Below we have answered some frequently asked questions regarding building a SeaGate home on your lot in Palm Coast.
We cover topics about everything from transferring the title to providing us with a loan commitment.
Q. When do I have to provide you with a written loan commitment?
Q. I already own my lot. How do I transfer it over to you so that you may start the building process for my new home?
Q. At the time I purchased my lot, a bore test was done. Do I need to have another test performed?
Q. When will I be asked to select colors and interior appointments at the Design Studio?
Q. Can changes be made after my options are selected?
Q. When will my home be permitted?
Q. When will construction of my home begin?
Q. Can I have work performed on my home prior to the Closing?
Q. May I visit the home while it is under construction?
Q. At times it appears as if no one is working on my home.
Q. Should I lock in my mortgage?
Q. I’ve noticed some things in my home that are different from the model.
Q. When will my home be completed?
Q. When will I be given a date for closing?
Q. When do I have to provide you with a written loan commitment?
A. Our Purchase and Sales Agreement requires that you make loan application within ten days. If you prefer the convenience of using our preferred lender, First Rate Home Mortgage, they will automatically send us a copy of your loan commitment. If you elect to use another lender, you will be responsible for providing us with a written loan commitment. Your New Home Consultant will be your primary contact. Please provide a copy of your loan commitment to your New Home Sales Consultant.
Q. I already own my lot. How do I transfer it over to you so that you may start the building process for my new home?
A. Please contact us at 386.246.6109 to make arrangements to sign and notarize a warranty deed assigning the home site to us.
Q. At the time I purchased my lot, a bore test was done. Do I need to have another test performed?
A. If you have a bore test dated less than one year ago, we should be able to use it. If the test was performed beyond one year, a new test will be required.
Q. When will I be asked to select colors and interior appointments at the Design Studio?
A. As we get closer to the permitting stage, you will receive a call from your Design Consultant who will make an appointment for you to come in and finalize the design choices for your new home. Please allow up to three hours for this process. During your appointment you will have the opportunity to select from an array of interior and exterior design selections. If you select options and plan to finance them, please contact your lender immediately so they may update your loan.
Q. Can changes be made after my options are selected?
A. As you can imagine, there is a great deal of coordination required to build a home. Once selections are made, changes cannot be made.
Q. When will my home be permitted?
A. Prior to architectural plans being drawn, numerous documents are needed. These may include surveys, bore tests, information from utility providers or a plat being recorded. Plans must then be drawn reflecting the structural, electrical and plumbing changes that you may have requested. Once engineered truss drawings are ordered and final plans are completed they are sent to engineering for review. After the architectural plans are approved and sealed by engineering, a permit application is prepared and submitted to the city. This process may take several months depending on a variety of factors.
Q. When will construction of my home begin?
A. After a permit is issued, purchase orders are created for the clearing, filling, grading and compaction of your home site. This may take several weeks, depending on conditions. Once the home site has received final compaction, is ready for building and if all bids are received and approved, purchase orders are finalized for the labor and materials needed to build your home. Copies of plans and work orders are assembled and distributed to all applicable subcontractors and the Construction Manager. Now that we are ready to begin construction, a Customer Service Coordinator will call you to set up your Pre-Start Orientation. At the Pre-Start Orientation you will have the opportunity to meet your Construction Manager and review the plans, specifications and color selections for your new home. During the construction of your home, should you have any questions regarding the construction of your home, please contact Customer Service Coordinator at 386.246.6168.
Q. SeaGate Homes is purchasing a home site for us or we are deeding our home site to SeaGate Homes. How are costs associated with the acquisition of the home site or additional impact fees above our allowances handled?
A. Unless your purchase and sales agreement was written after June 13, 2005 and states otherwise, you may receive addenda for impact fees, taxes or third-party lot acquisition costs. If you have asked us to acquire a lot for you, upon the lot closing you will receive an addendum for the closing costs associated with the acquisition of the property. These costs would likely be pro-rated property taxes, closing costs or mortgage payoffs if it was your lot and had an outstanding mortgage balance. When the permit for your new home is received, you may receive an addendum if the impact fees exceed the allowances in your Purchase and Sale Agreement. If you would like these charges included with your mortgage, you will need to forward a copy of these addenda to your mortgage consultant.
