Within one week, the framing and the OSB surrounds are up. for the most part, we're very pleased with the work. We're most impressed with the progress. the framers are top notch, except for one, maybe two in the group who seem to either have minimal pride in their work or just plain don't care. The ones who do care about what they do, their work shows. the pieces are precisely cut, and fitted. all nails are in the middle of the joinings, all pieces are straight and flushed with the base and top frames. now the ones who don't care, their nails are off, missed the center, sticks out the edges of the joining pieces, the nails do not go in deep, but protrude and hammered to bend.
about 85% of the work was impressive and great. the other 15%, eh...i guess that's just the nature of the beast, unless we want to drag out the build schedule to an inordinate amount of time, a B is what i'll have to settle for. the structure seems sound, so a few nails off the mark here an there shouldn't be too big of a deal.
Tomorrow begins the weather wrap, and roof deckings. Schumacher's team have been on the ball and we're continued to be impressed. Steve Mein, Tonya Sanders, and Mark White all spend their time with us as if we're the only customer eventhough they are swamped with work. I can't say enough about them and their work ethics and methods. we'd recommend Schumacher, Conroe team ANY DAY to EVERYONE.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Moving forward...
Since November, the myriad of things that happened have kept me from updating this blog. however, this entry is the mark of more regular ones until June 30th.
So far, we've signed our contract with Schumacher, made some changes to the plans, some were pre-change order period and some after change order period. Usually, this would be where i've read gripes about builders in general. I on the other hand must say, it solidify our choice of selecting Schumacher even more. NEVER before have i heard of, nor experience a REFUND during a change order, or during a selection upgrade.
Schumacher is setup to where there are no guess work any costs. we upgraded some things, down graded some others, and by the time we were done, we had a CREDIT to our total cost of building. SERIOUSLY!!!! So far, the process is sooooo painless that i'm still pinching myself, wondering if it's all a dream. We're so happy with how things are going so far, that we'd build with Schumacher over and over if we could. Granted, our frame of reference are not first hand, but rather, through friends and friends of friends. we've got friends who built and from the moment their contract was signed, it was a nightmare until a year to three years later before their ordeal ended, just to have more drama ensued in their newly built home.
OK...if Mr. Paul Schumacher was standing in front of me, i think i might embarrass him with all the accolades being showered on the way the business is laid out as well as the staff at his Conroe office. :o)
Things are going so smoothly that in less than 10 days, we went from walking the lot, to an engineered foundation poured. YUP! the foundation is engineered specifically for our custom floorplan.
Mark, our onsite manager/foreman is sweet, and expedient about how things are ran. he's responsive about every little detail, from the few debris and trash that got blown out of their containers to our kids' comfort during our onsite visits.
Again, i'm still pinching myself at how smoothly things are going so far while referencing the difficulties friends in the past had at this point. we're thanking our lucky stars daily for finding this builder and specifically, Steve Mein (General Manager), Mark White (Foreman), Ann Tabor (Sales Representative). There's Also Tonya Sanders who is the cogs of this process, but seldom heard nor seen :o)...i think she prefers it that way...
The team that's making it all happened for us:
below are photos of where things are since we closed on Feb 1st:
1. permits were obtained
2. HOA ACC approval obtained
3. Lot walk
4. Floorplan reconfiguration (kitchen) - we got credit for the change :o) which is just AWESOME!!! WHAT BUILDER DOES THAT? GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THINGS???? SCHUMACHER DOES!!!!
5. Plans redrawn and....
Day 1: Clearing
Day 3: Pad
Day 4: Plumbing
Day 6: Foundation Prep
Day 7: Foundation Poured
So far, we've signed our contract with Schumacher, made some changes to the plans, some were pre-change order period and some after change order period. Usually, this would be where i've read gripes about builders in general. I on the other hand must say, it solidify our choice of selecting Schumacher even more. NEVER before have i heard of, nor experience a REFUND during a change order, or during a selection upgrade.
