Buying Your ICI Home
Five Easy Steps to Buying Your ICI Home
OK, you're ready! You've decided on the community, you've picked out the perfect home site, you know exactly which floor plan you want, how much customization you would like, and you've got your financing lined up. What's next?
Step 1: Make Your Decisions
It's time to go to contract, and in order to do that, you need to make a few decisions regarding your new home up front so that it can be included in your agreement. This is done so that as soon as everyone has signed off, the building process can get started right away! Plans are drawn, a survey ordered, energy calculations secured and roof truss engineered. Here's what you need to know:
- Model name, plan number and lot number
- Exterior elevation
- Garage right or left, as viewed from street
- All structural options like a bonus room or extra square footage that’ll be part of the "foot print", including any additional customization you’d like to include
Step 2: Sign Your Agreement
Signing the Agreement for Sale and Purchase or Construction Agreement marks a very important step in the process and outlines everyone's responsibilities for the construction of your new home. It sets out time line for action, buyer and seller responsibilities, and other general terms and conditions. Make sure your sales consultant thoroughly reviews all the paperwork with you and that you understand every word. Ask questions! It's our job to answer all your questions so that you are comfortable with the process.
It’s a big step, so don't rush!
Step 3: Schedule Your Appointments
You have a few important responsibilities regarding your new home. First, you need to make a design center appointment within the time specified by your agreement. If you are financing your new home, you need to make application to a lender within three days. Once the contract has been fully executed, additional steps must be taken before construction of your new home may begin.
Step 4: Personalize Your Home
After the contract has been fully executed, the color selections, options and upgrade selection process can begin. A meeting will be scheduled at ICI Homes’ Design Center with a design professional to finalize your plans, options and color selections. There you will decide on all the interior finishes. This can be overwhelming but it can also be a lot of fun. Take your time and communicate your personal preferences so the designer can help to create an environment that both suits and pleases you.
Please note that the timeframe for completing selections is one of your contractual requirements because construction of your home cannot begin until your plan is finalized, all the materials are ordered and a building permit is submitted for approval and granted. If you are not able to make your design selections personally, designate a representative to make the choices for you.
The more prepared you are the more fun you will have! Do your best homework BEFORE your design center appointment. Changes made after purchase orders have been released and/or construction has begun are costly and will delay the construction process.
Step 5: Finalize Your Financing
The additional options and colors you select will be added to your agreement. In some cases, a portion of the options may be financed along with the purchase of your home. Note and remit additional deposits due as specified in the agreement and finally, finish up your loan application and submit a copy of your loan commitment to ICI Homes. During this time, all of the purchase orders will be initiated so that as soon as your building permit is received, all of the components of building your new home can be assembled in a “START” package and released to your builder.