Since we are awaiting furniture delivery tomorrow and still painting some of the rooms, I figured I would give a quick update about our 30 day follow up. Jared (the BEST PM ever!) came by to see what kind of issues we had discovered in our first month. It was hard to find anything to complain about as we are very happy with the house AND we have really only been living in it for 2 weeks!! The only thing on our list was that the door to the master bedroom wouldn't close & lock. Jared called his punch list guy who just happened to be in the neighborhood and had it taken care of immediately.
The rest of the visit revolved around discussing the remaining lots in the neighborhood and the fast pace of both sales and building taking place around us. We joked with him that if it weren't for US taking the risk at being the first ones in... who knows ;) Buying from Ryan was an excellent decision and as for the quality of our home, well, we couldn't have asked for more.
I WILL say that so far I am highly disappointed in our HOA. We closed almost a month ago. HOA payments at closing included a "buy in" fee of $500, a capital costs contribution of $500 and prorated fees for the rest of the year. Those were obviously paid in full at that time. We have yet to hear from the HOA or receive any information regarding the pool and amenity center. We contacted our sales person who is obviously still on site and he sent the management company an email 10 days ago. The representative for the agency responded that she had sent us a "form" to fill out in order for that to happen. Well, I know it's called "snail mail" for a reason, but I think even a SNAIL could've gotten that letter to me within the past 10 days!! I hope this isn't an indication of what this HOA is going to be like to deal with in the future. If it is, well, they've got a rude awakening coming. I fully intend for DH and I to become active with the Association because if there's going to be a "committee" telling me what I can and cannot do to my house/yard, you better damn well believe I'm going to have a say in those things BEORE they become my headache!!
That's it for tonight. Maybe I'll take some pictures and post again sometime this weekend. By then the master should be complete and I will have some "fun" stuff to share. :)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Living room furniture delivered!
Just a quick pic of the "front" living room (dining option). Furniture was delivered today & it took some time to arrange everything but I'm loving it. Still need curtains & a small (white shag) area rug, maybe some floating shelves or other artwork but we'll see.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Preview Pics
So, we are STILL unpacking (where did all this STUFF come from?) but it's actually starting to look like a house... I'm really loving it and wanted to post a few "in progress" pics. I also wanted to mention that while we've noticed a few minor issues, overall this is an amazing house! I'm glad we chose a RYAN home!
It's been a busy week!
It's been a busy week!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
all moved in
Two weeks after closing and we've finally gotten everything moved! What a crazy, chaotic, stressful time that was! Good thing this is the last time we'll have to experience it. I think I'd almost rather move cross country than do a local move again! We've painted the front living room and hallway, yes, RH had already painted them, but I'm a colorful person and Ryan White just wasn't going to cut if for me! I'll post pictures as soon as I have the boxes unpacked and moved out of the way, but it's a color from Valspar (at Lowe's) called Opera Glasses and it turned out fantastic! It's a medium gray and we plan to use it for the entire first floor except the morning room which will be one shade darker called Bell Tower Stone.
Phone and internet are installed and DirecTV came today. The neighbors have been very friendly, with several coming by to welcome us and to introduce themselves. We haven't had weather for a pool day yet and we've got so much work to do inside I may feel guilty for taking time off to enjoy a nice day if we get one. The bright side of that is our sod is really taking off and we haven't had to do much watering at all!!!
Back to work for now, but hopefully after this weekend we'll have things unpacked enough for me to be able to post pictures without being terribly embarrassed about my lack of organization or housekeeping skills ;)
Phone and internet are installed and DirecTV came today. The neighbors have been very friendly, with several coming by to welcome us and to introduce themselves. We haven't had weather for a pool day yet and we've got so much work to do inside I may feel guilty for taking time off to enjoy a nice day if we get one. The bright side of that is our sod is really taking off and we haven't had to do much watering at all!!!
Back to work for now, but hopefully after this weekend we'll have things unpacked enough for me to be able to post pictures without being terribly embarrassed about my lack of organization or housekeeping skills ;)
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
...bring on the decorating!!!
Today's closing went off without a hitch, just like I knew it would!! HAHAHA! Yeah, right! I couldn't sleep at all I was so anxious about things. I don't think I was expecting anything crazy but my mind wouldn't stop playing with furniture layouts, paint colors, accessories, moving plans... etc, etc, etc! I tossed and turned most of the night and I think I finally fell asleep about 2 hours before my alarm went off!
Anyway, I was very quiet (scared the hubby I think) as we showered and dressed to go to the attorney's office. A brief delay as we got turned around a little with our directions but we still arrived about 15 minutes early for the closing. Our realtor was already at the office. (I think I'd show up early for that check too since this is only the second time we've met with her!!!) She made out on this transaction ~ not much work involved on her side. We had initially contacted her about a house she had listed and we wanted to see. Once we met with her and found out that the house already had several offers on it, we continued our search. I found our house (model) and subdivision online, hubby and I went to investigate and when we finally made the decision to buy, we contacted her again to have her help with the negotiations. Other than that, today was the only other time we met with her!! But, I digress...
The actual closing went quickly and without me vomiting (which, of course, is the most IMPORTANT fact of the day!) and once the final papers were signed hubby handed me the keys and he pocketed the CHECK! What's up with that???? LOL. Yes, you heard correctly, we got a pretty nice check at closing because we had excess prepayments so of course now I'm ready to do some furniture shopping!!