Schumacher is setup to where there are no guess work any costs. we upgraded some things, down graded some others, and by the time we were done, we had a CREDIT to our total cost of building. SERIOUSLY!!!! So far, the process is sooooo painless that i'm still pinching myself, wondering if it's all a dream. We're so happy with how things are going so far, that we'd build with Schumacher over and over if we could. Granted, our frame of reference are not first hand, but rather, through friends and friends of friends. we've got friends who built and from the moment their contract was signed, it was a nightmare until a year to three years later before their ordeal ended, just to have more drama ensued in their newly built home.
OK...if Mr. Paul Schumacher was standing in front of me, i think i might embarrass him with all the accolades being showered on the way the business is laid out as well as the staff at his Conroe office. :o)
Things are going so smoothly that in less than 10 days, we went from walking the lot, to an engineered foundation poured. YUP! the foundation is engineered specifically for our custom floorplan.
Mark, our onsite manager/foreman is sweet, and expedient about how things are ran. he's responsive about every little detail, from the few debris and trash that got blown out of their containers to our kids' comfort during our onsite visits.
Again, i'm still pinching myself at how smoothly things are going so far while referencing the difficulties friends in the past had at this point. we're thanking our lucky stars daily for finding this builder and specifically, Steve Mein (General Manager), Mark White (Foreman), Ann Tabor (Sales Representative). There's Also Tonya Sanders who is the cogs of this process, but seldom heard nor seen :o)...i think she prefers it that way...
The team that's making it all happened for us:
Ann Tabor
Steve Mein
Mark White
below are photos of where things are since we closed on Feb 1st:
1. permits were obtained
2. HOA ACC approval obtained
3. Lot walk
4. Floorplan reconfiguration (kitchen) - we got credit for the change :o) which is just AWESOME!!! WHAT BUILDER DOES THAT? GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR THINGS???? SCHUMACHER DOES!!!!
5. Plans redrawn and....
Day 1: Clearing
Day 3: Pad
Day 4: Plumbing
Day 6: Foundation Prep
Day 7: Foundation PouredWednesday, November 17, 2010
Part 2: Contract Signing...
I forgot to mention in part 1 is the references. i asked for references from Tilson (never got the list, though 3+weeks past with several reminders), Precision (ALL very Favorable), Eddings Custom Home (the MOST EXCELLENT recommendation list EVER) and Schumacher.
I called a total of 18 people and they all have favorable things to say about each of their builders, along with the builder's strengths and weaknesses, and how they'd work things out. Schumacher received great feedbacks. i received 7 names and called them all.
based on our own experience, observation, research on building materials and methods, etc, along with recommendations, we think we made the right decision. so, the next step is the contract signing, permit acquistion, ACC approval, etc. after all that, we'll get to move on to the next phase...construction!
I called a total of 18 people and they all have favorable things to say about each of their builders, along with the builder's strengths and weaknesses, and how they'd work things out. Schumacher received great feedbacks. i received 7 names and called them all.
based on our own experience, observation, research on building materials and methods, etc, along with recommendations, we think we made the right decision. so, the next step is the contract signing, permit acquistion, ACC approval, etc. after all that, we'll get to move on to the next phase...construction!
Part 1: The Search...
We're research people. research, research, research...then more research...
so, having said that, we spent 6 months straight talking, interviewing, analyzing, and revisiting with potential builders. we talked to a total of 21 builders. from tract builders with the "build on your lot" option, to small builders that only build on your lot.
I even attended the build on your lot seminars and other builder held events to learn about their building methods.
During this period of searching, I came across the www.schumacherhomes.com site several times. We saw their 1,2,3 steps in building your home on their main page, but quickly ruled it out as impossible, and probably a scam. So we just look at their floor plans. We kept going back and forth among the top 6 builders we had narrowed down with questions and general bids. Around the 5th month, we visited the showroom of two of the final 3 builders left on our list (Precision Homes, and Tilson Homes). During our wait for their bids (usually takes about 1-2 weeks turn-around time for pre-sales quotes after changes), I came across Schumacher Homes’s site again and figured it wouldn’t hurt to visit them too…so on the spur of the moment, we picked up the kids and drove to Conroe from Houston to see their show room, just out of curiosity more than anything.
