Day 5

Should I Be Mad?

So, according to what we were told at our pre-construction meeting, we were to break ground sometime this week.  Originally we were told on the 11th, then at the meeting we were told the week of the 11th.  Anyway, so I text our PM and assistant PM today (mind you, I have only briefly met the PM.  The assistant PM was the person present for our pre-con. meeting) and asked them to text me the exact day when ground was being broken this week.  Sometime later, I get a text back stating, "Looking at our schedule, your home should be breaking ground next Monday.  We are in a pre-start phase and getting everything ready to begin."  He then states that someone from sales should have contacted me to let me know about the change.  They did apologize on their behalf, and said they should have done a better job with making sure someone from the sales office had contacted us.  This "bump-back" in schedule happened 2 weeks ago.
First, let me say that I totally know that all of the patience and other various Christian-like qualities that I've been praying for is working.  I did not go "Crazy Shequanna" on anyone concerning this. So, thank God for the little things!
*Side note- Crazy Shequanna is my alter-ego who only comes out to play when invited.  Believe me, you don't want to invite her.*

A Crazy Shequanna face

A Crazy Shequanna gesture

Second, what the heck is a pre-start phase?  If anyone out there in the bloggesphere knows, please enlighten me.
I know things happen, but dangit, I just want my house started!  We've been waiting for what seems like forever for them to break ground (over 2 months)!  Grrrrr.............  And to top this off, interest rates are on the rise!!!! Ughhhhhh.................
So, I ask again, should I be mad?

Pre-Construction Question Sheet

I created a question sheet for our meeting.  I know that I will have more to add to this list before tomorrow.  One of the main things we want to discuss is the possibility of getting a seamless/frameless shower.  We've been told no, but I never take the first "no" at face value.  I can be awfully persuasive :-)
I will have my seamless shower when all is said and done.

Living Room

• ·      How many outlets?
• ·      Dimensions of windows of room?

Family Room

• ·      How many outlets?
• ·      Switch for ceiling fan- can we request it be put to the left as soon as you enter the room.
• ·      Dimensions of windows in this room.
• ·      Floor vents- Can we request placement?
• ·      How many outlets?
• ·      Thermostat placement- can we pick?

Kitchen

• ·      Island- how many outlets?  Can the outlet be put on the side closer to the stove?
• ·      Extra outlet in cabinet (paid for- for underneath cabinet lighting)
• ·      Can I pick location for master switch (lights)
• ·      Can I pick my own granite slab?
• ·      No granite backsplash!!
• ·      Is there a vent for the stove?
• ·      Pantry- shown in the online version of floor plan- can this be a special request if not included (make it look like the linen closet on the second floor).  I can live without the shelving. Please make this happen!
• ·      Does granite need to be treated/sealed?
• ·      Height of the counter/island (for stools)
• ·      Height of counter in morning room (for stools)
• ·      What type of sink?  Gauge?  Single/double? 
• ·      Faucet- What type?

Powder Room

·      Please do not hang towel rack or toilet paper holder.  Just provide.

Morning Room

• ·      Can I pick switch location for lighting?
• ·      Will any rooms where we roughed-in for ceiling fans have lighting until we can get the fans installed (will there be the standard lighting included with the home)
• ·      Can door be placed on the side facing the street, not the neighbor

Mud Room (walk through)

• ·      Is this hardwood?
• ·      Can switch for garage lighting be located here (or move it to right outside the door of mudroom)?

Master Bedroom

• ·      Can I make a special request and have the two supplied shelves moved to one side of the closet, making two levels of shelves, leaving the other wall bare?
• ·      Will closet have lighting?
• ·      Vent placement- can we have a say-so in this?
• ·      Outlet placement
• ·      Make sure room is wired correctly for cable.

Master Bathroom

·      Can I get any leftover tile, flooring, etc.?

·      Shower- discuss option of leaving the frame out if possible

·      Shower door- swinging door?

·      Where does ventilation go?

·      No towel racks or toilet paper holders installed- just provide please

·      No soap dish in shower

Bedrooms

• ·      Vent placement- why above doors?
• ·      How many vents?
• ·      Make sure the one bedroom is wired for cable.

Basement

• ·      How is basement protected from flooding?
• ·      In the storage area, can all of the utility mechanisms be grouped together in case we want to finish this portion of the basement off at a later date?
• ·      Can Electric panel be placed in the unfinished portion of the basement?
• ·      Closet under the stairs? As seen in model home.
• ·      Can one of the light switches be placed at the top of the stairs?  Is there stairway lighting?
• ·      Is there an egress window in the storage area of basement?
• ·      Will egress windows be in the way of any future patio or deck?

General Questions

• ·      Left over flooring, tile, paint, etc.- can we keep?
• ·      Insulation around water pipes.  We do not want to hear running water throughout the house.  Do you provide soundproof insulation?  If not, can we provide?
• ·      Make sure there is an outlet for the garage opener in the ceiling
• ·      Bib locations
• ·      Thermostat(s)- how many?  Can we select wall placement?
• ·      Can we move the hose bib OUT of the garage?

• ·      Outdoor outlets-how many?
• ·      Outdoor lighting- how many, what kind?
• ·      Lawn- seeded or sod?
• ·      Smooth ceilings?
• ·      Height of rough-in for morning room?
• ·      Please put extra floor supports in high traffic areas.
• ·      Adhesive and nails in subfloors (nailed to joists?) What type of nails (ring shank?)- want to eliminate future squeaky floors
• ·      Are windows screened?
• ·      What type of light fixtures?
• ·      Lot grading- need to know about any issues- need to discuss fully, don’t want any surprises.
• ·      Rock removal
• ·      Can I pick foliage?

• ·      Camouflaging the utility stuff in the yard
• ·      Property lines
• ·      Total square footage of home with finished basement and morning room
• ·      What inspections will happen at what stages?
• ·      Placement of home on the lot- we want to maximize our yard in back of the house
• ·      Length of driveway?  Can we get it slightly wider?
• ·      Will some outlets have switches (meaning, if a lamp is plugged in, could I turn off/on with the switch on the wall?)

• ·      Pipes/hot water heater insulted?
• ·      How big is the water heater
• ·      Tonnage of the AC?  Is it enough for the entire house?
• ·      Warranty info on water heater, AC, garbage disposal, all appliances, roof (is this information in the binder already given to us?)
• ·      Location of AC unit, water meter, gas meter
• ·      Floodlights?
• ·      When will we get updates?
• ·      Can we review all optional upgrades (for everyone’s peace of mind)
• ·      Can we review cable/outlet placement?

• ·      Review distances from each house around us
• ·      What will our address be?
• ·      Can we get an outlet in the back of the house close to the sliding door (for use with future deck/patio)
• ·      Any attic access?  If so, could it be in the laundry room, as opposed to one of the bedrooms or hallway?
• ·      In all bedrooms- can we get a switch to control outlets for lamps in addition to the overhead light switch?
• ·      Outlets in storage area?

I hope my SR and PM aren't too put off by this list.  I really just want a nice home and be involved in the process as this is coming to fruition.  Let the fun begin!

SOLD!

Hubby surprised me tonight with a visit to our lot.  I guess he was as anxious to get out there as I was!
We also met another one of our neighbors tonight.  They were really sweet and had the cutest little girl.  They spoke of having a block party once everyone got settled in our immediate area of the neighborhood, and that perked my husband's ears up!

Officially SOLD!  Now we wait some more for our pre-construction meeting in about 2 weeks.