Time for me to eat some crow. YUCK! lol
In a previous post I had stated that our Rep never showed us the upgrades sheet for our home. After talking to someone, I did remember something, and I wanted to fix what I said.
We were never given the upgrades sheet to see until we signed contract. Then she did give it to us to sign. We opted NOT to look it over at that point because at that point everything was picked out and we had settled on a price and did not want to add anything else. So technically we were given the upgrades sheet, but not before negotiating price. It was during the final signing of stuff. But she DID give it to us. We could have looked at it then, but chose not too. OUR CHOICE.
It's been bothering me that I said she didn't do it at all, on the web. I wanted to correct my error. I am not fond of eating crow, but when I'm wrong I do try and make it right.
She was a good rep. She is very friendly and out going. And she did work hard to help us out with some things. To anyone building in here, she is wonderful. Our only real complaint was that it took her longer than expected to get back to us on some things. She currently has 18 houses under construction and is probably working on more contracts. She stays busy. But she is a good Rep.
So to my Rep.: I am sorry.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Morning Room Information
Hello again! I hope everyone is doing well. We have the big bridal shower here tomorrow, and while cleaning the morning room (again), I realized there were probably some things I should let you guys in on.
1. The very first light switching going into the morning room will work a half-hot. Half-hots are plugs you plug something (ex. a light) into. Ryan installs them upside down so you know which plugs are half-hots. Every room has them. Anyway, no matter if you have an overhead light or fan, or not, the first switch will always work the half-hot. We mentioned to this to our PM at our 30 day, and he said that the plans have it that way. So be prepared if you get a light or fan.
2. Morning Rooms do NOT come with ANY kind of overhead lighting at all. You have to pay extra. We paid $150 for a light.
3. Given the choice now, I would have opted of a fan. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our light! But with the door and all the windows in there, that little room heats up fast!! There is a noticeable difference in temperature when the window blinds are open, and we walk into the M.R. Just something for ya'll building to think about.
In other news, our street is booming! Only one lot left. The house across the street was a slab one morning. And by the next evening it was a 2 story framed house, wrapped and roofed. Crazy huh? They work here from about 7:30 in the morning to about 8/8:15 at night. Two more lots have cleared, another one is about to be, leaving just one lot left. I hope all our new neighbors are as wonderful as our current ones. I really do love it here and everyone I have met.
So anyway, back on track, I hope this gives ya'll something to think about! GL! Happy Building!
1. The very first light switching going into the morning room will work a half-hot. Half-hots are plugs you plug something (ex. a light) into. Ryan installs them upside down so you know which plugs are half-hots. Every room has them. Anyway, no matter if you have an overhead light or fan, or not, the first switch will always work the half-hot. We mentioned to this to our PM at our 30 day, and he said that the plans have it that way. So be prepared if you get a light or fan.
2. Morning Rooms do NOT come with ANY kind of overhead lighting at all. You have to pay extra. We paid $150 for a light.
3. Given the choice now, I would have opted of a fan. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our light! But with the door and all the windows in there, that little room heats up fast!! There is a noticeable difference in temperature when the window blinds are open, and we walk into the M.R. Just something for ya'll building to think about.
In other news, our street is booming! Only one lot left. The house across the street was a slab one morning. And by the next evening it was a 2 story framed house, wrapped and roofed. Crazy huh? They work here from about 7:30 in the morning to about 8/8:15 at night. Two more lots have cleared, another one is about to be, leaving just one lot left. I hope all our new neighbors are as wonderful as our current ones. I really do love it here and everyone I have met.
So anyway, back on track, I hope this gives ya'll something to think about! GL! Happy Building!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
=D Good news!
I'm so happy!! And I have learned a few things. =)
I'm having my first big get-together this weekend, my baby sister's bridal shower. Twenty-seven people will be here. I'm excited. Finally a house big enough to do this kind of thing. A house I'm proud of! I'm just about done decorating!
Also, I have news about my other sister's house.
Her pre-con is next week. Our Rep explained that it WILL NOT push her projected close date back. In fact, did you know you technically could have a pre-construction meeting AFTER you break ground? I'm not sure how good an idea that would be... lol But the point was that it won't hurt the projected close date.
