February 10, 2015

 

We are Officially Homeowners...Again!!

 

 

Our Oberlin Terrace

 

Well bloggers, this is it, today was closing day and we are so happy and grateful! Closing went smoothly. A lot of paperwork and handing over a check, but in exchange we were given the keys to our new home!

 

I can't really explain the wave of emotions that I've experienced today. Of course, as soon as we left settlement we went to our new home and ran around like a bunch of kids on Christmas morning, lol.

 

Today was a long day but I would do it all over again to get this end result.

 

Once again I have to commend Ryan Homes on a job well done. Our SR's Brandon and Sean, our loan officers Greg and Thyonne, and our PM Ross and his second in command, Jacque, thank you so so so so much! You all exemplify customer service and have gone above and beyond in helping us.

 

Starting tomorrow, we'll be moving, so I may be off the radar for a little bit. I'll try to keep you all posted on the progress as much as I can. I can't wait for the first delivery and installation of things.

 

I especially can't wait to decorate and make our house a home. I've got so many ideas and I love working with a blank canvass.

 

Til next time bloggers!

February 5, 2015

 

Final Walk-Thru

 

 

 

Today was our walk-thru. It wasn't too long. We made sure that everything in the home worked properly.

 

We were given our home owner's manual with all the information that we would need in order to really get to know our home.

 

Nothing really to big to report on this front. I now know where the shut off valves are, but other than that the walk-thru went off without a hitch.

 

We didn't notice anything out of place or not done properly. I'm sure as the house settles we will start to see nail pops and other things along those lines.

 

At this point, we're just ready to get our keys and move in!

 

Til next time bloggers! 

 



January 31, 2015

The Countdown has Begun

 

 

Good afternoon fellow Bloggers! I know it's been a few weeks but there's nothing new to report on the home front except for that we have started counting down til closing!

 

We're still scheduled to close on the 10th and got some last minute requests from NVR about some paperwork but other than that we are good to go. We have our final walkthrough on the 5th and hopefully that process will go smoothly.

 

I'm excited, anxious, nervous, and happy all at the same time.

 

Not looking forward to the moving process as a lot of our belongings are in storage right now. The unpacking part is what I dread the most.

 

What I'm looking forward to however is the shopping process!

 

Who's volunteering to help me move, don't all speak up at once, LOL!

 

For now, here are a few pics of the finished exterior of our home. We have grass. The landscaping leaves a lot to be desired but we are in the Winter months, so in Ryan Homes' defense, I'm sure the pickings were slim at the local nurseries.

 

Til next time bloggers!

 

 

My favorite view of our home. I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at this. I can't wait until spring so I can change out the landscaping. Everything looks so bland right now. The trees that they planted are dormant because of the weather so I'm not sure what they'll look like once they bloom. Funny story, there's a pond that sits behind our home with a family of beavers in it. They have been pilfering various trees in the neighborhood so I won't be surprised if one of our trees "go missing".

I tried to take an angled shot but the light pole was in the way.

Side view of our home. We're thinking of putting two large potted plants on either side of the garage. I think it would give the garage a nicer look.

The driveway. The boyfriend stayed in the truck.

 

 



January 16, 2015

Almost There...

 

TGIF Bloggers! Sorry for the late update. I was supposed to have some newer pictures for you last Friday but due to scheduling conflicts and cleaning going on at the house, we weren't able to see it.

 

However, we met up with Ross, our PM this morning and walked through the home. I just have to continuously give kudos to Ross because he's given us nothing but exemplary service since our first introduction. He's knowledgeable and has always responded to our emails and inquiries.

 

Today was a very good day. We walked through the entire home and we were amazed by what we saw. The flooring was completely done and looks great, the carpet was laid in the upstairs bedrooms as well as downstairs, our appliances and lighting fixtures are in, and our garages door motors have been installed.

 

Progress has been made and we don't have too much more to go. With every day that passes, our closing date gets closer. I can't wait until that day.

 

For now, here are some updated pictures of our home. Have a good weekend Bloggers!

 

 

 

View of the foyer from the front door. Floors are still a little dusty.

 

View of the stairs and the floor.

 

View of the second story "catwalk". I really like that feature.

View of the foyer leading into the family room and kitchen.

View of the top of the stairs.

 

View of the uncovered granite with the hutch and the flooring.

View of the kitchen from the family room. LOVE this!

View of the kitchen from the morning room.

Kitchen island and morning room.

Gas cooktop and microwave.

Double oven and bar area of the kitchen.

Another view of the kitchen.

Close up view of the gas cook top.

Say cheese!! View of the kitchen sink with dishwasher and bar area.

Double ovens.

 

Powder room.

View into the formal dining room. They look like they're having some serious conversations over there.

Formal living room.

The boyfriend's office.

 

View of the stairs leading to the basement.

 

Family room.

