FINALLY Some Sense of Normalcy! (Normal? WTF is THAT???)
Well, after a very long, frustrating and busy first half of the year, it seems things are falling into place. I sometimes have to ask myself if it was just a bad dream. Well, not all of it was a bad dream. Much were mixed blessings as nothing came without its set of issues.
Listing of events in order of occurance:
1) Sold first house! (On Market the First part of January)
- This was quite the bitter-sweet closure. Because we absolutely hated the neighborHOOD as it was going to Section-8 residents, it was time to leave. The house we loved and miss in a way but it was time. Josh is now 13 and just about as tall as me. We simply were running out of room!
- The sale didn't come without drama. Between a nearly worthless real estate agent, whom shall remain nameless, nice enough, but really got under the skin quite easily. Many things did not happen as business-like as they should. We will leave it at that. Suffice it to say, I do NOT advise nor recommend using Direct Realty for your Real Estate needs.
- Our lives were turned quite literally inside out. Not upside-down, but actually inside out as stated. NOBODY likes to be kicked out of their own home every weekend, even in the anticipation of selling. Not to mention the cost of having to leave the lights burning.
- Sold the house in April, so fortunately not on the market for as long as it could have been.
2) Apartment living – YUK!!!
- Apartment living just does not suit us. Dealing with inconsiderate neighbors and concerns over someone burning the place down. (Our first week, someone had a kitchen fire, forcing everyone out of the building for several hours) No one was able to kill the alarm for quite some time either that Friday.
3) Builder delays! Oh, the DELAYS!
- Rather than being in the apartment for just 3 weeks as planned, we were subjected to the roach-infested hell hole for a month and a half!
4) Purchased furniture and appliances from RC Willey
- NOT a recommended source (see later blog entry coming soon)
- Waited 30 more days from purchase for delivery due to continued builder delays.
5) FINALLY close on new house in May!
- We were in but not without a set of issues. However, the superintendent provided us EXCELLENT service, contrary to the Sales Team.
- Most issues resolved in a very timely manner, barring flaky contractors.
- House is HUGE! Almost too much room for us to use. In about 5 years, if Josh chooses to move out, not sure what we’ll do with all that room.
A piece of advice from someone who learned the hard way: NEVER buy your landscaping from the Builder. $3200 for irrigation, rocks and a few ugly-assed trees is a complete rip-off. No choice in trees was given and the Design Center was completely unwilling to do anything unless we paid another $1000. Live and learn.
Also, if you are expecting any type of customer service from the Sales Dept. or Design center, DO NOT buy your home from D. R. Horton. Alternatively, if you want an excellent quality home and are willing to work through the first couple of months of fixing some items that should have been complete before move-in, then it’s the house for you. I am not referring to the minor touch-ups, mind you.
We’re pleased with our purchase, though. Also, I would recommend weekly frame-walks, regardless of the builder’s attitude. It is YOUR home that you are investing your hard-earned money into. Be particular and it will pay off. There were a large number of items the builder and contractors cannot possibly catch. For example, the surround system would have been installed downstairs in the living room, as is standard in these homes. We chose the loft. This was caught during a post-drywall walk. That’s as close as someone can come to building their own home without the ability to do so.
While unpacking and organizing continues, things are finally coming together and we now have some time to just “chill” and relax.
More pictures to come soon, including the back yard where we have made some changes.
Listing of events in order of occurance:
1) Sold first house! (On Market the First part of January)
- This was quite the bitter-sweet closure. Because we absolutely hated the neighborHOOD as it was going to Section-8 residents, it was time to leave. The house we loved and miss in a way but it was time. Josh is now 13 and just about as tall as me. We simply were running out of room!
- The sale didn't come without drama. Between a nearly worthless real estate agent, whom shall remain nameless, nice enough, but really got under the skin quite easily. Many things did not happen as business-like as they should. We will leave it at that. Suffice it to say, I do NOT advise nor recommend using Direct Realty for your Real Estate needs.
- Our lives were turned quite literally inside out. Not upside-down, but actually inside out as stated. NOBODY likes to be kicked out of their own home every weekend, even in the anticipation of selling. Not to mention the cost of having to leave the lights burning.
- Sold the house in April, so fortunately not on the market for as long as it could have been.
2) Apartment living – YUK!!!
- Apartment living just does not suit us. Dealing with inconsiderate neighbors and concerns over someone burning the place down. (Our first week, someone had a kitchen fire, forcing everyone out of the building for several hours) No one was able to kill the alarm for quite some time either that Friday.
3) Builder delays! Oh, the DELAYS!
- Rather than being in the apartment for just 3 weeks as planned, we were subjected to the roach-infested hell hole for a month and a half!
4) Purchased furniture and appliances from RC Willey
- NOT a recommended source (see later blog entry coming soon)
- Waited 30 more days from purchase for delivery due to continued builder delays.
5) FINALLY close on new house in May!
- We were in but not without a set of issues. However, the superintendent provided us EXCELLENT service, contrary to the Sales Team.
- Most issues resolved in a very timely manner, barring flaky contractors.
- House is HUGE! Almost too much room for us to use. In about 5 years, if Josh chooses to move out, not sure what we’ll do with all that room.
A piece of advice from someone who learned the hard way: NEVER buy your landscaping from the Builder. $3200 for irrigation, rocks and a few ugly-assed trees is a complete rip-off. No choice in trees was given and the Design Center was completely unwilling to do anything unless we paid another $1000. Live and learn.
Also, if you are expecting any type of customer service from the Sales Dept. or Design center, DO NOT buy your home from D. R. Horton. Alternatively, if you want an excellent quality home and are willing to work through the first couple of months of fixing some items that should have been complete before move-in, then it’s the house for you. I am not referring to the minor touch-ups, mind you.
We’re pleased with our purchase, though. Also, I would recommend weekly frame-walks, regardless of the builder’s attitude. It is YOUR home that you are investing your hard-earned money into. Be particular and it will pay off. There were a large number of items the builder and contractors cannot possibly catch. For example, the surround system would have been installed downstairs in the living room, as is standard in these homes. We chose the loft. This was caught during a post-drywall walk. That’s as close as someone can come to building their own home without the ability to do so.
While unpacking and organizing continues, things are finally coming together and we now have some time to just “chill” and relax.
More pictures to come soon, including the back yard where we have made some changes.
posted by QballRail at 11:11 AM
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