You see, apparently your projected close date is based on when the materials are ordered for you house. NOT on when the meeting is. =) Just a little FYI for you. So if your materials are ordered BEFORE your meeting, the date shouldn't be pushed back. =) I am assuming they went ahead and ordered the materials so that they could move up the closing date as much as they could to help out. AWESOME!! The Rep and PM are on top of it!!! (things already turning around!)
They've staked her lot. I can't wait for them to begin digging it out!
Emotions are high and good right now.
Thank you Ryan for my beautiful home! And thank you for doing all you can to help out my sister!
I'm having my first big get-together this weekend, my baby sister's bridal shower. Twenty-seven people will be here. I'm excited. Finally a house big enough to do this kind of thing. A house I'm proud of! I'm just about done decorating!
Also, I have news about my other sister's house.
Her pre-con is next week. Our Rep explained that it WILL NOT push her projected close date back. In fact, did you know you technically could have a pre-construction meeting AFTER you break ground? I'm not sure how good an idea that would be... lol But the point was that it won't hurt the projected close date.
You see, apparently your projected close date is based on when the materials are ordered for you house. NOT on when the meeting is. =) Just a little FYI for you. So if your materials are ordered BEFORE your meeting, the date shouldn't be pushed back. =) I am assuming they went ahead and ordered the materials so that they could move up the closing date as much as they could to help out. AWESOME!! The Rep and PM are on top of it!!! (things already turning around!)
They've staked her lot. I can't wait for them to begin digging it out!
Emotions are high and good right now.
Thank you Ryan for my beautiful home! And thank you for doing all you can to help out my sister!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Battling It Out....
So... By now ya'll know my sister has contracted to build in here too. (YAY!!!)
I swear though.... She is NOT having the same good experience I have had.
Before signing contract she got the Rep to verbally agree to have the house done no later than the 1st week of December. End of November being ideal. She was told "No Problem". So they signed.
Then they were given a date in Mid January to close. Um.... No. Then they moved the date up to Dec. 16th. Again, Um...NO! Company coming from Germany for several weeks arrives on the 17th. Not happening.
So they finally move it up to Dec. 8th as a tentative close date. Okay, better. Still cutting it super close, but better. Why promise an end of Novemeber/First of December date if you couldn't deliver? They would have NEVER signed otherwise.
Okay, well since the date is closer, things seemed smoothed over. They were told last week they were going to have their pre-construction meeting this week coming up. Now they are being told they have to wait one more week. Um..wouldn't that push the house closing back to the week of the 16th? So again, HELL NO!
I swear, sometimes it seems like they are getting the run around. Like our Rep has NO interest in even trying to deliver on the promise she made to them as to when the house would be ready. My sister is torn on moving anyway. She has lived in the house she is in since we moved here when we just young girls. She's raised her family there. Something new would be nice, but it's an extremely emotional journey. I can tell ya'll right now, Ryan is NOT helping her in thinking they have made the right decision, or making this any easier for her.
There have been times where I have truly thought they should just walk away. She is also having the same problem I did with having the Reps get back to us in a timely fashion. I wonder if everyone else in here had the problem? I know for a fact one of my neighbors also did. If Ryan strives for 10's, I can tell you our Rep did not get a 10 from us, and I'm pretty sure from our neighbor either. On top of that, it would take some major changes for my sister to give the Rep a 10 now too. I wonder how many non 10's it takes before you lose your job? Not that I wish on the Rep at all. Personally, the Rep is wonderful! Great personality! Love the Rep to death, personally. But professionally, not the best.
I feel like the Rep helped us out a lot. And when she was slack on communication, she did try and make up for it. But I hate how my sister is being done. This whole process has been nothing but telling them one thing, and then them getting another. I have actually told her to pull out of contract several times already. I hate seeing them so torn up over this. I hate seeing the emotional struggle this for them. It would be easier if things with Ryan were going smoothly, but they aren't.
What do you do?
I love my sister. I just want them to be happy. I think they could be very happy in the new house. But I know they'd continue being happy where they are. Why put yourself through the stress and headache and emotional struggles? To me, it just doesn't seem worth it. I feel like they have been sold a bunch of bologna. I REALLY hope Ryan can turn this around for them. It's so hard to see this when we had a good experience.