We have a "mixed household" as I like to call it. Both of us have been married before and the furniture we have is a his & hers mix and almost NONE of it matches. Honestly, I HATE IT!! Other than some accessories and bookshelves from IKEA that we've bought together, everything else is a mish-mash of yard sale finds and baggage from previous relationships. There is nothing better, and NO better excuse than a brand new house to shop for furniture that reflects us BOTH and has no memories attached but our own. :)
Because of our work and school schedules we won't be able to actually move in completely until next week, but that gives me time to buy and schedule delivery of the furniture and washer/dryer!! That's the easy way to move! Donate all this old stuff and have the new furniture delivered to the new house. I think I'll drive down tomorrow and take some little things, maybe stop by Lowe's and get some paint samples... pack and clean some more here (we have a LOT of boxes of "stuff" that I don't know where it came from!!). Friday the hubby and I will pick up my fabulous consignment finds and all the boxes we have packed already and go ahead and move them to the new house. Then once school is finally out (on the 8th) we will move all the "essentials" that we can't move from the house just yet. I'd like to paint before furniture gets delivered. Hmmmm. Too bad I have to work for a living.
Good luck to all the rest of you. I never thought I would own a home, it's like I've been living someone else's life. Here we are not even 90 days since they broke ground and we're moving IN!!! Sorry for rambling. It's been an exciting day and now it's time for my FAVORITE part ... decorating!! I'll keep this updated with all my fantastic (at least in MY mind) decorating ideas and pictures!!
Anyway, I was very quiet (scared the hubby I think) as we showered and dressed to go to the attorney's office. A brief delay as we got turned around a little with our directions but we still arrived about 15 minutes early for the closing. Our realtor was already at the office. (I think I'd show up early for that check too since this is only the second time we've met with her!!!) She made out on this transaction ~ not much work involved on her side. We had initially contacted her about a house she had listed and we wanted to see. Once we met with her and found out that the house already had several offers on it, we continued our search. I found our house (model) and subdivision online, hubby and I went to investigate and when we finally made the decision to buy, we contacted her again to have her help with the negotiations. Other than that, today was the only other time we met with her!! But, I digress...
The actual closing went quickly and without me vomiting (which, of course, is the most IMPORTANT fact of the day!) and once the final papers were signed hubby handed me the keys and he pocketed the CHECK! What's up with that???? LOL. Yes, you heard correctly, we got a pretty nice check at closing because we had excess prepayments so of course now I'm ready to do some furniture shopping!!
We have a "mixed household" as I like to call it. Both of us have been married before and the furniture we have is a his & hers mix and almost NONE of it matches. Honestly, I HATE IT!! Other than some accessories and bookshelves from IKEA that we've bought together, everything else is a mish-mash of yard sale finds and baggage from previous relationships. There is nothing better, and NO better excuse than a brand new house to shop for furniture that reflects us BOTH and has no memories attached but our own. :)
Because of our work and school schedules we won't be able to actually move in completely until next week, but that gives me time to buy and schedule delivery of the furniture and washer/dryer!! That's the easy way to move! Donate all this old stuff and have the new furniture delivered to the new house. I think I'll drive down tomorrow and take some little things, maybe stop by Lowe's and get some paint samples... pack and clean some more here (we have a LOT of boxes of "stuff" that I don't know where it came from!!). Friday the hubby and I will pick up my fabulous consignment finds and all the boxes we have packed already and go ahead and move them to the new house. Then once school is finally out (on the 8th) we will move all the "essentials" that we can't move from the house just yet. I'd like to paint before furniture gets delivered. Hmmmm. Too bad I have to work for a living.
Good luck to all the rest of you. I never thought I would own a home, it's like I've been living someone else's life. Here we are not even 90 days since they broke ground and we're moving IN!!! Sorry for rambling. It's been an exciting day and now it's time for my FAVORITE part ... decorating!! I'll keep this updated with all my fantastic (at least in MY mind) decorating ideas and pictures!!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
...aaaaaand, we're clear underwriting!!
We got the official, final call from Michelle at NVR earlier this afternoon. After all the hoops and paperwork they got the clearance necessary from underwriting to go ahead with closing in SIX DAYS!!!! What a load off of my mind, but wow am i anxious now ~ this is REALLY going to happen isn't it? Better kick the packing thing into overdrive, denial has been a wonderful excuse for delaying ...
Just one thought, does it always take this long (even though they "approved" us before breaking ground) to get final approval? I just thought that less than a week til closing was cutting it a little close and giving me unnecessary anxiety attacks!!!
Just one thought, does it always take this long (even though they "approved" us before breaking ground) to get final approval? I just thought that less than a week til closing was cutting it a little close and giving me unnecessary anxiety attacks!!!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Patience... NOT one of my strong points...
These next two weeks are going to be torture! I'm not good at waiting for things, especially things I really, really WANT!! Like my gorgeous new house! Now that I know it's completed and we've done our final walk through, I'm ready to MOVE! Just 14 days til closing (and it's not like I've got our current house packed ~ it's a work in progress...) but I can't focus here, I want to start moving in and decorating! I also think it's my "glass half empty" mind set creeping in on me sometimes too. I guess until we have signed on the dotted line and have our keys in hand, I won't actually believe that this is happening! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to be able to purchase a home, especially not one this extravagant. When we first started entertaining the idea of buying a house, our price range was about half of the sale price for this house. After crunching numbers and realizing that our house payment will only be about $100 more per month than we've been paying in rent for the past 4 years, we went for it! Now I'm freaking out again. It's not about the money either, just change. We can easily afford the new house payment, I'm just not one who likes a lot of change. The good side of this I suppose, is that it will be the LAST time I have to move!
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