Week 2: Footers and Foundation, What Fun!

Week 2 - May 23-29, 2016

Footers and Foundation

5/23 - day 8 - no visit

5/24 - day 9 - forms removed, basement wrapped, confirmed all windows & custom porch were poured to plan.

5/25 - day 10 - no visit

5/26 - day 11 - lot backfilled, basement plumbing work

5/27 - day 12 - Basement and garage floors poured, egress well installed

5/28 - day 13 - no visit

5/29 - day 14 - no visit

5/30 - day 15 - confirmed no progress, no wood delivery.

 

First contact with our PM finally happened on 5/24 after bounced email, no response from SR, and then a direct call. He explained progress to date, and that he hoped to be framing by Friday (spoiler alert - not to be.)

PM was proactive in following up with a ballpark timing for our final walkthrough - current target is August 22. Closing expected 2-7 days after. Hubs' birthday is August 24. Closing would certainly be the biggest birthday present he'll ever receive!

I guess we were hoping for even more progress over the weekend, but I assume the concrete needed time to cure; it rained Saturday night, and it was a holiday weekend. I can't be greedy!

 

We drove by on Monday, 5/30 (Memorial Day) as well, on the off chance that our wood had been delivered, but no dice. Hopefully it arrives early today so framing can begin!

In NVR news, or lack thereof, Hubs has been awaiting a call/email/smoke signal back for maybe 2 weeks now, to check on progress and still-needed info. Crickets.

 

Day 9 - Basement wrap egress view

Day 9 - Basement wrap and So.Much.Shale.

Day 9 - Front corner view with city water/gas line entry points

Day 9 - Basement wrap and "hopper" window cutout 

Day 9 - Basement wrap - morning room bumpout + egress window

Day 11 - 3-peice rough in

Day 11 - sump pump/ view from back corner
 

Day 12 - 3 piece rough-in, mystery hole & garage floor

Day 12 - poured floor, view from morning room to street
 

Day 12 - Poured floor, sump pump & mystery hole



 

 

 



Structural Selections

I'm struck by the fact that structural options aren't really differentiated in the options list. That would have been helpful up front in the decision-making process. What did help a ton was asking for straight-talk from our sales rep. We asked which options made the most sense to do up front, for the most reasonable prices. That really helped to drive our decisions.
I've included all the prices for anything we considered upgrading from my Master Selection Sheet, whether we selected them or not. Figured that might be helpful for someone else!

"Free" Promotions for signing in December

1. Finished basement with recessed lighting 
2. Morning room 
3. Gourmet kitchen (gourmet island, level 1 granite, stainless appliances)
4. Hardwoods in entry & powder room

Neighborhood "Free" Standards

1. Elevation B
2. Half stone front
3. Cottage style garage door upgrade (with windows)
4. Black shingle roofs
5. White trim
6. Sump pump included 
7. Master bath double vanity
8. White balusters
9. Ceramic tile surround in hall bath
10. Recessed lights in kitchen

NOT offered as standard our neighborhood, but found as standards on other blogs around the U.S.

1. Tankless or up-sized water heater
2. Water softener
3. Dehumidifier or humidifier
4. Paint options
5. Overhead light rough ins (only offered ceiling fan rough-ins/complete installs)
6. Garage door opener
7. Cabinet hardware
8. Double sinks in hall bathroom
9. Sprinklers
10. Outdoor sprinkler systems
11. Neighborhood Centers - gym/movie/pools/playgrounds, etc. (SO jealous!)


Elevation

• Upgraded from "free" Rome (version 6) elevation B to Elevation C (2 foot bump-out in loft, and 2 windows in front living room) Standard floorplan, no porch. ($1995)
• Added custom front stoop overhang
• Elevation C Meltdown 
• Elevation C Meltdown - Resolved

Basement

• Finished basement with morning room bump out (included - $12,995)
• 3 piece plumbing rough-in ($1395)

Garage

• Included cottage style door upgrade (with windows) - standard in neighborhood (no price listed)
• No 2" extension or access door (something had to give in the budget! - $2,495/ $995)
• No side entry (still crying over this one - $7,995)
• No garage door opener ($495)

"Mudroom" Closet

• Added 2 outlets and wiring through Guardian to move TV components (cable box, dvd player, etc.) into this closet

Entry

• Trim package 3

Living Room

• 2nd front window added with elevation upgrade (n/a)
• Not  later selected - optional living room side window ($495) 
• Trim package 3

Dining Room

• No upgrades 
• Trim package 3

Kitchen

• Standard gourmet kitchen upgrade included in our sales promotion
• level 1 granite counter tops  ($4,495)
• gourmet (version 5) extended island ($3,195)
• stainless steel appliances ($2695 - received credit for stove) 
• Double wall ovens ($3995)
• Gas cook-top hookup ($295)
• Cabinet crown molding ($595)
• Custom request to move double wall ovens + additional surrounding cabinets to empty powder room wall ($1895)

Morning Room

• Morning room included in our sales promotion ($16,995)
• Double patio door (included - $995) 
• Ceiling fan rough-in ($225)
• Side windows ($990)

Family Room

• Gas fireplace with standard slate surround ($3,495)
• Not selected - window(s) family room side ($495)
• Ceiling fan rough-in ($225)
• 4 recessed lights

Study

• No upgrades later added ceiling fan rough-in ($225) 

Hall Bathroom

• No upgrades

Laundry Room

• Requested that doors be hung to open into hall (no cost?) Requesting to leave door off so we can install barn door - will not pass inspection, so we will remove later.
• Gas dryer hookup ($295) Somehow this was missed, but later learned that selecting this would require a swap to a louvered, rather than solid door to meet code. 

Master Bedroom

• No tray ceiling
• Loss of sitting room (gain bigger closet) to make way for extra bathroom in bedroom 
• Flipped bathroom door to open into bedroom

Master Bathroom

• Shower with seat and soaking tub ($4,995)

Bedroom #4

• "Bathroom #2 standard tub" ($5995) -This will likely be our guest "suite", but may become our daughter's room when she's older...

Attic 

• Storage option no longer available ($1,495)