 

The boys bathroom.

 

Bedroom #1.

 

Bedroom #2

 

Guest bedroom.

 

Master bedroom. He looks like he's really doing something on that phone.

Master sitting room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



January 7, 2015

 Locked Out!

 

Afternoon Bloggers! Just a quick update with pictures to follow some time this weekend. I talked with my PM Ross (He is the GREATEST) via email yesterday just to check in and see how the progress on our home is coming along.

 

I had figured that with the snow and the weather and the closing and delays of school that not a lot would have been done if at all. Well, I was wrong!

 

Ross told me that they were able to come and lay down the carpet as well as a majority of the hardwood floors done. Completion of the flooring would be at some point today. During the course of next week, they'll be going back over everything with a fine toothed comb to repair and touch-up anything.

 

Now, the boyfriend calls himself going on a covert mission at "zero dark-thirty" yesterday night to check on the house and SADLY we are now officially locked out!

 

The lights were on when he pulled up and happily enough he discovered that our driveway had been laid. Both garage doors were locked as well as the front door (he thought about climbing through a window but I advised against that, lol). All of the lights were on.

 

We have carpet in the upstairs living quarters and finished basement rec room only. We have hardwood flooring everywhere else. Our banisters have been stained as well. You all thought that I was bad as a neighborhood stalker. The boyfriend is worse than me!

 

I'm meeting up with Ross tomorrow afternoon to go in and check out what's been done in our home.

 

Also, I talked with Brandon our sales representative who advised me that we have a soft date of Feb 10, 2015 for closing. No time scheduled as of yet. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

I look forward to sending you all some updated pictures this weekend at some point. Til next time Bloggers!



January 3, 2015



And then there was Light...and granite...and a shower frame!
 

Good evening Bloggers and Happy New Year! I hope that everyone's Christmas was wonderful and that you all got to spend it with your children, friends, and family.

Sorry it's taken me so long to update the blog. With Christmas and the new year I'm just now finding the time to sit down and catch you all up on the great things that have been going on at the "OB" (Oberlin Terrace).

We once again found ourselves "in the neighborhood" and were happy to see that we had outside lights! Our garage and front door lights were not only installed, they were on (mental note, to come by at night and take pictures of the house with the lights on).

Once we stepped inside we noticed that they also had installed the granite. Let me just say that I'm extremely happy with our choice (Azul Platino).

The boyfriend put together an outline of a 75 in television that he plans to hang up above the fireplace mantle. He is happy to report that once centered and bracketed into place properly he believes that it would look perfect and make a great centerpiece for our family room. Let me just say that I will concede to him on this front as I have full interior decorating control on every other portion of our home except for his study. So, a gargantuan television in the grand scheme of things is something that I can live with. Did I mention that he's looking into a wireless sound system to accompany it!? (HELP).

Speaking of decorating, we were able to go backsplash shopping as well and found two subway tile colors that we are looking at to be laid as backsplash in the kitchen. Subway tile and I have a long history and needless to say I'm OBSESSED with it and so happy that I get to use it in our home. We found a tile and granite store in Columbia, MD. They had a huge variety of different type of tiles in all sorts of color schemes. We were happy that we were able to hold on to our two choices so we could see how either of them played against the granite (can't wait to take those pictures).

Anywho, on to the real reason why you're looking at my blog....PICTURES! Til next time bloggers!

They also painted our door and finished the molding around the top middle window above the "crow's nest".

Garage lights installed and working properly as well.

  

My kitchen with granite. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

 Another view of the kitchen from the middle of the family room.

 My favorite vantage point of the kitchen. You get the full effect from this angle and it's great!
 

A closer view of the granite.

 

The granite countertops where our refrigerator will be placed.

 

This is where the gas cooktop will be.

 

Granite along the bar area and sink area. The sinks are huge.

 

They installed the shower frame as well. I like it but the next picture is the type of shower frame I hope to replace it with after closing.  

 

THIS is the type of shower frame I would really like. I love how it's "frameless" and how tall it is. I feel like it makes the shower look larger and is a better fit for our master bathroom.

The lights in our boys bathroom. The lighting is similar in our master bathroom as well. I'm thinking about replacing the lights in both bathrooms as well and framing out the bathroom mirrors to give everything a more modern and updated look. It's very inexpensive and there's lots of varieties as well.

Recessed light in the rear of the family room.

One of the recessed lights in the family room.

 

Dining room lighting. It's nice but that'll be getting swapped out for a more elegant chandelier fixture within a month of us moving in. Going to have an independent contractor come out as well and install wainscoting as well for a more formal look.

 The boyfriend's rendering of a 75 in television. It's not centered at all in this picture but I think it will work out. I have big plans for those gorgeous windows too.

Another picture of the house. It's really coming together. I can't wait until they're able to lay down the grass and cement the driveway.