What to expect when building a home

Request a Brochure
Posted: October 17, 2016 - Homebuyer's Blog

Building a new home with Hartz Homes is exciting and rewarding. It’s your chance to get just what you want. You can create the home that fits your family’s needs perfectly.

This process does not happen overnight. It involves a process that Hartz Homes has been using for over 50 years in the Chicago market. After building more than 15,000 homes, Hartz has perfected a system that works well for everyone involved.

Setting the proper expectations for our buyers is the first priority. The buyers need to know what decisions need to be made and when. It’s also good for them to know the sequence of events, from the day they choose a model to the day they move in.

The construction process is supervised by a Hartz Homes Superintendent who is on site every day. Read on to learn about the process that Hartz Homes will use to build your new home.

Pick your model

You first want to select the home you want to build. You should visit the various Hartz Homes communities and view the models. Most of the models can be built in any of our subdivisions. Your Hartz Homes sales consultant can work with you to modify the floorplans to meet your specific needs.

Select a lot

Now it’s time to choose a lot in the Hartz Homes community that you like best. You’ll need to select a lot that will accommodate the model you picked. You should use a deposit to hold the lot until you are ready to complete a contract to build the home.

Visit the Design Center

You will get a one-on-one consolation with our Designer at the Hartz Homes Design Center, located in Woodridge, Il. The Design Center displays all the most sought-after features, including appliances, fixtures, countertops, cabinets, flooring, and lighting. This is where you really make your house a home by completely customizing your selections.

Permits and paperwork

Once this stage starts, you can pass the torch to the experts. Hartz Homes pays all the fees and applies for a permit. Although it can take several weeks for the permit to be issued, know that during this time blueprints are finalized, surveys are made, materials are ordered, and subcontractors are being issued paperwork. Just because the foundation isn’t being dug, does not mean that nothing is happening!

The site is prepared

Expect a lot of back hoes and heavy equipment to come at this stage. Workers will be busy clearing, excavating, and leveling your lot. Then, they’ll outline the footprint of your home with stakes. It’ll be the first time that you’ll be able to see the rough shape of your home on your property and can be exhilarating.

Footings, foundation and framing

The “three Fs” stand for footings, foundation, and framing. You’ll hear your Hartz Homes Superintendent talk about “pouring the footers” and that entails pouring concrete to support your home’s foundation. Once footers are in place and have passed inspection, the workers will pour the concrete slab of your foundation. Then, your home will have a stable structure for framing.

As the name implies, the floors, walls, and roof will be “framed” out with wood. You can think of this as the skeleton of your home. Once rough framing is complete, an inspector will come out again to verify that everything has been done to code. After that, exterior finishes like plywood and house wrap will be applied to seal off the inside from the outside. This stage requires major structural work. Keep in mind that delays might happen as this phase is very dependent on the weather.

Under roof to rough inspection

Now that your home has its basic structure, workers can begin filling it with the things that make it function and look like a home. Experts will install important mechanicals like heating and cooling units, plumbing lines, and electrical systems. Once that work is done, the rough inspection occurs.

Ready to finish

Insulation goes in next.  But, before the drywall goes up, you will have the opportunity for a “Pre-Drywall Walk-Through” with your Hartz Homes Superintendent. Then begins the phase where your home takes on its personality. Flooring will be going in, cabinets will be hung, trim and moldings, and the driveway is usually installed during this period. Most homeowners will smile at this stage since the site will finally look like the home you envisioned months ago.

Fixtures and Appliances

Delivery trucks will make frequent stops at your home during this end stage. That’s because now is the time when sub-contractors install faucets, countertops, light fixtures, plugs, and appliances.

Closing – Congratulations!!

There are just a couple things you’ll need to do before you formally close and move in. After your home is complete, you’ll do a “Walk Through” of the home and make a “punch list” of things you’ll want Hartz Homes to do. Now…drumroll please…the moment you’ve been waiting for, closing, is here! Welcome home!

For more information on the construction timeline go to the Hartz Homes website and click on “What to Expect” at the top of the page.

 

Please check out these new home communities from Hartz Homes:
Armitage Pointe of Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bella Vista Townhomes of Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Heather Glen of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Hibernia of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Lago Vista of Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Leigh Creek of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Manchester Cove of Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Marquis Pointe of Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Marywood Meadows of Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Nantucket Lakes of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Oliviabrook of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Park West of Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Playa Vista of Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Sky Harbor of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Whisper Creek of Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)

Hartz Homes has new home communities in:
Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Aurora, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
New Lenox (Chicago area new home construction)
Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Oakbrook Terrace (Chicago area new home construction)