*sigh*
I swear though.... She is NOT having the same good experience I have had.
Before signing contract she got the Rep to verbally agree to have the house done no later than the 1st week of December. End of November being ideal. She was told "No Problem". So they signed.
Then they were given a date in Mid January to close. Um.... No. Then they moved the date up to Dec. 16th. Again, Um...NO! Company coming from Germany for several weeks arrives on the 17th. Not happening.
So they finally move it up to Dec. 8th as a tentative close date. Okay, better. Still cutting it super close, but better. Why promise an end of Novemeber/First of December date if you couldn't deliver? They would have NEVER signed otherwise.
Okay, well since the date is closer, things seemed smoothed over. They were told last week they were going to have their pre-construction meeting this week coming up. Now they are being told they have to wait one more week. Um..wouldn't that push the house closing back to the week of the 16th? So again, HELL NO!
I swear, sometimes it seems like they are getting the run around. Like our Rep has NO interest in even trying to deliver on the promise she made to them as to when the house would be ready. My sister is torn on moving anyway. She has lived in the house she is in since we moved here when we just young girls. She's raised her family there. Something new would be nice, but it's an extremely emotional journey. I can tell ya'll right now, Ryan is NOT helping her in thinking they have made the right decision, or making this any easier for her.
There have been times where I have truly thought they should just walk away. She is also having the same problem I did with having the Reps get back to us in a timely fashion. I wonder if everyone else in here had the problem? I know for a fact one of my neighbors also did. If Ryan strives for 10's, I can tell you our Rep did not get a 10 from us, and I'm pretty sure from our neighbor either. On top of that, it would take some major changes for my sister to give the Rep a 10 now too. I wonder how many non 10's it takes before you lose your job? Not that I wish on the Rep at all. Personally, the Rep is wonderful! Great personality! Love the Rep to death, personally. But professionally, not the best.
I feel like the Rep helped us out a lot. And when she was slack on communication, she did try and make up for it. But I hate how my sister is being done. This whole process has been nothing but telling them one thing, and then them getting another. I have actually told her to pull out of contract several times already. I hate seeing them so torn up over this. I hate seeing the emotional struggle this for them. It would be easier if things with Ryan were going smoothly, but they aren't.
What do you do?
I love my sister. I just want them to be happy. I think they could be very happy in the new house. But I know they'd continue being happy where they are. Why put yourself through the stress and headache and emotional struggles? To me, it just doesn't seem worth it. I feel like they have been sold a bunch of bologna. I REALLY hope Ryan can turn this around for them. It's so hard to see this when we had a good experience.
*sigh*
Friday, September 2, 2011
Our 30 Day review
We had our 30 day review today. And I got to tell you, I really do like our PM. He was VERY helpful, patient and informative. He never ceases to amaze me. lol
All our issues (small ones really) are to be fixed soon! Our PM is going line up everyone to pretty much come on the same day and "knock it out". So all that advice other bloggers have given me about being prepared, they come to work, apparently that is going to be the case. All the fixes seem simple enough.
The meeting went extremely well. We're very pleased. My DH can be a bit.... long winded.... sometimes. I'm glad our PM is patient. =) I get nervous when it comes to telling people something may be wrong. Nope. Today went great! Soooo glad we went with Ryan!
All our issues (small ones really) are to be fixed soon! Our PM is going line up everyone to pretty much come on the same day and "knock it out". So all that advice other bloggers have given me about being prepared, they come to work, apparently that is going to be the case. All the fixes seem simple enough.
The meeting went extremely well. We're very pleased. My DH can be a bit.... long winded.... sometimes. I'm glad our PM is patient. =) I get nervous when it comes to telling people something may be wrong. Nope. Today went great! Soooo glad we went with Ryan!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
tomorrow
Tomorrow is our 30 day...wish us luck.
We don't have a lot wrong but we do some things fixed.
Things like our warped front door (it wasn't locking right at first. Now it locks, but the top is bowed)., bowing of the floor in the hall, one whole kitchen wall without electricity, switch plates in the den that are "caved in" looking. They need replaced and more than likely, the box needs pulled forward. There are some of drywall issues we will bring up, but I'm not sure what is done now and what is done at 10 months. And now our dishwasher makes a funny noise too. *sigh* All and all, not major fixes.
