I still haven't closed, and no sign of closing either. I faithfully make my construction loan payments though. I have the $$ to fence my backyard, but I am hesitant to do so until closing. This 5-6am walking the dogs business is NOT my idea of a good time. What the holdup is I don't know, but I'd really like to be able to take my Lowes card and go get a lawnmower.
Energy Efficiancy:
Murray is not blowing smoke up your rear ends. My first electric bill (for the month of august, plus husband ran the ac constantly for a week and a half straight) was $136. This past month it was $105. (Remember, it is 80-90ish in SC up until oh, a couple of weeks ago.). For a 2026 square foot home, I think that's awesome. We also put ceiling fans in the MBR, LR, and den, which I'm sure helped. Neighbors say bills during cold months run under $100.
During the hot days, we kept the AC at 78 degrees, and I got COLD often. (78 in our old house would leave us with sweat pouring off us.) The heat pump seems to be warming the house amply, but we haven't had a real cold spell yet. The coleman furnace runs fine and we haven't had any issues other than the fan is LOUD when it runs. I've gotten used to it though and hardly notice it anymore.
Setup: Concrete Footers are the best thing since sliced bread. We have had VERY little settling. Setup crew did a wonderful job. We did have to go under the house and apply roundup to all the plants that sprung up between the time the footers were poured and the house was delivered. I think the #1 crucial element in MFG housing is SETUP. If your crew does a half assed job, of COURSE you're going to have numerous problems. They also finally resolved my brick issue
Service: No complaints with dealer service. (We've only had one big thing and that was a slow leak in the 2nd bath.) I'm a little perturbed that I spoke to someone at the Homestead plant about my punch list and never heard another word until someone from Bellcrest called me at work, and I missed the call. I called back and my call has yet to be returned.
Fixit Items: Most of the punch list items are cosmetic (trimwork), but there are a few like the linen closet door won't shut, deadbolt on the front door won't latch (luckilly we now have a security system so if someone breaks in, they will be nailed immediately), mbr closet door won't latch, the tp holders in both bathrooms are too close together to actually hold a roll of TP (one of them you can't even get the roller off), and we have no access to the hot water heater other than the very top of it (beside the furnace.) I like 3rd degree burn showers, and I'm not getting that now. If something were to happen and it needed replacing, we would have to rip the wall out. There were no phone jacks in the home either. We ended up having to pay bellsouth a way overpriced amount to do it.
Appliances: The dishwasher's motor burned up the first time we ran it. A call to a local whirlpool service center, three weeks, and a new (factory backordered, hence the 3 weeks) motor later, the dishwasher is working wonderfully. The refrigerator is a bit too small for our needs. I don't know if we could get a bigger one because it fits right in that area. We are going to get a small freezer & put it in the pantry. The flat top stove is AWESOME. The large bottom left burner is a dual element burner. I've never had one before, but they are a HUGE help in cooking with large pans/pots. The overhead fan is extremely quiet too.
Nice-a-ties: Did I mention the bathtub is FABULOUS??? Even if it doesn't have jets. Also, I think every home needs a faucet like the one in the sink. (Pulls out, can alternate the water spray) My mom forced my dad to go out and get one for hers. I have more storage space than items to store. That is a blessing in itself. We also found out we were eligible for DSL. That made my whole phone company ordeal worth it.
Grumblings: There's not enough room in the pantry for a W/D and ironing board. There's no power outlet in the MBR closet, where there IS room for an ironing board. The supports for the shelves could be a little better as well since we have a couple that keep falling. I do hate all the freaking mirrors in the MB though, so i put up a 3 panel screen between the toilet & the bathtub so I don't have to look at my big fat ass on the throne.. (LTD Commodities, $25.) Also, plan on replacing the cheap flimsy curtains. (I did not know it was crazy simple to make new ones either.)
Our next project after this will be an addition of a front porch similar to : http://modulardecks.bigstep.com/generic24.html (only with brick and shingled roof) for the front of the house and for the back: http://modulardecks.bigstep.com/item.jh ... RID=965097 . It is what we refer to as "The income tax return project"(s)
Overall though, the good outweighs the bad, and I am very pleased with my house.
Now if I could only motivate myself to start landscaping.....
Funny thing: Salesman called me wanting to pay me $50 to be in a commercial for the dealership. I'm sorry, but after everything I've been through, that is NOWHERE near enough.
I just want to close on the loan and be done with them.