Update to house

So looks like some good news is coming my way for the house. No not early closing or lower prices, that wouldn't be good news, that would be insane news.

I think like many people who bought the Fernwater Elevation B, we discovered that the porch layout was incorrect to what we all saw on the floor plans and at the model home in HMB.

This is how the porch is to look with my elevation B(this was from Fernwater@HMB blog)


This is what I, like many was expecting:


I felt like the porch layout I was getting is not very practical, very difficult to move items into your house, why are the stairs off set, who would think of that...so I wrote a letter to the Customer Care people enquiring if this could be changed to be accomodate myself (for the move) and my family members (and senior ones).

After almost a month (but continuous emails to follow up to let me know I was not being ignored - which I appreciated), I got the final verdict. They will accomodate me it seems and change me over to the correct porch layour (the one seen @ the model home in HMB).

My only thing to confirm is for sure is that they aren't going to change me to an Elevation A (as it seems all Elevation A's get that layout). If they are, then they would owe me a refund as that elevation is $2,000 cheaper than what I paid. Waiting to hear back but this was some very good news for my crappy week.

Now off to finalze the order of my appliances from The Brick....there's a big sale and this price ends Sunday!

Design Centre complete!

Ok, a slight lapse in between my posts, but this is the first time there has been any progress in my home.

This morning I had my DC appointment with Erin. The days and weeks leading up to this appointment had me going through a huge range of emotions. I was everything from excited, to anxious, to bitchy (sorry mom), to unhappy, to extreme calm last night and this morning.

After my first visit to the DC to get my choices picked, I swore I wouldn't go back and change anything because I was happy with everything I picked. I just had to focus on picking my options from the catalogue. Of course, the very next week I went back to the DC and spent another 3 hours changing almost all my choices again, but this time I did stick to my guns and did not go back and change anything.

Since that time, I used my downtime @ work to go through that catalogue and write out what I wanted and what I wanted for my townhome. I incorporated the $5000 bonus from Mattamy and came out about $200 over budget. THRILLED!!

So now the big day this morning, my parents thankfully accompanied me. Erin did the whole run through of the house, letting me know where the lights and plugs were, and made suggestions when I wavered on where I wanted to put the pendant lights for my island bar. After all the catalogue selections were made we moved on to the design choices. Unfortunately, like a tool, I forgot my book in which I had written all the codes for my choices, so I had to go by memory. Thankfully, we were 98% on with the original choices. Erin was a big help in helping me match the ceramic floors to my cabinets....yes, I opted for ceramic. Not originally part of my plan (I only had the kitchen and foyer) but in the end I'm really glad I did it, as it can consume some time and be messy having it done afterwards.

This is overall of my selection. At the top you have my chocolate pear kitchen cabinet, with the almond faux glaze counter top, the brushed nickel handles for all drawers. The coffee hardwood floor is just the stain that will be done to my railing (for eventual laminate on main floor). Below that is the carpet choice for the floors, followed by the ceramic floor for all wet rooms. The vinyl is for the laundry room, I didn't bother to change that as the door will always be closed. At the bottom is the cabinet choice and counter top choice for both bathrooms. I opted for the bisque look and slate counter top. Then is the ceramic for the bath and shower.




This a closer look at my kitchen choices


And a closer (little blurry) look at my bathroom choices


So at the end of the DC appointment, I got my grand total. Hoping I wasn't too far off, I knew I would be paying a little out of pocket. In the end I was over a little more than I anticipated, but these are things I'm going to be really happy I picked. They will help with the eventual resale in my future as it's all neutral for the next person (of course 5-10yrs from now neutral might be too passé).

Now to find out if I will be affected by Mr. Flaherty's new mortgage requirements, as I don't close til October I hope I wont be affected. I read about the nixing of 35yrs amortization (which is what I have) so here's to no life for the next 8 months so I can save double what I originally planned.

Design Centre 101

I made my first stop in at the Design Centre in Barrhaven yesterday with mom and dad to get an idea of what the standards are and maybe ideas of upgrades (given they fit into my $5k freebie budget).

Took another run through the Fernwater model to see what they had and how it was set up (gives me an idea of how I would decor...ok really how my mom would decorate). Of course the model home is top of the line upgrades for everything, so I had to take that into consideration when I went back to the DC to start picking out items.

I have to say first off I am actually very surprised at the quality level of the Standards. Usually when you think of standards you think of the cheaper quality products and of course to get nicer products you will have to pay too much to upgrade. Not so in this case. Most of the products I went through all appealed to me and I wasn't even considering upgrading anything. The faucets are all Moen's which is very well known and quality products. My mom told me they had to save a long time to get Moen.

After 3 hours of choosing what I liked in the Standards, I felt pretty satisfied, but of course I will be going back next weekend because now I'm starting to rethink. I picked the same cabinets for now because I don't know what the cost would be to upgrade just for the bathrooms. Seeing as how they are only 3 cabinets really for each bathroom, it might not be that expensive to upgrade for each one, just to create a real uniqueness to each room.

Both women in the DC were very friendly and helpful, even at one point looked over some of my choices and agreed or suggested something (I don't know how much to take the agreements, seeing as how they really don't care what I pick or not...it's more about did I drop $ for upgrades).

Here are a few of my choices that I'm going with - sorry about full colour view, didn't find lighting that great..and let's admit my photo taking abilities suck. This is also just my first run through so choices may change as time goes on.

These are the standard faucets that come for all the rooms, Moens. (The only one I don't get is the second one on the left side, it's for an oasis bathroom, which I don't have)


This is my current choice for kitchen counter tops. It's traditional Travertine.


This is my choice for the kitchen cupboards and with the Travertine. I have currently picked the Chocolate coloured ones, I think I will stick with this for the kitchen (probably too $$ to upgrade the entire kitchen anyhow).



