Pre-Con

October 3, 2011

Okay, now here we are up to real-time and current as to what is going on with our home.

We had our pre-construction meeting with our PM and Rep to go over everything in our house, the layout on the lot, and finally to walk the lot to see it all staked out.

Our PM has been with Ryan Homes for about 8 years, and seems to be quite capable.  Moreover, all the other people I have talked to in our community have had nothing but good things to say about him and the job he has done so that makes me feel good.

In going over the floor plan and what we have in the house was pretty straightforward, no real surprises that we didn't know about, or anything that they forgot.  Our rep kept checking her sheets to verify everything and it all seemed to be in line.

Looking over the lot layout, he pointed out where all the utilities ran underground, where certain things would tie-in at and how nothing would run under our driveway, just in case anything ever needed to be dug up.  One thing he pointed out was that we would lose a small corner in the front of the basement where the water shut-off would be inside a small closet.  I have seen this before in some models, and don't feel this is a big issue.  Anyone else have this put in their basement, and if so what did you think of the finished product.

He said that we would be in by Christmas, which is fine by me.  But since we don't plan on moving everything until after the first of the year, the closer to the end of December would be better...keep the closing costs down!  Since we are taking possession in the winter, we won't get our driveway or final grade until spring, again okay by me.  Give us time to get the house in order before we are outside everyday trying to make a yard grow.  Also since we may be the only one the concrete people have to come out for, it would be a shame to let any extra concrete go to waste and maybe I can get a good rate on a walkway being poured from the drive to our side door on the garage.  Or maybe a concrete patio in the back.  We will see.

Next we were off to walk the lot all staked out.  Definitely weird trying to imagine a house where all the stakes were, but it gave us a feel for how the lot would be.  Not long on yardage that is for sure.  I think its about 17 1/2 feet between the houses side-to-side, and 28 1/2 feet from the back of the morning room to the fence line behind us, and 38 1/2 feet from the house to fence where there is no morning room.  I can live with that...less to mow!

One thing he pointed out was that the people behind us, when they had their fence put in, the installers didn't follow the property line and they had to move part of their fence in about a foot.  Glad I wasn't the one who had to point that out.

We left the meeting with the hopes of breaking ground on the 12th, which would have been great as its our wedding anniversary, but the next day he called me and told me that getting permits wouldn't happen until at least the week of the 10th, so groundbreaking would be the week of the 17th.  Again, no great concern...gets us closer to the end of December.

Now we wait for groundbreaking...