After 1 hour, I got tour of the showroom, illustrations of how the house is put together (studs, insulations, backing boards, etc.), standard selections, upgraded selections, etc. I was less skeptical, but still didn’t think they’ll be the one. My husband on the other hand, and for the FIRST time throughout these months says “I think this is the builder for us” hmmmm…
So, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment for the following day with their sales representative Ann Tabor who in turn scheduled an appointment with their designer Nick Buchanan in Ohio.
Here’s what transpired in 2.5 hours that day:
1. I picked a floor plan that suits us the best
2. On a 32” flat screen is the plan I just selected
3. Ann asked me what for the changes, then Nick clicked away right there in front of my eyes and changed the plans with ALL dimensions visible. Right there, I knew if I made something too small, or too large, etc. IT WAS SOOOO COOOL!!!!
4. Once done, and spent some more time with me and got my general selections entered (standard or upgrade, if upgrade, which class).
5. A printed 11x14 image of MY floor plan and elevation AND 14 page DETAILED bid of ALL that goes into the house, from the studs, to the simple door knob, from lot clearing fees to the drive way that would be there.
ALL THIS IN 2.5 HOURS!!!! AND ALL UNDER MY BUDGET!
Too good to be true? Yeah, I thought so too, so I went home, looked over every line item and EVERYTHING that goes into a house, was in that bid. I’m still pretty “schocked” :o) but happy. Ann Tabor worked magic. She was my fairy god mother, and conscience, making sure I stayed under my budget. So, from absolute doubt to a total believer, I can confidently say that we have at last FOUND OUR BUILDER!!!
so, having said that, we spent 6 months straight talking, interviewing, analyzing, and revisiting with potential builders. we talked to a total of 21 builders. from tract builders with the "build on your lot" option, to small builders that only build on your lot.
I even attended the build on your lot seminars and other builder held events to learn about their building methods.
During this period of searching, I came across the www.schumacherhomes.com site several times. We saw their 1,2,3 steps in building your home on their main page, but quickly ruled it out as impossible, and probably a scam. So we just look at their floor plans. We kept going back and forth among the top 6 builders we had narrowed down with questions and general bids. Around the 5th month, we visited the showroom of two of the final 3 builders left on our list (Precision Homes, and Tilson Homes). During our wait for their bids (usually takes about 1-2 weeks turn-around time for pre-sales quotes after changes), I came across Schumacher Homes’s site again and figured it wouldn’t hurt to visit them too…so on the spur of the moment, we picked up the kids and drove to Conroe from Houston to see their show room, just out of curiosity more than anything.
After 1 hour, I got tour of the showroom, illustrations of how the house is put together (studs, insulations, backing boards, etc.), standard selections, upgraded selections, etc. I was less skeptical, but still didn’t think they’ll be the one. My husband on the other hand, and for the FIRST time throughout these months says “I think this is the builder for us” hmmmm…
So, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment for the following day with their sales representative Ann Tabor who in turn scheduled an appointment with their designer Nick Buchanan in Ohio.
Here’s what transpired in 2.5 hours that day:
1. I picked a floor plan that suits us the best
2. On a 32” flat screen is the plan I just selected
3. Ann asked me what for the changes, then Nick clicked away right there in front of my eyes and changed the plans with ALL dimensions visible. Right there, I knew if I made something too small, or too large, etc. IT WAS SOOOO COOOL!!!!
4. Once done, and spent some more time with me and got my general selections entered (standard or upgrade, if upgrade, which class).
5. A printed 11x14 image of MY floor plan and elevation AND 14 page DETAILED bid of ALL that goes into the house, from the studs, to the simple door knob, from lot clearing fees to the drive way that would be there.
ALL THIS IN 2.5 HOURS!!!! AND ALL UNDER MY BUDGET!
Too good to be true? Yeah, I thought so too, so I went home, looked over every line item and EVERYTHING that goes into a house, was in that bid. I’m still pretty “schocked” :o) but happy. Ann Tabor worked magic. She was my fairy god mother, and conscience, making sure I stayed under my budget. So, from absolute doubt to a total believer, I can confidently say that we have at last FOUND OUR BUILDER!!!
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