Our New Home in Waxahachie, Texas

This web site records the construction of our new home in Waxahachie, Texas.

Custom Elevation

Time Line

April 2016

04/23/16:  Lot Hold Intiated for $2,000.

04/22/16:  Decided Upon Using El Dorado as basis for Floorplan.

May 2016

05/19/16:  El Dorado Negotiations Initiated.

June 2016

06/01/16:  Signed Purchase Order of $449,635 for Customized El Dorado.  Base price was $408,900.  Total upgrades are $40,735 + $15,000 Allowance.

06/15/16:  Signed Intial Contract of $449,635 and Put Down Earnest Money of $44,964.  Lot hold of $2,000 returned.  Total upgrades are $40,735 + $15,000 Allowance.

06/19/16:  Initial pre-approval submitted from DFW Texas Mortgage for $480,000 price and load of $384,000.

06/21/16:  Prime Lending (Preferred Lender) pre-approval submitted for $475,000 price and loan of $380,000.

July 2016

07/10/16:  Initial Plan Red Line Meeting

07/13/16:  Revised Prime Lending (Preferred Lender) pre-approval submitted for $521,000 price and loan of $416,800.

07/15/16:  Orientation Meeting at Design Gallery

07/27/16:  Contract Amendment of $452,115 for red lne meeting design changes.  Total upgrades are $43,215 and a $15,000 Design Center allowance.

August 2016

08/07/16:  Follow Up Plan Red Line Meeting

08/16/16:  Intial Design Gallery Selection Meeting

08/16/16:  Lighting & Electrical Selection Meeting.

08/17/16:  Contract Amendment of $452,115 for final structural changes.  Total upgrades are $40,735 and a $15,000 Design Center allowance.

08/22/16:  Finalized Design Gallery Selections (Granite, Flooring, Paint, Cabinets) at $30,494 less $15,000 for a total of $15,494.

08/23/16:  Finalized Floor Plan.

08/25/16:  Lighting and Low Voltage Selections Finalized at $10,289.

September 2016

09/06/16:  Contract Amendment of $477,898 for Design Center and C&B Electrical Selections.  Total upgrades are $83,998 before allowance and $68,998 after.

09/16/16:  Groundbreaking.

09/27/16:  Meeting with Construction Supervisor.

October 2016

10/05/16:  Contract Amendment of $478,718 for exterior doors with French Blinds.   Total upgrades are $84,818 before allowance and $69,818 after.

10/08/16:  Form Boards Are Up.

10/17/16:  The plumbing is initially set.  Stub Out to Utility Room Sink was initially missing.

November 2016

11/14/16:  The foundation prep work is complete.

11/15/16:  The foundation is poured.

11/18/16:  Foundation Rough Grade.

11/23/16:  Framing Started.

11/27/16:  Wall Framing Completed.

December 2016

12/03/16:  Roof Framing is Complete.

12/07/16:  Windows Are In & Sheathing is Up

12/10/16:  AC is in & Plumbing is Started

12/21/16:  Debris Cleared Away

12/22/16:  Roof Complete

12/28/16:  Stone Delivered

12/30/16:  Sheet Rock Delivered

January 2017

01/04/17:  Insulation Installed

01/10/17:  Pre Sheet Rock Inspection

01/11/17:  Brick Delivered

01/12/17:  Pre Sheet Rock Walk Through (estimated completion 02/28/17 - 03/17/17)

01/24/17:  Contract Amendment of $479,408 for additional electrical upgrades.   Total upgrades are $85,508 before allowance and $70,508 after.

01/18/17:  Brick and Stone Masonry is begun.

February 2017

02/02/17:  Brick and Stone Masonry is complete.

02/04/17:  Cleanup of Brick and Stone Debris.

02/07/17:  Sheetrock Begins

02/11/17:  Sheetrock Complete

02/15/17:  Interest Rate Locked at 4.375% (with Floatdown to 4.0% Option) on 30 Year Conventional Loan of $383,773 with 20% Down ($95,943).

02/20/17:  Contract Amendment of $479,716 for missed tile accents.   Total upgrades are $85,816 before allowance and $70,816 after.

02/22/17:  Wood Flooring is Down

02/28/17:  House appraised for $480,000.

March 2017

03/01/17:  Contract Amendment of $480,091 for moving switches.  Total upgrades are $86,191 before allowance and $71,191 after.

03/02/17:  Cabinets are In (Except Wet Bar & Study Shelf)

03/04/17:  Cabinets are Stained (Except Wet Bar & Study Shelf)

03/06/17:  Loan amount set at $383,526 with 20% Down ($95,882).  Sale price shown as $479,408 because $683 check applied as a credit.

03/07/17:  Septic Installed

03/09/17:  Tile Installation Begins

03/11/17:  Tile Installation Ends (Except Master Tub Surround & Kitchen Back Splash)

03/11/17:  Exterior is painted

03/14/17:  Granite Installation Begins

03/15/17:  Granite Installation Complete (Except Powder Room)

03/16/17:  Plumbing is Installed

03/17/17:  House is cleaned and Prepped for Floor Finishing

03/29/17:  Granite Installation is Complete.

April 2017

04/01/17:  Floors are Scraped and Stained.

04/08/17:  Study Bookcase is Complete.

04/12/17:  Forms for Driveway, sidewalk, heat pump pads, and patio extension complete.

04/13/17:  Driveway, sidewalk, heat pump pads, and patio are poured.

04/14/17:  Energy Test - Passed 2009 but not 2012 or 2015.

04/14/17:  Steve Allcorn, our realtor, has Sandlin fix the gutters at his expense. 

04/17/18:  Appliances are installed.

04/19/17:  Sprinkler system installed and AC installation completed.

04/21/17:  Landscaping Begun.

04/23/17:  Landscaping Completed.

04/26/17:  Final Inspection.

04/27/17:  Final Walkthrough

03/06/17:  Closing with a loan of $383,526 with 20% Down ($95,882).  Sale price shown as $479,408 because $683 check applied as a credit.  Closing costs of $3,979 and net prepays of $283 ($1,424 in Insurance and HOA and a $1,141 credit for builder’s share of 2017 taxes).  Also $500 paid up fron for the appraisal.

04/28/17:  Final Cleaning and varnishing of wood floors and punch list items.

04/29/17:  Wood floors are dry from varnishing.

04/30/17:  We see the completed home.  A few punch list items still remain.

© Richard Murphy 2016 & 2017