Early Week 9.....They are watching us!

Ryan Homes that is!  Yup, they read our blogs.   Am I the only one who didn’t realize this?!! LOL! Guess that was really naïve of me.

How did I find this out?  My PM….in a meeting we had today.  I greatly appreciate my PM calling me to have a meeting after my request and after he read my blog.  While my Week 8 post wasn’t the happiest post, it was honest and how I felt.  After our meeting today, I do feel better.  He explained the water on the floor….a long explanation but a plumber came out to make sure there were no leaks.  He explained that wood that looked all crazy on the porch….they use that wood for nailing the vinyl stuff.   He explained all the workings of drywall and let us walk in the house to take a look.  We also discussed the trim above and around the windows….hopefully they can remain white.  It just looks SOOOOO much better.   

I’m not happy that I’ve been banned from the house without our PM.  I hate that policy.  I really do think that at this point in construction we should be able to visit our sites as long as no one is working.  While I do understand it’s a liability issue, it does put a damper on the excitement of building a new home.   It’s my house that we are building, but it’s not MY house.

So what’s coming up?  Garage, columns, drive way, and paint.

We are still set for a closing date of February 20^th!  Exactly 30 days away!  Wow time has flown by.  It seems like yesterday that I was driving by our empty lot wondering when they were going to finally start!

Here are some pictures of our walk thru today. 

Dining room and living room

 

Family Room

 

 

Kitchen

 

 

Morning room

 

Bedroom

 

Master

 

Bedroom

Updated Pre-Construction Meeting Questions

Well we had our first delay.  We were supposed to have our pre-construction meeting on 11/6, but it was pushed back a week because RH hadn't received the plans back from the county.....why was the meeting scheduled in the first place if this hadn't taken place :-/

So I've had some extra time to go over my questions and make some changes to my list.....Now I have an even more extensive list of questions.  Should have just met with me last week, lol!  Here is my new list.  I don't think I have missed anything!

General Questions for the Project Manager:
1.       Estimated timeline/milestones, exact closing date?
2.       What inspections will happen at each stage?
3.       Can we visit the site?  Do we need permission?
4.       Rules for visiting the site?
5.       What is the best way to reach the PM if we have questions?
6.       Can we bring our own home inspector?  What is the proper procedure?
7.       How will other homes next to us/across from us be positioned?
8.       Will there be 1 or 2 HVAC units?
9.       Will there be any electrical boxes or cables boxes on our lot?  What about sewer drains?
10.   Extra floor supports in high traffic areas?
11.   Is the subfloor nailed, glued, or screwed?  Is this throughout the entire house?
12.   Exact square footage?
13.   Deadbolt on all doors leading into the house?  Front? Garage? Morning room?
14.   Can left over materials: tile, paint, carpet, vinyl be left in garage for later use?
15.   Thermostat location?

Verification Checklist:

1.       Selected upgrades and Options…things we paid extra for

2.       Confirm extra outlet for freezer in garage

3.       Confirm gas hookup for stove

4.       Confirm extra insulation in the wall by hall bath/kitchen and garage

5.       Cable locations

6.       Design center selections

7.       Ceiling fan prewire locations

Common Areas:

1.       Smooth or rough ceilings?

2.       Power outlet location for each room?  (Kitchen, bathrooms, garage, deck, TV)

3.       Exterior outlets and locations?

4.       Switches for lights in family room

5.       Window size and location in each room?

6.       Door handles- which rooms get locks?

7.       Will all windows have screens?

8.       Verification for extra insulation- possibly in laundry room and garage?

9.       Wall switches for ceiling fans?

Kitchen:

• 1.       Can we choose our own granite slab?  Rounded edges?
• 2.       Size of fridge that will fit in the design of the kitchen?
• 3.       Confirm cabinet above stove will be higher than the other cabinets?
• 4.       Rearrange lighting above the island for pendants- 2 regular light prewires?
• 5.       Outlet on the island?

