Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Bad, Bad, Bad News!!

Yesterday was a horrible day!  We had a five o'clock appointment with our SR to finalize our selections/upgrades/customizations so that we can finally get a firm date on the schedule to break ground.  As soon as I arrived to the office, she broke the bad news.  First, paperwork we needed from CTI had not been returned.  Second, the Elevation E that I have had posted for over a week now has been withdrawn as an option for us to build!!  I was devastated!!!  This means, we have been pushed further out on the schedule to break ground and the elevation I fell in love with for our "forever home" is no longer an option.  I felt like somebody just punched me in my stomach!!!  My SR had written up a contract for another homeowner on Lot #14 who were waiting for the permit to return to start building the same elevation.  She was informed yesterday that the county would not approve the permit for Lot #14 because the permit had not been approved for Elevation E in our community even though it was on her selection list. She also informed me that it would take nearly 6-9 months before it even hits the county's desk for permit approval.  She told me she spent many hours back and forth on the phone with the county trying to resolve this conflict but the county would not budge.  These are the options she offered us:  purchase the elevation at another community (actually another state because other county's in Maryland are still waiting to be approved, wait until the permit is approved which means starting the loan approval process over or choose another elevation.  When we first submitted our purchase agreement, we were building Elevation C so it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that we would continue to build Elevation C as our paperwork still suggests.  However, after being on these blogs and discovering Elevation E, I fell in love with it and was elated that we could build it.  So I am in recovery!!!!  In the meantime, we go back to the drawing board on Thursday when she returns to work to finalize our paperwork at which time I hope to hear some good news that we can proceed with building Elevation E which would be a MIRACLE or we will proceed with building Elevation C with a front porch and the shake siding.  Fingers crossed!!

20 comments:

  1. Ugh. So sorry. We didn't get our first elevation pick either, but what we ended up with has grown on me tremendously. And our SR had some wisdom: You don't live on the outside of your house. As much as the aesthetics on the outside are important, it's really inside the house where you will be loving your life. And that spacious kitchen or awesome master bath will be infinitely more enjoyable than those shakes. Fingers crossed that this is your final bump in the road!

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    1. Thank you WJ! This is definitely encouraging!! We have been through so much since February that it just hit me hard yesterday! I absolutely love love love the Rome model. Thank you for the wisdom it's a nice perspective to embrace. Not sure when we will get to build a deck, so I had visions of how we planned to use that front porch!! Hopefully, we will receive some good news on Thursday. Thank you for crossing your fingers with us!!

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  2. Aw man, that stinks. Are both elevations the same price? If not, RH should cover the difference since it was their mistake. Good luck!

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    1. Yeah this sucks!! Elevation E cost much more than C; however, I know there will be a fee to include the front porch and shake siding on Elevation C.

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  3. Sorry to hear about your problem with the Elevation, but Greg said something to me yesterday that kind of clicked. "Be confident in the initial things you picked, because he's gonna build you a fantastic home" . He said that people once they move in, they realize all the things they forgot or could've done different and lose sight of the actual beauty of what they are in. I'm sure once you're in whatever model you get, you'll love it and won't miss anything. Good Luck from your neighbors in #48

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    1. Thank you, new neighbor on #48, Alejandro!!! I just had a serious meltdown yesterday! We have been through so much since February and the tears just started flowing!! I will take this wisdom to heart!

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    2. I hear you loud and clear, new neighbor on Lot #48!! For me, it's just that my human self, my woman self, my feelings self, my emotional self, my spiritual self has been on a long journey with this home building process that the "SHE" in me was not wearing her cape upon entering the SR's office yesterday armed with wonder power because I just knew yesterday would be the day we would move forward. We still do not have a ratified contract, a pre construction meeting, a break ground date, a brick, a stone, a wall, a door, a porch, a sink, a stove etc. to remain in full gratitude in this moment as the rest of you do! Okay, clearly I am finally venting my frustrations!! NOTHING PERSONAL!! You just helped me to open the door and let it go! I totally understand the PM and your feedback and don't get me wrong!! It's rough on a sistah at this point because I have made all the selections/upgrades/custom requests to appreciate my house because there is no house. It's just an empty lot that I have been driving by for months. So with that said, let me pick up my 5 foot 2 inch self up off the self pity floor, pick up my cross and WALK!! In full gratitude for all that I have experienced and all that I have yet to experience and will continue to experience because I do get to remain confident, strong, patient, and grateful for this journey to build the house of our dreams. Whewww, I needed that! Thank you!