I'll let ya'll know how it goes. I know no home is perfect. And I'm so thankful Ryan comes back after 30 days to fix this stuff (well, set up the tradesman to fix this stuff). I'll keep ya'll posted!
We don't have a lot wrong but we do some things fixed.
Things like our warped front door (it wasn't locking right at first. Now it locks, but the top is bowed)., bowing of the floor in the hall, one whole kitchen wall without electricity, switch plates in the den that are "caved in" looking. They need replaced and more than likely, the box needs pulled forward. There are some of drywall issues we will bring up, but I'm not sure what is done now and what is done at 10 months. And now our dishwasher makes a funny noise too. *sigh* All and all, not major fixes.
I'll let ya'll know how it goes. I know no home is perfect. And I'm so thankful Ryan comes back after 30 days to fix this stuff (well, set up the tradesman to fix this stuff). I'll keep ya'll posted!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Water Bill Woes (and Sod advice)
We got our first water bill today. And all I can say is YIKES!!! We are less than .2 acre. We have had 3 sprinklers running every day over our Sod. (We weren't going to worry about the seeded backyard and hay yet. Thank GOD we did that).
When we first moved in, the sprinklers were set to water every few hours. After about a week or 2, we mentioned something to our PM in passing that it was still starting to die on us. He said that you don't want to over water your Sod. It can grow fungus under it, and as you can guess, kill it. So we moved our timers to go off once every 12 hours and that's where it's stayed. (Remember, I'm in the South...it's HAWT!!! lol So we need to keep it from frying).
When the bill came today I about fell out of my chair.
We still live in the same city. So we still use the company and there is no price change. Our reg. water bill is around the average of $55-$60. I knew we'd have a higher bill. I was thinking in the $100-$125 range. Nope. I was way off. Our bill was for $200 and some change!! WHAT!!! Approx. $87 of it was in Sewer charges.
Do we have a leak?
So we called. Nope. No leak. Sewer price is gauged on water use. She told us that when we use the water, it has to go back to the plant and get "fixed". Um...no. This water went into the ground. We just built a new house and are trying to get the lawn going. It wasn't going back to the plant to get filtered or what have you. Was there anything they could do?
Unfortunately, that doesn't make any difference. We were told pretty much "tough luck". =/ Some other counties in my area do give discounts, but not ours. So that's something for ya'll to check on where you are building
So watch the water bills guys! Especially if you're watering the lawn. I'm glad our lawn isn't bigger! For anyone building this time of year though. you may not have it as rough. The weather is getting cooler so your yards won't scorch as easily.
I wanted to pass along the info. Hope it helps some of ya'll out!
When we first moved in, the sprinklers were set to water every few hours. After about a week or 2, we mentioned something to our PM in passing that it was still starting to die on us. He said that you don't want to over water your Sod. It can grow fungus under it, and as you can guess, kill it. So we moved our timers to go off once every 12 hours and that's where it's stayed. (Remember, I'm in the South...it's HAWT!!! lol So we need to keep it from frying).
When the bill came today I about fell out of my chair.
We still live in the same city. So we still use the company and there is no price change. Our reg. water bill is around the average of $55-$60. I knew we'd have a higher bill. I was thinking in the $100-$125 range. Nope. I was way off. Our bill was for $200 and some change!! WHAT!!! Approx. $87 of it was in Sewer charges.
Do we have a leak?
So we called. Nope. No leak. Sewer price is gauged on water use. She told us that when we use the water, it has to go back to the plant and get "fixed". Um...no. This water went into the ground. We just built a new house and are trying to get the lawn going. It wasn't going back to the plant to get filtered or what have you. Was there anything they could do?
Unfortunately, that doesn't make any difference. We were told pretty much "tough luck". =/ Some other counties in my area do give discounts, but not ours. So that's something for ya'll to check on where you are building
So watch the water bills guys! Especially if you're watering the lawn. I'm glad our lawn isn't bigger! For anyone building this time of year though. you may not have it as rough. The weather is getting cooler so your yards won't scorch as easily.
I wanted to pass along the info. Hope it helps some of ya'll out!
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