How This All Started

We had been debating for a while whether or not we wanted to remain in the area we currently live in. We had purchased a home as a short-sale a few years back and we decided to sell while there was a demand in our neighborhood to ensure that we would be able to leave the area if we so desired. For the time being we have been living in an apartment, which works for now, but isn't what we want.

Around mid-June we made a decision as to the region where we wished to relocate. I had been watching the new construction market in that area for a while, and had been looking for newer, though not brand new, homes in the area as well. 

We decided that weekend to visit a Ryan Homes community in the area we thought we wanted to live in. The SR who was there when we went to visit was someone who was filing in and was not particularly knowledgeable about the neighborhood, the incentives and the availability. We were unhappy with this and decided to reach out to a realtor and schedule some showings, however most of the homes we were interested in were under contract already. 

We then determined that it might be beneficial to visit another community to tour the model that we thought we were interested in. The SR for that community was much more knowledgeable and was willing to answer all of our questions even though we were not intending to buy in that development. 

The following Monday we reached out to the main SR at the community that we were interested in and requested some more accurate estimates on the models that we were considering. She was very difficult to work with and not particularly responsive. Additionally, we were not fond of any of the available lots and would have to wait six months or more for any of the lots we were interested in to be released. Based on the generally negative attitude that we received from that SR and the small sizes of the lots (and the front load garages) we decided to proceed with the other community instead. 

On June 24th, we signed our contract for our new Milan. The neighborhood incentives at the time were a free morning room and a free 10x12 composite deck. (Composite is supposedly the only option in our neighborhood, with only one color available, but I have seen at least two of neighbors receive wood decks as part of their build.)

The following are the options that we originally selected: 

We chose color scheme UER, which includes Pebble Clay siding with Sandy Tan shake, Bucks County Ledgestone, Dark Navy shutters and we requested a Dark Navy door instead of Fiery Brown. 

A closer look a the siding, shutter and door colors.

 Bucks County Ledgestone

Our original cabinet choice of Tahoe Cherry Bordeaux and the original granite candidates of Uba Tuba (not my choice) and Baltic Brown (a compromise).

 After toying with a few different lot options (including one I really wanted but our house wouldn't fit on) we chose lot 76 (the top right corner of the site plan).

A view of our lot from the street

A panorama of the retention pond behind our lot.

The view from the back of our lot towards the street.

And finally, and perhaps most importantly our elevation. The Milan elevation that we most wanted was not available in our development, so we selected the elevation D with partial stone. The loft has a 1 foot bump out with this elevation and bedroom 3 has a 2 foot bump out.  I have yet to find another example of this elevation online.