Your Roadmap to Home Ownership
Buying a home shouldn't be a daunting task. It should be an exciting time in your life. Building a brand-new home is even more exciting. We aim to keep the process simple. Just follow our roadmap and we will be there with you at every corner.
1. Pre-approval is Key
2. Design and Planning with our Team of Experts
During this stage, you'll work closely with our sales team to shape your future home:
- Visit Home Sites and Neighborhoods: Start by exploring the various communities and neighborhoods we offer. We’ll help you find the ideal setting that aligns with your lifestyle and preferences, ensuring that your chosen community fits your vision for your new home.
- Explore Floor Plans: Once you’ve chosen your community, we’ll guide you through a curated selection of floor plans that work best within that neighborhood. Our range of customizable designs ensures that your home not only fits the lot but also complements the surrounding environment and meets your specific needs.
- Select Exterior Elevation: Select Exterior Elevation: Tailor the exterior of your home to match your vision by selecting from a range of design options. Whether you prefer the clean lines of board and batten, the textured elegance of stone masonry, the rustic charm of shakes in the gables, or the timeless look of classic lap siding, you can create an exterior that reflects your unique style and enhances your home’s curb appeal.
- Review Agreements and Finalize Details: Meet to review and finalize all necessary agreements, ensuring that all terms are clearly understood before construction begins.
3. Selections Meeting with our Design Center Manager
During this stage, you’ll work closely with our design team to personalize your home:
- Access to Online Selections Catalog: Prior to your visit, you'll receive access to our online selections catalog. This allows you to explore available choices, finish items, and pricing at your convenience.
- Curate Your Home’s Finishes: At our design center, you’ll hand-select every detail of your home. Choose from a wide range of choices, including flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, countertops, and kitchen sinks. You can also consider air conditioning and other enhancements to ensure every aspect of your home reflects your unique style.
- Receive Expert Guidance: Our experienced design team will be with you every step of the way, offering valuable insights and helping you make informed decisions to bring your vision to life.
4. Pre-Construction Team Meeting
During this crucial stage, we finalize all the details to ensure a smooth start to your project:
- Meet with Our Project Manager: Discuss your project with our manager to review the final details and confirm everything is in place.
- BuilderTrend Training: The project manager will guide you through BuilderTrend, showing you how to navigate the platform and access all available resources.
- Review Construction Timeline: Go over the detailed construction schedule to understand key milestones and timelines.
- Finalize Selection Choices and Plan Submittal: Confirm all final selection choices and submit plans for construction. Please note that changes cannot be made after this meeting.
5. Under Construction with our Hand Selected Expert trade partners
Throughout the construction process, our expert trade partners handle specialized tasks while our team oversees and manages every detail:
- Building Your Home: From the initial groundwork through to the final finishes, we manage every detail to ensure top-quality results. The entire process typically takes 125-150 days from the start of framing, with meticulous attention to every aspect of your home’s construction.
- Third-Party Inspections: We engage a third-party inspector to evaluate your home at critical stages throughout the building process. Whether your home is within city limits or in the county, these independent inspections provide an additional layer of assurance that your home meets or exceeds industry standards.
- Track Progress: Monitor the construction process in real-time using our Construction Management Software, giving you transparency and control over every step.
- Receive Updates: Stay connected with weekly updates and photos from our construction team, keeping you informed about the progress of your home.
- Coordination with Lenders, Inspectors, Appraisers, and Title Companies: As construction nears completion, we coordinate with your lender to schedule the appraisal of your home. If you hire an independent inspector, we will facilitate their access to the home. We also collaborate with the title company and lender to ensure that all necessary documentation and processes are handled efficiently, paving the way for a smooth closing.
6. New Home Orientation
Prior to closing on your new home, we will invite you to a Home Orientation to meet with our Superintendents, where you'll:
- Warranty Information: Overview the one-year warranty process with our team.
- Utility Setup: Receive instructions for contacting utility companies. You can coordinate this in advance and have their service begin or transferer into your name on the date of your closing.
- Learn HVAC Setup: Receive instructions for contacting the HVAC company to activate your furnace warranty. We will overview the different functionalities of your HVAC system, highlighting what you can do for optimized performance, what to do in an emergency, while also showing you how to change your furnace filter.
- Explore Electrical Systems: We will walk you through your home’s electrical systems, locating your electrical panel, GFCI's, AFCI's, and communications panel.
- Understand Plumbing Systems: Explore your home’s plumbing, including how to locate shut-off valves, perform basic maintenance, and review essential Do's and Don'ts for your system.
- Appliances: Get tips on registering your appliances and troubleshooting common issues.
- Humidity Management: Learn how to manage humidity and prevent moisture problems.
- Flooring Care: Learn how to maintain SPC vinyl plank flooring and avoid possible issues.
- Concrete Maintenance: Review best practices for maintaining and protecting concrete flatwork.
- Builder Walk: Enjoy a guided tour of your new home with our Superintendents, where we will address final touches and ensure everything meets your expectations.
7. Pre-Closing Day Preparation
Prior to your closing day you will want to:
- Review Final Documents: Double-check the final closing documents and terms, ensuring all details are accurate and understood.
- Prepare Funds: Ensure all funds required for closing (down payment, closing costs) are available and arranged for transfer, typically through a certified check.
- Finalize Insurance: Confirm that homeowner's insurance is in place and active from the date of closing.
- Understand Utility Transfers: Confirm that utility accounts (water, electricity, gas, etc.) are set up in your name and activated as of the closing date.
- Confirm Address Changes: Ensure that you’ve updated your address with relevant parties, such as banks, credit card companies, personal insurance companies, and the post office.
7.5 Becoming a New Homeowner - Closing Day
Becoming a new homeowner is an exciting life milestone. Thank you for trusting Terry Homes and allowing us to be a part of your journey. On Closing Day, you’ll:
- Bring Identification: Ensure you have a valid photo ID for verification purposes.
- Review Closing Statement: Carefully review the closing statement to verify all costs and ensure there are no discrepancies.
- Receive Keys and Access: Collect the keys to your new home from the title company, Terry Homes, or your real estate agent.