3 days in

Just dawned on me I never published this post! :o. So here it is late.  Originally written end of April.  New updates to come shortly.

We've owned the home now for 3 days.  Thought I'd give a brief update.  Our POD with the majority of our stuff isn't being delivered for 2 weeks, so we're not fully moving in until then.  In the mean time we've moved most of the stuff from my in laws and brothers.  We've still have what we're living with at parents to move.

Thankfully with help from our parents we've accomplished a lot this weekend.

Stairwell torn out.

Top of stairwell.  Hopefully the new spindles will be here soon!

4/6 ceiling fans installed

Mudroom, caused by me with the silly hinge doorstops.

These stupid doorstops have all been replaced.

New door stops!

Bonus room play room has some TOYS!  At least kids can be somewhat occupied while we're moving.  To give an idea of size, that's a fairly big bounce house in the back.

Backsplash has been started.  Andrew's trying to convince me to use light grey grout instead of white.  Stay tuned...

Table and chandelier installed.  Chairs to come.

Landscaping issue :(  I don't want to dig out under the sidewalk so I'm still investigating.)

Picked up 21 of the 24 sets of blinds.  Waiting for 3 special orders then Home Depot will be here to install :)

I'm also trouble shooting trying to get our exterior lights to work dusk to dawn automatically.  Then I'm also thinking about sealing the basement floor.  Still searching for all of that :)

Final walk through

Closing is Thursday!

Final walk through yesterday went well.  We marked several minor drywall repairs.  There was a hole on the insulation on the garage door that they had "repaired" with duct tape, so they're going to "fix" that.  They're going to repair a shingle that's missing, leave us some extra hardwood, replace a cabinet door and figure out why there isn't a gfi in the kitchen.  The sod is looking ok.  He admitted though that it was supposed to be watered over the weekend but someone dropped the ball.  He's confident it will come back, but if not they will take care of it.  I got a contact name so I can figure out what all of the plants are in front of the house.  We talked about granite and hardwood cleaning.  He suggested a 409 granite cleaner (I've heard good about Method granite cleaner) and Bruce for hardwood (we like Bona better so we will continue to use that.)  He also suggested closing upstairs vents in the winter and downstairs in the summer.  I hadn't heard that, so we may try that?!?!  It's a fairly big house so saving that gas & electric bill will be helpful.  I did get some inside pictures but I totally forgot the basement and exterior.  This was my first go with panoramic mode on my camera, sorry.

House on lot, note spotty sod.

Alex's bedroom

2nd floor laundry with tub instead of a closet.

Adam's bedroom

 

Boys bathroom

Austin's bedroom

Huge bonus/play room.

Master bedroom

Master bath with closet in the back and tub to the right.

Officially the dining room, but we're using it as a sitting room with no tv.  Light will need changed.

Standing where refrigerator will go.  Looking at kitchen, morning/dining room, and great room.  Office is the door at the far end.  Island to come this weekend!

Standing in the morning/dining room.  Kitchen on the right, sitting room through doorway on right, pantry is the double doors, basement is the single door, hallway/entryway/mudroom is the next doorway, great room on the left, office through the door on the far left.

Entryway.  Mudroom on the left and powder room up farther on the left.  Considering painting the back of the front door black?!?!

We are starting to plan to get some loads of stuff there this weekend.  At this point we have stuff stored at both sets of parents and my brothers.  So we'll spend the next 2 weeks getting that unloaded.  Also, hopefully get the island installed this weekend and work on the backsplash.  All while keeping the yard watered!

We ordered a traveling sprinkler to try out and see if it helps water all of the grass!

 

It's getting close...

It's almost finished!  It should be finished by the end of this coming week, beginning of next week. Carpet, drywall repairs, columns, sod/grass/landscaping, painting front door, uncovering basement bath rough-in, etc.  Then we will walk through early next week before we close on 4/28.

Granite is in.  Exterior lights are on.  Concrete driveway, sidewalk and front porch have been poured.

We still have a list of things we're not happy with.  A few I am planning to send to our Project Manager Monday, the rest will be brought up at our final walk through before closing.

Lots of concrete poured!

View of the cul-de-sac from the garage.  (With kids already playing in the driveway.)

Mudroom.  They've uncovered the hardwood so I insisted everyone remove their shoes :)

Powder room.

Partial view of great room and kitchen.

Stairway with stained handrail.  Again, half walls to be removed upon closing.  Still kicking myself for not getting that upgrade from the beginning :(

Sitting Room.  Not sure what to do about the chandelier in here yet. 

