PRE-SETTLEMENT LETTER!

WE GOT IT WE GOT IT! Super pumped. Does anyone know when you'll be contacted to set up a settlement time?

I also spoke with our PM today. Told him about the 3 areas where the drywall isn't flushed and he'll handle it. He also said that our siding came this morning. This should the going up this week with the trim. Unfortunately there maybe an issue with the electrical. The temporary line is apparently in but the permanent line from the transformer into the house hasn't been done yet because the transformer was live. Apparently when a transformer is live only the electrical company can touch the transformer. And because of the bad weather we had a couple weeks ago, the electric company is backed up and won't be able to come to the house until possibly the end of the month. Our PM said it should not cause an issue with closing, but wanted us to be aware of it possibly be an issue. I told him that as long as this is resolved prior to our rate expiring, 5/17, we're okay.

Lastly Daniel and I completed our 30 day countdown list yesterday. Coming soon to a Ryan Homes family blog near you on April 6.

WE HAVE DRYWALL!

I stopped by the house today and was amazed at the progress. The walls are up and have been taped. For the most part they did a great job. I only saw 3 areas that need attention. I also forgot to check to see if the insulation was blown into the attic. I'll bring up the trouble spots and ask about the attic insulation tomorrow when I talk to our PM tomorrow.

In the garage was our cabinets, trim, mailbox, and locks. It was so awesome to see how the house was transformed. Three more days until I begin our 30 day countdown.

MOVING PART 1 COMPLETE

We're exhausted. We now know why people hire movers to do everything. We may have to increase the budget for part two. My mom's living and dining rooms look like a storage facility, lol.

In house news, our rep text me today to give me the results of the energy star inspection. WE PASSED! I'm going to try and go by the house before I go to work tomorrow. The drywall should be up and I need pictures. I also attempted to go to a few furniture stores today after work, but they were all closed.

My vacation from my full time job and tomorrow and I have to go back to work on monday. BOO!

LAST POST WITH PICS!

Today we're moving out of our townhouse and in with my mom until the house is finished.  We'll be making posts from our phones, but from what I can tell, we can't upload pics. 

We stopped by the house Tuesday with our rep in tow.  This was the first time she's been inside the house so she was excited.  Just before we left the Energy Star inspector arrived.  I'm assuming everything was fine, but due to the move we haven't followed up.  I'm going to take my mom and Godmother to the house tomorrow since neither have been inside either, so I'll ask then. 

So according to our PM this week they were to have the Energy Star inspection (check), install the insulation (check except for the attic as of Tuesday), hang drywall pending passing of the Energy Star inspection, and possibly start on the siding.  The excavator told our PM that if they can get the siding guys out earlier than planned to do it since everything is going so smooth.  Yay.  We also go to see our neighbor's house that should be closing soon.  We didn't go upstairs and we took our shoes off since the flooring was down.  It's a Dunkirk.  India, your appliances were way better :-).  The only pics that we took were of the chandelier (even though we have a second row of lights on ours) and the fireplace (they got the same one as ours).

So enjoy the pics.  I am sad that ya'll won't see the interior of the house as it transforms, but can you imagine how many pics are going to be in the post after we close and have everything set up?  I'm just warning ya'll now, lol. 

Oh and I will be starting the 30 day countdown April 6.  Maybe I should get that countdown clock like India...Hmm. 



I'm glad that the insulation is green



Daniel being silly



I agree with my Dad.  Six panel doors are nicer





I like looking at the steel brackets.  Is that what they're called?



This is the best pic that we've taken so far of the steps.  I love of the sunlight is hitting them. 



Isn't it beautiful?



We nor our rep has any idea what this means, but we thought it was be cool to take a pic.  It's on our seat in the shower.

Can't wait to see our tray ceiling in it's full form.  Come to think of it, we didn't take a pic of the one in the dining room.

The finished product of what our fireplace will look like

You think this looks bad now, imagine it with another row of lights, lol

Oh speaking of lights, all of the light bulbs, except for those in the candelabra and I think if you got recessed lights in the bathrooms, are energy efficient/CFLs.

Okay, back to packing and moving. 

PROBLEMS RESPONDING TO POSTS

Does anyone respond to other posts from their phone? I have an Android network phone. This whole week I haven't been able to respond to anyone's post on my phone. We're in the process of moving to my mom's until the house is built, so after I make another post with pictures, every other post will just be words. I want to be able to respond to your post and I don't know what's wrong.

Help!

PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTION!

WARNING THIS IS A LONG POST...

Our pre-drywall inspection was yesterday.  My parents came up from VA and my dad asked all sorts of great questions that he would only know from being in the business and building.  We learned a lot.  It was like 40 degrees so my mom couldn't take it anymore and ran to the car to keep warm, lol.  Funny, it was 70 degrees a week ago.  All of our electrical and Guardian orders were in place and we got to see the basement for the first time.  The basement was the warmest place in the house, lol.  I will confirm this with our PM during our Monday "meeting," but if I remember correctly the Energy Star test is Tuesday and they will start insulating and drywalling next week.  He also confirmed our presettlement date of May 4th with closing May 6th.  Now we just have to nail down a home inspector.  Believe it or not, we didn't take any pictures.  The house looked the same to us, with the exception that the brick to grade is complete. 