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  4. My pastor preached on Sunday that when things happen to us, we should praise God anyway. I know that your patience has been tested through this home buying process, but I know that HE will work out all the details. Stay strong, stay focused that you will be in your home soon. And if you need to vent, hit me up, I will help you through! What does elevation c look like? Post a pic if you get a chance.

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    1. ***tears, tears, tissue, tissue, tears, tears, tissue tissue**** Thank you sooooooo much, Danielle!! I can't tell how much I have been tested with patience and have remained steadfast up to yesterday! I guess I am still grieving. Don't be surprised if I do hit you up!! I will definitely post a picture!!

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  5. Rick and Nadase I'm so sorry to hear that your not able to get the elevation that you wanted. I wasnt aware that some counties restrict certain elevations. However you will see that the elevation that you choose to build will grow on you and you will love it! Hang in there before you know you will be breaking ground

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    1. Thanks Jesse!! It is very true! You cannot get the elevation if your community does not have the permit to build it. There are several elevations for the ROME model up to the letter K. They are only required to mention the elevations they are approved to build in the community. The concept is to adhere to the standard for that community. Each community has a selection sheet for future homeowners to choose to build and we were later told that D & E were added to the selection sheet. Unfortunately, it was an error because the permit has not been approved. We really really really look forward to breaking ground!!

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  6. This was definitely a huge mistake on Ryan Homes part. You should ask the what they are going to do for you to make up for it. I would be super sad and then I would get mad! They shouldn't be able to get away with such a mistake without having to make up for it. Maybe they should throw in that front porch for free.....just saying....

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  7. One of the new neighbors we met, told us that they were told they could get a certain elevation but the HOA rejected it. They had to go with another elevation, but did not have to pay for it...but that could be because they had originally gone with the basic elevation that you don't get charged for.
    Hope this works out for you, remember you love the house too!!!

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    1. Elevation E cost more than between Elevations A, B & C. The additional cost would come from customizing Elevation C with the front porch and shake siding. It would be fantastic if they would not charge us for it. I pray they give us this grace.

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  8. Wow! My wife is standing here, and she and I agree that she and I agree that we were only informed of three elevations, of which C was our favorite. We are both sorry to hear of this unforseen turn on the emotional homebuilding rollercoaster, but do look forward to having you as neighbors.

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    1. Sheldon, at the time of purchase, we were aware of Elevations A, B, C, L, & K. Elevations L & K are only offered in Bristow, VA and of course other communities, but not Fairwood. Once I joined the blog and the longer we stayed in underwriting, it gave me the chance to discover Elevation E, but I was told that we could not build Elevation E at this community. More time went by and I asked again could we build Elevation E because it was now being printed on the brochure and provided to future homeowners at Fairwood. At some point, Elevations D & E were added to the selection sheet which made it possible for us to build it along with other family; however, to date it has not been approved with a permit for our community.

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  9. Hey Nadane, Cheer up. We didn't get the elevation that we wanted on our current RH. I obsessed over it while it was being built, but it never crosses my mind now. Now concentrate on that dream kitchen of yours! :-)

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  10. Yes, Yes, Yes, Maria!! I am working on cheering up!!! I decided to put my big girl panties on and count my blessings. Honestly, the sting hasn't worn off completely. I suppose I will feel much better when we get approved for the front porch on Elevation C and get a date to break ground. I have done so much planning on paper, researching online for designs, shopping etc But there is no house, YET!! It is definitely going to make a difference when I see a sign that the house is being built!! Talk about having FAITH!! First, I was working with the principle of patience and now, FAITH! Thank your for the encouragement!!

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  11. Wow Nadase, we're sorry to hear that, we are shocked that something like that could happen.... we would expect that any elevation Ryan offers would be allowed in the community. We seem to learn something new every time we log on and start reading. We hope you hope fall in love with your new elevation we're sure it will be just as great.

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