This is the draw and cabinet selection for the kitchen, it's a brushed nickel look, again, standard.



This is what my main and ensuite bathroom will be, the flooring is pretty much the only thing to stay the way it is. I chose Palazzo Vinyl. The cabinets are the same as the kitchen and for now I picked the Natural Canvas for the counter tops.

Witha little help from my...online contacts

So thanks to the generosity of many people on Building Homes I was able to get some info about the Design Centre.

While information will certainly have changed over the course of even months, the information gives me a good idea what to expect and boy is it shocking. Makes me wonder if that $5000 bonus signing was really even worth it...then again it's $5000 less that I would have to pay to get extra sockets, or cables, or a pantry. What gets me though is the overall cost of things, you can really tell someone is pocketing a little extra money.

Without even picking things I would "wish" for, I know that basic stuff like crown moulding, chair railing, new floors, etc that can all be stuff I do on my own and I will know it's done right...I might just stick to basic upgrades that will really help resale. Since I focused so much on the upgrade kitchen (before the design centre) I will probably invest my $5k into there, but with what...well who knows...time to read a little to maybe narrow down what I like...and then on the weekend visit the DC to get a feel for their products.

Anxiety??

I gather this to be part of the new homebuyers experience, but since signing for the home on Saturday I cannot seem to get a restful sleep. It's like my brain goes beyond not shutting off. Normally my brain takes a while but eventually just stops, but I just can't seem to calm myself before sleeping.
Funny thing is I'm not even thinking about the house....I don't even know if all the reality of it has set in yet...

Today my papers get dropped off at the lawyer for review, some minor changes to be made, and I have to contact the bank (or they will contact me?) - I'm probably going to stick with RBC as my parents bought two houses through them and they have mentioned they will try and do a better rate because of them (wow, they really care that I haven't been with them since I was a Leo the Lion card holder back in 1995?)

I do have to say, reading through someone elses blog experience has really helped me to understand a bit more and just gives me some ideas decorating wise. I've been reading his blog - great read and some great pics on his design.

Signing off for now (maybe I should be working...maybe...)

Deciding to buy a townhouse

So one might be wondering how did I come to the decision to buy a townhouse and why did I buy that model.

Well, the simple fact was I couldn't live in my apartment anymore my parents were generously offering me the option of taking my old bedroom back and saving more so that in 2-3 years I could buy a home. Why couldn't I live in my apartment you ask? Nothing due to financials (thankfully) but I have been going through multiple infestations in my apartment (I rent a 2bed @ Parkwood Hills West from Minto), and needless to say it was 3 too many....and the way Minto was addressing it just irked me (ok, maybe I expect perfection). So in October I was casually looking at different builders and floorplans just to get an idea of what I might eventually like while I'm saving up at my parents (don't forget this is still 2-3 years away this purchase).

Christmas was fast approaching and the infestation wasn't clearing up (even after treatments) and now I started to feel I was really encroaching on my parents (just staying there few days a week), I thought there had to be a quicker way I could get my own place without having to burden them (they dealt with me long enough, last thing they would need was me back again). I started to do more research and kept coming across Mattamy Homes and then my friends (and neighbours) informed me they had just purchased a Mattamy, so I thought I would look a little more into it. My parents and I started looking at the different layouts and saying which looked best etc...we finally made the trip up to Half Moon Bay to see the model homes.

They have the Fernwater and the Maplefield, both are end units (though you can get the Fernwater as an interior unit). Walking through the Maplefield I thought it was a nice feel but it felt too big just for me, and I personally didn't like the layout that they had. We went into the Fernwater and even just as soon as walking through the Foyer entrance it felt welcoming, and then of course I spotted what I have always wanted in my own home, an island. Needless to say the model homes are completely done up to a standard that only someone incredibly rich (or maybe someone just willing to invest that much) would get.

Over the next two weeks I kept wondering if the Fernwater would be right for me, while had everything I basically wanted and it felt like home, it was a fairly costly investment. So I started to look at the smaller models and try and narrow it down between them (but still keep the Fernwater on the table, just in case). I started to look at the Eastland and the Devonshire, both had things I liked and disliked but somehow I kept always coming back to the Fernwater. I got the price list from both HMB and from Fairwinds in Kanata, both happened to have end units (and FW also had an interior unit).

On Friday after much sit downs and talks with my parents I knew I was going with the Fernwater, but now I didn't know if I was going to Barrhaven or to Kanata. There are decisions in that as well, while Barrhaven has greater resale value, Kanata is cheaper. After spending time discussing the pros and cons, I settled on Kanata, they also happened to offer a $5000 bonus upgrade in designs, so that was extra money in my pocket in the sense that I could put a little bit into the home without spending money up front.

January 16, 2010 I went to Kanata and signed for the Fernwater End Unit (premium lot) and I got lot 30-1. The current closing date (barring any delays) will be October 14, 2010 - only 9 months away (well 8 months and 28 days).

Nothing had actually set in until I was going to sleep (unfortunately not a very restful one) and then some of the anxiety and stress of buying a house kicked in this morning. The normal worries of financing, budgeting for the future, what options to get, furniture, etc....but I have to just take this one day at a time. Perhaps this blog will help me in expressing everything and be able to deal better.

My First Post

As the title would say this is my first blog post (actually this is my first ever blog really).

I have decided to do my best in detailing my experiences with the purchase of my first home. I hope to be dedicated to this and write every little detailed experience. I think it will not only keep a good memory for me (might help me to learn what to do and not do for my next home buying experience) but also might help in sharing with others (or learning).

So I hope you enjoy my blogs (I might not have the dry wit for a perfect blogger, but I will do my best) and please feel free to leave comments or suggestions.