27 April - Settlement

27 April - Settlement

Our settlement went without a hitch. It started with a status update from our project manager, Jason, regarding the punch items outstanding from the New Home Orientation. Feeling excited, we met at the Settlement Office (NVR).  The settlement staff worked us through a decent sized stack of papers for signing. There were no surprises, no extra fees, no unreasonable rules/policies to deal with, so we collected our keys and headed back to the home.

As fate would have it, it was a beautiful sunny day - perfect for day one in a new place. We walked around a bit and then I started on my list of "must do's" - things I decided I wanted to have done before we moved in. These are mainly things that I would consider annoyances - nice-to-have things Ryan could have done but does not do unless you negotiate them in up front. Some experience can be very valuable here. They are mostly small things. For instance, installing wall-mounted door stops on interior doors, completing the drywall and insulation in the garage, or insulating the unfinished space in the home design. No complaints - but it would have been nice if ... Just saying.

In any case, the house was spic and span and ready for us when we got there. It just looked so nice and new. Here's some photos:

24 April - The Final Walk Through

24 April - The Final Walkthrough (new home orientation)

The meeting was with our project manager, Jason, who was well prepared and had the house well prepared as well.

We first had a discussion about the process between now and settlement, which is in a couple of days, and we talked about what happens after settlement. We then signed a couple of documents acknowledging that we discussed these things.

Ryan now puts virtually all of their information on a thumb drive rather than give you a large binder full of information. Jason also pointed to http://myryanhome.com/ for help reviewing general information and contacting Ryan when there's a problem.

One of the processes concerns punch items not corrected by settlement. During the walk through a list is prepared of open items that Ryan acknowledges need to be addressed. I expect many of the items will be addressed before we settle in a few days, but some will not. For instance, the knobs on our kitchen cabinets are misplaced and require new cabinet doors. Jason said he'd order new doors and have them installed when they arrive in a few weeks. In any case, the key is to have a list of items both sides agree on before settlement occurs.

After the discussion we walked through the house from top to bottom and then the outside, adding items to the list. Then we reviewed the list one more time before leaving. The process took about two hours. We thought it would be quicker, but ...  It was very very helpful.

So now we do the punch items and we get ready for settlement in a couple days. We love the place! A couple pics:

10 April - Finishing Touches

10 April

The momentum continues. Just when you thought it was done, there seems to be more happening. We noticed:

• Garage Door Opener
• Landscaping
• Front Door Painted
• Trim on cabinets

We are exactly two weeks from our pre-home demonstration. There are a number of small things - creaky floor, nicked trim, flaws in drywalling, poorly installed outdoor trim, cabinets mis-aligned, etc. that need some attention. I understand Ryan has a "Punch Team" that will deal with all of those things and get the house ready for turnover. We'll be watching to see how this process proceeds, as it's certainly a key to client satisfaction when the home is delivered.

On Wednesday this week we are having a home inspection performed. Seems kind of silly, but enough people have suggested it that we thought we should do it, considering the money we're investing. Also considering the negative feedback a few unhappy buyers have left on various websites concerning follow-up after their home was delivered and the transaction closed. Better to get things on the table early. At this moment trust is high. I have nothing but great feedback for the Ryan Team. 

We're really excited and getting ready for moving in. It's time to order services!

Regarding the issue with our bathroom tile, it has not been addressed satisfactorily. There was clearly fault in the tiling contractor but also we missed the issue when reviewing the documents, so the blame is shared. However, the tiling contractor, TAC, appears to be unwilling to assume any responsibility. This is too bad. However, it's not over yet so I still want to give them the benefit of the doubt and the chance to make things right.

In the end, the home is a little small, but it's got some real character. It certainly needs some people living in it to bring it to life. Nice as it is, it's kind of sterile and dormant - just waiting for a spark of life. 

Couple photos:

 

As for the inside, we love it, but it's still kind of a mess. Nothing really photo-worthy. I'll post as soon as it's cleaned up a bit!

5 April - The Final Stretch

5 April

Well, our home is almost completed. The closing is scheduled for 27 April. It still seems far off, but the house is looking almost ready. After a few weeks of slow and steady progress, it seems to have taken a quantum leap and all of a sudden things are done.

Floors, cabinets, appliances, sinks, toilets, lights, stonework, backsplash, fireplace - all are looking great. After 6 months of anticipating what things will really look like, it's so exciting to see what they actually look like.

I'll post more pics when I get out there and take some. But for now:

The inside is covered with protective plastic, so there's not much to look at right now. But there here's a few, starting with Laurie's favorite feature - the utility sink.

They put in the backsplash tiles, which looks great. It's interested that the gray glass tiles we selected look darker in these photos than we expected. The floors are a fairly dark gray, so the two (floor and backsplash) should to well together as a nice contrast for the white cabinets. The granite countertops look fantastic as well. The granite was thick-cut and looks very sturdy. Also, we got three pendant light connections, but we will be installing the pendant lights ourselves.  I think those will really complete the look of the kitchen.