. Hopefully, we can finish our selections, and start thinking about curtains, furniture, and the other choices that come with a new home.

One of the hardest parts of watching your house construction, is watching the construction. Any little problem stands out to my eye. Even though I know the supervising contractor will find and correct anything I may see, we still want to talk to our sales manager about things we see. He's been great! He's given clear and specific answers to our questions and been very understanding when working with us first time buyers!

What a difference 2 weeks made! While we were on vacation, they rough in the 2nd floor front porch, drop in the windows, and get the siding on. The garage shell is nearly done, and the back porch has its overhang. It looks like the wiring is nearly finished, and the plumbing may be ready for the pressure test soon!

To the Design Center....

We made a trip to the design center (still under construction) to choose our cabinets and counter top. After comparing several combinations, we chose a black granite counter top, cherry cabinets, and 'gunstock' hardwood floors. We also upgraded to the bronze fixtures throughout the house, and selected the under mount sink for the kitchen.

We can't wait to finish choosing our options when the center opens later this month.

Another Week, Another Surprise

Shingles were on, and plumbing was being roughed in, HVAC ducts were going in. At this rate, we might be done before the end of the year....

Over looking the Livingroom

Doesn't look like much right now. Eventually, we'll have a fireplace on the left hand side. Now if I can just find a good tie-off point, I can try some rappelling again.

Fast Framing

And just like that, we have something to walk around in. Our Builder rep tells us most first time buyer/builders visit their house 3-4 times a week during construction. It almost seems like we are ignoring the house, visiting only on the week ends! We missed the whole raising of the roof for our house, but have seen several of our neighbors' houses walls go up.

Slab Down

September 15th, and the concrete is on the way!

The First Real Sign of Life

After the long wait, we have something more than a 'sold' sign to look at. A floor plan change required approval by the development, and the municipality we are building in.

The Catch up

I should have started this back in May of 2007, when we began a serious search for our first home. We added many miles to our cars, and our Realtor's car, searching for the dream home. Finally, after visiting a dozen or so communities, and touring model home after models home, we found where we wanted to live. Problem was, the develpment was so new, the builders we were interested in weren't settled in yet.

After several weeks of waiting, and calling to see if plans were finalized, prices set, or lots ready to be released, we got the call. One of the builders was ready to show their offerings.