[A-4 Skyhawk]

Thank you Rona. You're The Best !!!

So tell us how the New Jersey Shore rehab is coming? Last I heard you got electricity and heat restored and you were waiting for new sub floors.

[Rbgold]

Thanks for asking. It's coming along. Electrical inspection is Monday. Hot water heater in place. Subfloors in. As soon as electrical inspection is complete they are ready to insulate and close in the walls. Flooring, kitchen cabinets and appliances are ordered. We are on our way!
Also heard today that they started staking out our TV lot! So, things are definitely looking up!

[jimbo2012]

yesterday I was in #210 they were putting the steel forms up on a Cedar to pour concrete.

I got to talking to workers, it takes them 5 hours to place all the forms..........that's it.
today the concrete is poured forms off, trusses in front of the house, simply amazing the speed they work.

[A-4 Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

yesterday I was in #210 they were putting the steel forms up on a Cedar to pour concrete.

I got to talking to workers, it takes them 5 hours to place all the forms..........that's it.
today the concrete is poured forms off, trusses in front of the house, simply amazing the speed they work.

Bill and Rona are in 205 on lot 124 and it sounds like their build is starting. If you get over that way take pictures for everyone to see. When I get there in 4 weeks I'll relieve you and keep on shooting

[Lpierleo]

Sorry A4 you are correct, I meant Bob & Cathy! Rona is correct, we are only a quick golf cart ride away!

[A-4 Skyhawk]

For those who have been through design, at what point are you in contact with and handed off from your sales rep to your Designer? And if it was before your design date, were you able to ask preliminary questions to help you prepare for your design?

[CalcTeacher]

A-4: we weren't told who our designer was until just a day before and didn't meet her until the day of our first appt.

There were several design changes we asked about...adding a powder room, creating a wall closet/pantry, for example, that our sales rep turned over to someone in the design dept to see if it was do-able well prior to our design appt. That way, they at least have an idea of some stuff. So...if you wanted to add some version of a craft room like Rusty, tell your rep Rusty's address (or unit/lot) and they can pull his plan and put a copy of it in your file.

Our rep also drove us around a couple of times looking at models for flooring choice, lighting choices, counter top choices. But you are by no means locked in to any of these choices. And who knows, if you visited the "old" models, those choice may no longer be available when you design.

They will not take any exterior color choices except directly off the models. So, even though we are building if you, for example, liked the color of my house it doesn't do you any good to tell anyone that because they won't paint the outside of your house based on a selection from a non-model home (in case we subsequently had our house re-painted).

Hope that answered your question!

[A-4 Skyhawk]

Thanks Lisa -
They changed the floor plan of the Zinnia last week to add a coat closet by the front door which moved the HVAC unit and water heater to the area that was the hallway to the room we're adding to the back of the golf cart garage. My sales rep has not been able to tell me that they will let us build the previous floor plan.

[Rbgold]

A-4,
We also had similar experiences at CalcTeacher. We met our designer for the first time at our design appointment, but had also worked the day prior with our sales rep to try and narrow down our choices. If you are one of the first to build on your block, you shouldn't have any problem with house/trim color choices as you would be the one what no one else could match - in terms of color. We are building in between two homes that had already been build or were being built, so our first choice was taken. But our designer showed us a couple of other options that were so close to what we thought we wanted that we could not tell.
We also made some other structural changes during the design process that our sales agent would not commit to and told us the designer had the final say for that. I'm sure you will ask if you can configure the home the way that you and Cathy would like. And, I'll also bet that your designer might come up with things you hadn't thought about. In a few instances, I asked our designer what she would do if this were her home, as I trusted her opinion. I also asked if there might be something we were forgetting/omitting, etc. She actually told me that she woke up during the night to see if we were forgetting anything!!
All you have to do is ask - the worst they can say is "no" and be prepared for Plan "B"!

Rona

[hotrodgirl]

Hi Everyone! Made it to Florida! Kinda sad to leave after meeting up with some of my "former" neighbors today:>( But they will come up for a visit to check out the new digs, so all is not lost! Four days to close!
Wow, you have all been very busy "talking" these past few days! Lots going on, builds starting, news of all sorts! I am definitely ready to join in on a more personal level and am anticipating a wonderful introduction to new friends and new lifestyle Getting ready to pack up and get it done: See you soon!!!

[CalcTeacher]

HotRod: welcome to our special month! Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, TV moved our settlement to 12-20-12...eight days further out, but still December!

[CalcTeacher]

Originally Posted by A-4 Skyhawk

Thanks Lisa -
They changed the floor plan of the Zinnia last week to add a coat closet by the front door which moved the HVAC unit and water heater to the area that was the hallway to the room we're adding to the back of the golf cart garage. My sales rep has not been able to tell me that they will let us build the previous floor plan.

I'll hope for your sake that you can still build the "older" plan...it shouldn't be an issue considering how accomodating they've been to everyone on their changes.

One choice that took a lot of time for us: front door. They want you to pick out what you like...but I had learned previously on TOTV that some front doors cost in the neighborhood of $5,000. Our designer (Mary) gave us a sheet of paper that broke down door model#s by price range (<$500, $500 to $1500, etc.). Front doors just aren't that important to me so I refused to choose anything over a certain price. So be prepared to look at many doors.

We also spent some time, believe it or not, choosing cabinet hardware. Not so much for color/finish but for "hand feel"...I'm an avid home cook who spends a lot of time in the kitchen...the drawer and cabinet pulls have to be comfortable! And many of them were not in my opinion.

If you have time constraints, tell your REP immediately if you want TV to put granite in or a pool...they have to make appoints for you with T&D and the granite yard...all of that takes time!

[hotrodgirl]

Calc-aren't you entitled to a credit for that? Sorry it got changed in any case! Mine is still on target and I have sent back the closing papers so they can start. They did tell me however that they were running behind. I had to call and have them overnite my closing docs before I left for Florida! Otherwise I would have had no idea what I owed at closing! There were some credits due me, plus I owed for something additinal, etc etc..... I cose in Brownwood on Wed!

[batman911]

Originally Posted by A-4 Skyhawk

Thanks Lisa -
They changed the floor plan of the Zinnia last week to add a coat closet by the front door which moved the HVAC unit and water heater to the area that was the hallway to the room we're adding to the back of the golf cart garage. My sales rep has not been able to tell me that they will let us build the previous floor plan.

The Lantana was also changed to install the HVAC in the former laundry room. More room in the garage but smaller laundry space.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by A-4 Skyhawk

Bill and Rona are in 205 on lot 124 and it sounds like their build is starting. If you get over that way take pictures for everyone to see. When I get there in 4 weeks I'll relieve you and keep on shooting

Ok, not much to report, the stakes R in for the footings with a bunch of mason lines that's it so far, oh you have a bright orange port-a-potty installed.

There was slight smell coming off the pond????

Now as to lot, talk about a room with a view, I took a few pics

Left = rear looking over golf
Ctr = rear looking to street with neighbor on right almost done (with a spa in ground)
rgt = street looking to golf