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At the start of construction, you will be asked to meet with your superintendent and go over the construction documents.   This is called the “preconstruction meeting.” This review is to familiarize the superintendent with your house, describe the construction process to you and allows you to check that the options are correct for the house.  You will get to look at your plans and in some neighborhoods be shown the location of the house on the lot.   Your agent or the superintendent will schedule this with you.  All meetings with construction are optional.  If you are unable to attend during the scheduled period that the meeting needs to be conducted, construction still proceeds.  There are two more meetings that you are requested to attend.  The next meeting is called the “pre-sheet rock meeting.”  Like the name implies, it is held before the sheetrock is installed and is to answer any questions you may have before we begin applying the sheetrock. 

Upon completion of the home, you and your agent will be asked to come to a final review/orientation.  We take this time to ensure that you understand how the components of your home operate, explain maintenance items, and make sure that all aspects of the home meet your satisfaction.  This walk through is usually done about 1 week prior to closing.  Any items that do not meet your satisfaction are noted and repaired to be within standards.  You are also asked to sign off when certain things are explained to you, when items are checked, and when non-satisfactory items have been completed.  The meetings discussed above are conducted during our normal working hours. 

If a change is desired during the construction process, and we still have time to do it, the process is started by submitting a change request in our office.  A fee is charged after the design center selection is done to make changes or to price a nonstandard item.   After the request and fee are submitted, the change request is priced.  If you decide to follow through with the change, the change order must be signed and returned with the money to pay for the change.  There are cut off dates on the change order, so if you do not execute the change order while you are at the office, then you must return it prior to the cut off or it is void.

Approximately 45 days prior to closing, you will want to go back to the mortgage company and finish the loan process.  This gives the mortgage company plenty of time to order the necessary documents and to work out the snags that almost inevitably occur in the processing of a mortgage application. 

As a part of getting the loan prepared to close, you will need to order a survey and obtain insurance.  Often, the agent will assist you with this.  All homes built by Essex Homes SE, Inc. will close at the law offices of Harvey, Casterline, and Vallini, L.L.P.  You will also need to contact your local utilities companies to order service to begin on the date of closing.  You are now ready to finalize the purchase of your new home. 

In the right hands, buying a new home can be a simple and stress free process.  We hope that you allow Essex Homes Southeast, Inc. to make the purchase of your new home a pleasant experience!