Q. Can I have work performed on my home prior to the Closing?
A. All work performed must be done through SeaGate’s licensed, insured and approved vendors and must be included in your Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Q. May I visit the home while it is under construction?
A. There are three informative pre-scheduled visits during the construction process where we orient you on the progress of your home to date. Your Customer Service Coordinator will contact you in advance to set an appointment for these visits. The first pre-scheduled visit is the Framing Orientation. We will review items such as cable and phone outlet locations and answer questions that you may have. The second pre-scheduled visit will be the New Home Orientation, which will be held prior to closing. At this time we will acquaint you with all of the systems in your new home and demonstrate how everything is operated. Then, typically just prior to closing we will review the finished home with you a second time to address any items noted on your prior orientation. Should you decide to visit the home outside of these pre-scheduled visits, please contact your New Home Consultant to see if an appointment can be arranged. For safety reasons a SeaGate team member must always accompany you to the site.
Q. At times it appears as if no one is working on my home.
A. There may be periods of inactivity while we are waiting for inspections, materials or the next craftsman to work on your home. Other times there may be an item being completed that is not noticeable without intimate knowledge of the construction process. Please be assured that the completion of your home in a timely manner is a priority for us.
Q. Should I lock in my mortgage?
A. Because everyone’s financial situation is different, we are unable to advise you as to when or if you should lock in your mortgage. There are also many factors that affect the permitting and construction schedules of your home, including but not limited to materials, labor and weather. We suggest that you discuss lock-in programs with your mortgage consultant or financial advisor.
Q. I’ve noticed a few items in my home that need to be addressed. When will these items be taken care of?
A. Your Construction Manager and other members of the SeaGate team are frequently in and out of your new home performing the many different inspections that occur during the building process. During these inspections items are noted and forwarded to each subcontractor. There are then scheduled finishing periods for your new home when subcontractors will address any items in the appropriate order as the home nears completion.
Items that typically get taken care of just prior to completion:
- Exterior Doors: Dents, gaps, weather-stripping, painting and temporary lock replaced.
- Interior Doors/Closet Doors/Cabinet Doors: Gaps at top or bottom, misalignment and operation, missing hardware or trim.
- Windows: Locks, frames, glass, operation and cleaning.
- Screens: Installed on all operable windows and sliding glass doors unless doors are behind lanai screen enclosures.
- Drywall: Inspected for holes, waves or uneven finish.
- Paint: Interior and exterior checked for coverage and paint removed from any surfaces, if necessary.
- Bath Accessories: Inspected for damage, location and caulked.
- Stucco: Inspected for cracks and finish.
- Shoe Moulding on Vinyl Floor Areas: Installed after final interior painting.
- Concrete/Flatwork: Inspected for vertical displacement, also width and depth of cracks, which are very common due to the curing process of concrete.
- Garage Step at Service Door, if applicable: Poured with sidewalk and driveway.
- Garage Floor: Pressure cleaned and inspected for water displacement.
- Grass: Watered after installation and until closing.
- Outlets: Locations checked, wiring completed and plate covers installed.
- Roof: Inspected deflection and workmanship.
Q. I’ve noticed some things in my home that are different from the model.
A. Code changes and changes in the supplier or manufacturer most often account for differences.
Q. When will my home be completed?
A. Our construction schedules allow for 4 to 6 months, however, there are a variety of factors that affect your home’s construction schedule on a daily basis. We will be sending you a letter approximately 45 to 75 days prior to the anticipated closing to help you begin making the final arrangements for the closing of your new home.
Q. When will I be given a date for closing?
A. Closing dates are typically scheduled once the counter tops have been installed and your driveway has been completed. Usually when these milestones occur you are approximately 30-45 days from closing. You will be contacted by our Closing Department to schedule the date, time and location for the closing.