And we have water for the ice maker!

1st floor office, carpet to come.

Dining Room for our new table & chandelier!

Another kitchen picture with granite.  Island to be built after closing.  Notice the drywall repairs that need done.  I requested they not put up the little 3 inch backsplash of granite since we want to install our own backsplash immediately.  Well apparently the guy doing it cut his finger the job prior and bled all over the work order telling them not to install the backsplash :o  So now they're going to have to fix this.  Better them than me!

Front porch.  Columns still to come.  Door needs painted still as well.

This is in the bonus room.  I don't really understand how a wall can get that uneven, but I am bringing this to his attention Monday morning.

This is the upstairs hallway/  Again, the "hook" at the end will probably drive us crazy forever, so I am also bringing this to his attention Monday.

In terms of decorating and actually getting the house move in ready, we bought the refrigerator. Home Depot will be out this week to measure for blinds.  I've got a few leads for granite distributors.  Our dining room table is almost finished.  I'm trying to decide on what chairs to put wit it.  I've decided to hold off on a rug in there.  I do want a rug for the great room sooner rather than later.  I still need the ceiling fan, some end tables, and accent chairs.  I'm really waiting mostly so everything can go directly to the new house instead of having to be moved.  I called and have gas & electric, water & sewer, and trash all started.  We also made a last minute decision to change auto/home insurance back to Progressive after a few years away.  All of our paperwork is complete with NVR Mortgage. 

Sneak peak of our dining room table that is almost finished!

Chandelier that we finally decided on for above our new table!

Samsung fridge we ordered from Lowes.

Less than 3 weeks...

I have started to write this blog several times but my mind is so all over the place I'm having a hard time focusing.  So here goes...

The house is finally locked up so I haven't been able to get in much.  Andrew was able to get in and instead of sending me lots of phone pictures he sent me tons of problems :(

I'm still not sure how anyone thought this was a good idea.  Originally it was all drywalled but our project manager cut the drywall so they can and fix it.  Having conduit sticking out like a handle in the garage is not acceptable.  I know, I'm picky.

Reminder to have repaired - yet I've already forgotten which room this is!

Boys bathroom, reminder to have repaired.

On the other hand I was able to get in yesterday and get some other pictures.

House with grading.  There quite a slope on the left, but that's the smallest part of our yard, so really no big deal.

Exterior lights.  I was hoping for the larger lights like a lot of other homes in our community but apparetly the elevation we chose gets these lights.  Future project.

Entry way.  Still loving my decision to have them move the return air vent here :)

2 of the three entry/hall lights.  I'm thinking I'm going to need to change these out fairly soon to something a bit more "rustic" looking to match the house.  They really are pretty, but whoever called them "boob lights" has completely ruined it for me.

The 3rd entry/hall light with the dining room light in the back.  Again, replacing that light for something a bit more rustic.  Handrail that still needs stained. 

Half walls to be removed and replaced with wrought iron rails soon!

Powder room.  It'll probably stay like that for awhile.

Standing in the kitchen looking at the great room.  Could to go on far wall and right wall.  TV between windows.  Office behind the door at the end.

Morning room where our new dining room table will go.

Standing in the corner of the dining room looking into the great room on the left, kitchen on the right.  The door on the left is to the basement and the double doors are the pantry.  The opening on the left is the hallway/entry way and the opening on the right is to the yet to be decided room :)

KITCHEN!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.  We've ordered the exact same cabinets for our big island.  Again, to be built before moving in.

Future refrigerator.  Where's the water line for the ice maker???

He insisted I shut him in here.

Master bath

Project manager says they will be out this week Monday and Tuesday to finish drywall repairs and paint Wednesday.  Granite should arrive middle of the week.

Then there's the whole idea of moving and all of the stuff we need inside this house.  I have coupons from Lowes and Wayfair that are about to expire so I've been trying see if there's anything there.  I did finally purchase door paint, red and black.  Today we also purchased backsplash tile and grout for the kitchen.  I'm hoping this week to buy the great room ceiling fan.  Home Depot should be calling Monday to schedule to come out and measure. We're still looking for a fridge and island granite.  I know I need to make a trip to Ikea to buy Austin's new loft bed.  He also too needs a mattress and bedding.  We need a new king mattress and bed and bedding.  We're planning to try Tuft & Needle for mattresses.  Sooooo much still to do!!!

White backsplash tile with white grout

One option, but with darker, more black blades

This is the great room ceiling fan I am leaning towards.

Chandelier ordered for over new dining room table