New Construction Homes
- Thread starter Clones85'
- Start date
Before you close, hire a licensed, professional home inspector. Usually about $3-400. Many people do this when buying an existing home that has been occupied, but almost no-one does it with a new home. Do it. It is money well spent.
Altoona rocks. Good city infrastructure, no overbuild.
I think choosing a builder would depend on seeing some of their current work--and checking in on your own construction as it progresses. I've heard of folks moving into a house, then discovering little things, like that the carpet hid a hole in a remote corner that the carpenters hadn't bothered to finish off...
Also look at custom building a house - it's not as expensive as it looks. We built with Allegro Custom Homes and love our house.
my development is rich with them.....LOVING the jogging path running right up to my house. Thank you, inventor of spandex man.
Our house was finished here in Johnston in March...we love the area. We're right off of 141 so nothing is hard to get to....but then again the OP once neg rep'd me, so I probably just ruined Johnston for him.:yes:
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We went with Strahan Construction in Ankeny. They build a very good house, run a very good business and live in the same community they build in. That takes some confidence to live along with everyone you just built a house for. We're in the Camden Woods area and love it.
strahan communities -- strahan construction, inc.
strahan communities -- strahan construction, inc.
Nope, why do you ask?
I did a ton of research when looking at folks to build our house and Strahan sold me as much on their approach and the way they run their business as anything. It also didn't hurt that most of the folks supervising the work and running the business were all Iowa State Grads in Con E.
Our place is in the Grimes city limits but we are in Johnston school district, as we are just on the east side of 141. Don't pay the Johnston home price tag but are in Johnston schools if that appeals to you.
Houses for sale in the area, some are still new construction.
And I'd add a +1 to my wife's suggestion of custom building if you have time for the construction process. We got a lot more house for less money that way - when comparing the price tag on houses we looked at that were comparable (or bigger in some cases) than ours.
Houses for sale in the area, some are still new construction.
And I'd add a +1 to my wife's suggestion of custom building if you have time for the construction process. We got a lot more house for less money that way - when comparing the price tag on houses we looked at that were comparable (or bigger in some cases) than ours.
Oh lord....I can probably see your place from mine.......there goes the resale value....:skeptical:
Johnston city services aren't comparable to WDM, Ankeny or Udale. Just horrible. I drive through there a lot and the snow removal is atrocious. They never keep things plowed at night, pretty much stop during the evening. My cul-de-sac in Udale is often plowed better than Merle Hay Rd through Johnston.
I deal with the cities at work too and WDM and Clive are head and shoulders above any of the others. Much more on top of things.
I deal with the cities at work too and WDM and Clive are head and shoulders above any of the others. Much more on top of things.
Some of the best information you can get is from prospective neighbors. Drive through a development that interests you in the evening or on the weekend and strike up a conversation with residents. Tell them you are out looking at houses and ask them how they like living here, and how they like their house. Have they heard of any problems, etc.
I would disagree. I leave the house at 5:45am and I've never went outside without the street being plowed. As a matter of fact, there are times where I wish they would do it a little later since they usually wake me up at like 4am with their plows. It probably depends on where you live in each town.
Ya, they get out early but I'm talking during the evening. 1000 pm at night or so. Nothing. Plus by the time they do get around to plowing, it's compacted and difficult to clear. Kinda like I remember the dreaded "ice polishers" on campus. Do nothing but clear off the top layer of snow leaving a nice thin layer of compacted snow & ice.