Moving, luck and family.

If you have been reading my blog, you know by now that we have closed on the house last Tuesday.  We did have a small hiccup which delayed closing for a couple of hours but in the end everything worked out and we got our keys.   According to my mom, the next day, December 5, was an auspicious (lucky) day for moving.  But since we were not ready to move at all, she told me to bring rice, salt and a broom to the house.  Rice is said to symbolize prosperity, salt is said to bring spice to your life and a broom is needed to sweep away bad luck.  Although, I am not superstitious by nature, I still brought all those to the house on that day, and doing so made it feel like my mom is here with me and not thousands of miles away. 

Four hours and counting...

We will be closing on the house in 4 hours.  I have to say this experience of building a house is sort of like giving birth...painful during labor (in this case the build process) and joy when you see the baby (the finished house and finish line).  I am so happy with the house that when I saw our PM yesterday for last minute stuff I had feelings of fondness for him, much like how Ted felt when he was about to break it off with Zoe in "How I Met Your Mother", unlike the feelings of irritation for him (the PM) during the build process.  

We had an independent inspection done last Saturday.  Our inspector was surprised by the quality of the build RH had done and he only found mostly cosmetic issues.    But it was during this inspection, when we found out that our PM did not put in the drop-down stairs to the attic in the laundry room.  He did provide us with an access but no stairs.  During the building, there was a set of drop-down stairs stored in our garage so I thought that was it, apparently the stairs was not ours but belonged to another house being built.  If this had happened weeks ago, I would have been breathing fire about that but since it was almost near the finish line, I was surprisingly calm about it.  Our PM had promised to finish out the installation at the latest Thursday since we do plan to move in on Saturday.  Oh well.

I have to say that I am so in love with my professional style dual-fuel range and hood!  I think the set just made the house a whole lot classier.  The hardwood flooring is gorgeous.  Our PM mentioned that the inspectors thought the floors were awesome and that it was their first time to inspect a house with so much hardwood.  

 I'll end this post with pictures of the house.  Anybody who is used to blogger would know that they would randomly post the pics.  Our days will become busier after today.  I'll try to update this blog with changes we've made to the house.  Congratulations to those who had recently closed and good luck to those still building.

Typical upper bedroom

My awesome kitchen

Laundry room

MBR

Bonus room

Double welled basement door

Stairs to basement

Extra finished basement space

Another pic of the kitchen

Kids in family room

Coming up next is...Closing!!!

I haven't been updating this blog lately.  I have been so busy making sure that RH fixed all the goof-ups before we go into closing next week.  So far, almost everything has been fixed except for Guardian's placement of the intercom panel on the first floor.  We also got final approval of the loan already so we are good to go.  Can't wait to move into the house. 

Very late update.

Although we have been visiting the build site at least once a week, I haven't been updating this blog.  Life has been hectic, to say the least.  Anyway, as of last Saturday, this is what have been done:

• The tile, vanities, countertops, mirrors and hardware for all the bathrooms are done.  Ubatuba granite in the master bath looks good.  I kinda wished we had done granite in all the bathrooms.  The framed glass showers in the master and 1st floor guest bath looks cheap.  I didn't know that soap dishes were included with the ceramic tile.  I don't like it.  I've asked the PM to have them removed.  
• The central vac is already installed.  I am looking forward to using this in the new house.
• The kitchen cabinets are also up.  I was second guessing myself about choosing Scottsdale espresso cabs for the kitchen but with them installed.  I am loving them.  One of the base cabinets doors is cracked, they have to replace that.
• Crown molding for the foyer, crown molding and chair rail for the formal dining room are installed.  The molding really makes both areas look finished.  Hubby was surprised at how much he liked the look.
• The fireplace mantel is done also.  It is pretty but is kinda puny in my opinion.  This will be a future project for us but in the meantime it is acceptable.
• Thermostats are up.  The Verona only came with 1 thermostat standard but we insisted that they add another one for the second floor.  
• The hardwood staircase is in.  It needs to be stained though.  My husband is loving the look of the naked wood though.
• All the appliances are delivered but not installed yet.
• Lastly, they have finished installing all the hardwood throughout the 1st and 2nd floor of the house.  I was there when they were in the middle of doing the flooring in the family room.  Sunlight was streaming into the windows and it made the floor gleam!  I loved the effect. 

It is beginning to look like a house.  Can't wait to move in.

 

 

Thoughts on the storm

We got through the storm safe and sound.  Our thoughts and prayers to those who were not as lucky.  I hope that people will not use this disaster to further their own agendas.

Tiled!

Passed by the house today after dropping off my little boy off at Pre-K.  All the bathrooms have been tiled!  We also have a driveway.

Tub in master bath

Shower in master bath

Shower in attached

The driveway

I also saw the cabinets which were still in boxes in the garage.  They will start installing those tomorrow.

Drywall up.

As the title of this post said, the drywall is already up.  I don't think they're finished mudding and taping though.  Was not able to take any pictures as we were so frustrated over the fact that they haven't moved the attic access from the bedroom to the laundry room.  Arrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!