After the inspection we did what we thought was window shopping and ended up buying a treadmill. 

It's a Livestrong LS8.0T.  We got it from Dick's Sporting Goods.  It retails for $1499, but the store we went to had them on sale for $649.  However, to make it even better they had one that was open box that was just returned a couple days ago.  So they sold it to us for half off.  It also had every single part that comes with it and it works fine, Daniel ran on it.  I was concerned with the size of the track since Daniel is 6'5" and the track is 55", but he ran on it at a little higher than his normal top speed and was fine.  Although we haven't heard of this brand before, we're new to the treadmill world, we did some checking online and everyone said that they're great machines and are underpriced for their value.  However, marketing sucks so no one really knows about them.  Also with each purchase of Livestrong products, contributions are made to Lance Armstrong's cancer foundation.  Sweet.  Just wanted to give some details just in case you were looking for a treadmill yourself. 

We also went to Costco to look at TVs.  Turns out they will mount them for you at a MUCH more reasonable price than Best Buy.  Best Buy charges you $250 per TV to mount, Costco charges $90 per TV.  Costco will mount the TV as long as you buy the TV from them, you can have your own mount.  I can't remember, but I think you need to buy everything from Best Buy too.  I don't know if Sam's is comparable to Costco, but its worth asking.  Costco is definitely an option for us. 

Lastly furniture shopping.  We finally found a bedroom set that we liked, but it was discontinued and they only had what was in the store.  Sold out throughout the company.  So we're still searching for that.  I think we settled on our dining room table. 




We wouldn't get the cloth covered arm chairs.  Daniel says they remind him of Chairy from Pee-Wee Herman, lol




Once we get our "must purchase" items in the house, I will be coming back for this.  This will be perfect for the morning room.  These chairs are super comfy too. 

 Last thing is a little hiccup.  When we met with our Guardian rep he asked if we would be getting Direct TV with the DVR because we will need the double coax (India also mentioned this on her blog too).  We said we're looking at Direct TV, but we've never used a DVR and don't plan on using it in the future.  I started calling Direct TV because we can take advantage of deals directly through Direct TV, Costco, my job, or AAA.  During this time we found out in order to have the HD DVR receiver, you need to have the double coax even if you didn't plan on using the DVR.  If we don't get the HD DVR, because that's the special, we only get one free upgrade, meaning the regular HD box, and have to pay for the other boxes.  So Daniel meet with our Guardian rep while he was chalking the locations of everything and our rep said he'll see what he can do.  We later found out that he couldn't add it and he didn't think that Ryan would let us do a change order so late in the game.  I immediately contacted our Rep.  She was out of the office until Thursday, but emailed me Wednesday saying she got my email and she's on it when she returns.  I totally forgot to follow up with her Thursday.  When I spoke with our PM to confirm our pre-drywall he brought it up and said it's not going to be a problem.  All we're waiting on is the forms from Guardian to come in and we'll sign them for the change order.  What a relief because I did not what to see how much Direct TV would have charged us if they had to do something.  Thumbs up to Ryan Homes.

PS
Does anyone know what happened to Sienna, Thanks Ryan's blog?  He didn't give us an update on his meeting and now the link doesn't work. 

MORE UPDATES & DISCUSSION CORNER

I had my weekly "conference call" with our PM yesterday.  He said the permanent roof went on over the weekend (great because it's supposed to snow on Friday and yes I did say snow), the plumber was scheduled for yesterday and today electrical.  Daniel stopped by yesterday and I stopped by today.  What a difference a day makes.



Picture on the left is from yesterday.  Pay attention to the left side.  The pic on the right is from today.  Notice a difference?  If you guessed more of the brick to grade was done you would be correct.  Most of the house has the brick to grade on it now.



Love the roof.  Bring it on snow.



 Left is from yesterday, right is from today.  Yeap the garage doors are now in.  I'm glad we got basic doors.  We're not fans of the ones with the windows at the top.  The four windows in the garage will provide enough natural light.



I can't wait to fire this thing up in the winter. 



We didn't get a pic of the patio door until now.  We like it, don't you?  LOL



Have you figured out what this is yet?...It's our waterhose knozzle.  I thought is deserved the spotlight




Okay so this pic was taken from our egress window.  First time we've seen the basement. 

[You are now entering discussion corner]  Does anyone wonder if everything is moving too fast?  My parents have built twice since 2004 and their builds have taken about 6-9 months.  Everytime I talk to my stepmom she says this is the fastest built house she's ever seen.  Granted we all have a 10 year structural warranty and numerous inspections before the 1st year is over, but is it too fast?  What are your thoughts?  [You are now exiting discussion corner]

Pre-drywall inspection is Friday.  Then we have to finish packing up to move in with my mom until the house is built.  We'll be in the basement so we don't have to worry about being in my old room. 

Goodnite everyone!