Building your Home - The Process from Start to Finish
Building Your Dream Home
Custom Modular Homes
Designing and building a home is an exciting endeavor. To ensure a smooth process, TAPA works closely with our customers from the drawings up to the day you move in. At TAPA we listen to our customers to understand your lifestyle, learn your preferences, and determine a budget. From the setting of the house to the final touches we are there. Designing and building a home has many pieces and requires many people to make the plan on paper become a home on your site. It will be a cooperative undertaking between the home buyer and home builder. This will be a custom home that meets your wants and needs. When building a customer home there will always be unforeseen issues that arise. Our goal is to address and solve these unforeseen issues with you.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the building process:
Can you use plans I have to build my home? Absolutely! Do I need an architect? Absolutely not! Our draftsman will work with your ideas to design your perfect home. They will design your home to your specifications and to meet local building codes.
How long does it take from start to finish? The answer to this is “it all depends.” The designing of the home takes the longest. Once a budget is established and the house is designed the plant will take 4 to 6 weeks to build the home. During that time the site will be prepared to receive the house. After the house is delivered it takes on average 64 days to have a customer in their home.
What about permits? In the contract price the building permits for Sussex County are included. Town and other county permits are not included.
When does the house arrive? The house can arrive 4-6 weeks after the Sales Agreement is agreed to.
How do I finance this home? TAPA Homes, LLC works with Diversified Financial Mortgage to obtain our customers construction-to-permanent financing, Home Equity Line of Credits, and refinancing of existing homes to help pay for the construction costs. TAPA Homes, LLC also accepts Cashiers Checks, wiring of funds, and personal checks (checks must clear before home is ordered).
How does TAPA Homes, LLC get their money? Part of the Sales Agreement (link) is a Draw Schedule which spells out when the monies are disbursed to TAPA Homes, LLC.
When can I go in the house? With in a week or so after the house is set you can schedule a walk through to get a look at your home. The Sales Agreement clearly states that no one (other than our tradesmen) is allowed in the home without a TAPA Homes, LLC representative. There are legal and insurance issues to be considered.
When can I move in? The customer can move in as soon as we have received the Certificate of Occupancy and the Final Draw. On the day the Final Draw is paid to TAPA Homes, LLC a walk-through is done with the customer and a punch list is generated.
What about a warranty? The house comes with a ten year warranty for Major Structural Defects from the modular manufacturer. TAPA Homes, LLC will perform a six month walk-through to address nail pops, cracks, etc. due to settling of the home. All appliances purchased through TAPA Homes, LLC including the HVAC system will have a manufacturer’s warranty.
What about problems after we move in? If there are problems with any aspect of the home after you move in that relates to workmanship i.e. lights not working, water leak, air leak in duct work, etc. the specific tradesman will address that issue up to one year. The Delmarva Peninsula receives many storms in a given year with consistent winds of 50 mph and greater. If shingles, facia, trim materials, etc. come off or are loosened during one of these weather events it will be the responsibility of the home owner to make those repairs. That is considered part of the maintenance and upkeep or a home.
Our Sales Agreement (link) answers these questions and some you have not even thought of. Thank God for lawyers.
We believe in proper expectations will lead to good outcomes. Please understand that building your home is not a science but it is a combination of many professionals working to give you, the customer, what you want. It is a collaborative process. It is a journey that requires the customer, the tradesmen, and TAPA Homes, LLC personnel to be committed to addressing and resolving any and all issuess that may arrive in a fair and reasonable manner. There will be issues.