Laundry:

• 1.       Placement of dryer vent?  Location outside?
• 2.       Can the door open away from the room (not into the room)?
• 3.       Extra insulation in walls and floor?

Loft:

1.       Can attic access be moved here?

Bedroom:

1.       Shelving in closet?

Bathrooms:

• 1.       Vent locations?
• 2.       Can master bathroom window open?
• 3.       Extra insulation?  Hear shower/toilets
• 4.       Recessed lighting in all showers?

Garage:

• 1.       Confirm that garage door opener, sensors, and button will be prewired behind the wall and we will only need to install the unit
• 2.       Confirm garage will be dry-walled
• 3.       Is there a drainpipe in the garage?
• 4.       Will there be a deadbolt on the door to the garage?

Outdoor:

1.       Gas line location?
2.       What outdoor lights are standard?
3.       Location of flood light?
4.       Where are the hose bibs located?  How many?
5.       When will the yard be completed since we are closing in the winter?  Will hay be put over the dirt in the meantime?
6.       Confirm front yard will be sodded?  How much for extra sod?
7.       Grass in the backyard?  How far back?
8.       Gutters around the entire house?
9.       What kind of plants/trees are placed?  Can we alter anything?
10.   Can we pick the placement of the trees?
11.   Grading?  Will the lot remain flat?
12.   What is the warranty on seeding and sod?  What if it doesn’t grow?
13.   How many steps to the front porch?  Railings?
14.   How many steps into the house from garage?
15.   Location of outdoor AC unit?  Heat pump?
16.   Mailbox?
17.   Sidewalks?
18.   Driveway width?  Will it be done in winter or spring?  Wide enough for 2 cars?
19.   Is the driveway asphalt or concrete?  Can we get concrete if asphalt is standard?
20.   If water ponds in the grass, will you fix this after the yard is installed?

Pre-Construction Meeting Questions

We have been contacted to set up our pre-construction meeting!!!!  This means we will be breaking ground sooner than anticipated!

So with this meeting happening in a few days, I have looked at a ton of blogs and their pre-construction meeting questions…..and at this point I have 30, lol!  Our poor project manager has no idea who he is dealing with.   Oh well, this is a huge investment and I want to make sure it is done right.  As our SR knows, I ask TONS of questions ALL.THE.TIME.   If I don’t feel something is right, I will let them know.  If I don’t like his answer, I will let him know.  When it comes down to it, this is what they get paid for, and I am a paying customer who wants to feel comfortable and confident with this purchase.

Here is my list of questions…..if I add more I will update.  Am I missing anything?!?!

1. Driveway width?  What is it made of?  Will it be done in the winter or spring?
2. How many steps to front porch?
3. Hose bib location and number?
4. Are there any exterior outlets?  Locations?
5. Location of AC unit and heat pump?
6. Location of flood light? Standard exterior lights?
7. Granite-Can we pick our slab? Rounded edges?
8. Can we visit when we want?  If not, how is this arranged?
9. Best way to reach you for questions?
10. Can we have our own independent inspector for pre-drywall and pre-settlement?
11. Recessed light placement?  Can we move some of the standard kitchen lights to another location?
12. What is the exact square footage?
13. Smooth or rough ceilings?
14. Shelving in all closets?
15. When will lawn be seeded/ how much sod?
16. Will there be any sidewalks?
17. Will the windows have screens?
18. Is there drainage in garage?
19. Is there an outlet on kitchen island?
20. Attic Access location?  Is it possible to move it to a different location?
21. Extra floor supports in high traffic areas?
22. Recessed light in each shower?
23. Is it possible to get extra insulation in laundry room and bathrooms? 
24. Will we have porch railing?
25. What warranties are included?
26. Dead bolt on the front door?
27. Will the garage have drywall?
28. How will the homes beside us and across from us be positioned?
29. Gutters around the entire house?
30. Will there be a rough-in for a garage door opener?