Welcome Home

Welcome to the Homestretch

FINAL INSPECTION

Expectations

A final inspection is required before an occupancy permit can be issued. During the final inspection, the inspector will confirm your home is complete and that all fire, life and safety items meet the jurisdictional requirements. A final inspection will typically cover the following:

❑ House numbers/address posted in a permanent manner

❑ All exit doors have proper landings, steps, guardrails, and handrails

❑ Well and/or septic permits are final

❑ Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors installed/operating as required

❑ Heating system is operating correctly

❑ Electrical system (breaker panel and main service working and labeled)

❑ Interior stairs (handrails and guardrails)

❑ All appliances are connected and running (exhaust fans operation properly)

❑ Insulation (attic and crawl)

❑ Exterior drainage, backfill, and stormwater controls are in place

Preparation

PROACTIVE PLANNING

Requirements for final inspection can vary based on your unique project and the requirements of the local jurisdiction. Work with your local team to confirm the need for any possible additions to the typical list.

Homeowners often have questions about house number installation; please see some recommendations below:

❑ Jurisdictional Guidelines: Your jurisdiction will usually have specific policies for house numbers. Most requirements stipulate that numbers (not words) be used; that numbers be posted near the main entrance to the house, sometimes the rear door, and the garage if an alley is present.

❑ Rural Properties: There may be special requirements in a rural setting. It’s common to require house numbers at the main road in addition to the exterior of the home.

❑ Installation Tips: Take into consideration what fastener will work best based on the mounting surface and number type. The use of a template will help ensure accuracy.

❑ Important Note: House numbers should be a minimum of 5” and distinguishable enough so that emergency vehicles can quickly locate your home.

CLOSING YOUR HOME

Obtaining Certificate of Occupancy (or CofO)

What is a certificate of occupancy and why do you need it?

❑ A certificate of occupancy serves as proof that your home is legally fit for occupancy.

❑ If you need any help or assistance, or if the inspector calls out any corrections, contact your superintendent immediately.

❑ Upon Successfully passing your building final inspection. Your Certificate of Occupancy can be legally issued by your jurisdiction's building department.

Tips: Improve Your Closing Process

What an exciting time! As we are nearing the end of your project you might find these tips helpful in decreasing stress around the closing process:

❑ Obtain your CofO: Your lender typically requires the CofO to complete the closing of your loan. As soon as you obtain your CofO, send a copy to your lender and Adair. Once your lender has the CofO, they can issue the final payment to Adair.

❑ Maintain your credit balances: It can be tempting as you start thinking about moving to purchase items for the home such as new decor or furniture. We recommend not opening any new credit lines or making a significant increase in your current card balances prior to funding. This can cause issues if your loan amount is maxed out.

❑ Save your documents: Set aside pay stubs and bank statements as underwriters will need the latest copy immediately prior to loan funding. Banks like to see extra money in the bank as a reserve, this can be in the form of 401k funds, IRA, etc.

CHANGES TO YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT

Once financing converts from construction to mortgage there may be a change to your monthly payments.

Insurance Requirements

❑ Insurance timelines: A typical construction loan covers twelve months of ‘course of construction’ insurance.

❑ If needed, contact your insurance provider to learn more about options for extensions or credits if your build varies from the typical twelve months.

❑ Insurance impact on closing: Lenders will often request the homeowner’s insurance policy at the end of the build, prior to financial closing of the home.

Home Orientation Expectations Checklist

As we are nearing the final steps in the process of building your home there will be two meetings with your superintendent on-site.

During your Home Orientation first walk you can expect the following: ❑ Complete a thorough orientation and walkthrough of your new home ❑ Document any issues that need to be addressed ❑ Ask any questions you may have about home features ❑ Set-up second walk and closing timeline

Home Orientation second walk: ❑ Ensure all issues noted are resolved ❑ Deliver your keys to your new home! ❑ Customer care will enroll your home in our builder backed warranty program

TAKE NOTE

Right now, a lot is going on. We encourage you to take notes and save them for your records.

PREPARING FOR MOVING DAY

Moving Day Tips

The big day is approaching; emotions can be all over the place. This is normal. Building a home and moving are both exciting and rewarding. At times it can also be overwhelming and frustrating. If you feel any of those feelings (or all of them), you are in good company.

With our experience helping thousands of new homeowners like yourself through this process, we have picked up a few tips we hope will make your moving experience a little better:

❑ Have a plan for packing and unpacking. You may save a lot of time if you color-code your boxes by room, especially if you are hiring movers.

❑ Consider using blankets or towels under your boxes can also help in the prevention of damage to new floors.

❑ Turn on utilities. You may need to switch over accounts to your new residence. Some examples include, but are not limited to electrical, water, garbage, cable, and internet.

❑ Change your air filter(s). Before moving in, change your air filter(s) to remove dust that has been created throughout the course of the build.

❑ Move your furniture first. These larger items will be easier to move into their proper spaces if you don’t have boxes and other household items in the way.

❑ Update your license, registration, and mailing address. Most states will require an updated driver's license and registration within 30-days. (Detailed instructions on updating your mailing address outlined below.)

❑ Notify businesses where you maintain ongoing monthly payments of your new address.

Tips: Updating Your Mailing Address

The online process for updating your mailing address:

❑ Go to the Official USPS Change of Address® website (https://moversguide.usps.com/mgo/disclaimer) Select Permanent or Temporary

❑ Pay the identity verification fee

❑ Complete the appropriate online form

❑ USPS will email you a confirmation code. Use this code to modify or cancel your request.

How to change your address at the Post Office:

❑ Visit your local Post Office location

❑ Request a free Mover's Guide packet

❑ Fill out the PS Form 3575 found inside the packet

WARRANTY & CUSTOMER CARE

Adair Homes Warranty

An Adair Home is built for life, your life. It’s important to us that you are pleased with the quality of workmanship in your home. Therefore, we stand behind every home we build with a builder funded warranty program.

Many of your questions about your warranty can be answered by reviewing the warranty guide you receive via email after your closing.

For additional information, visit the Adair Homes Warranty portal: ❑ Online at www.adairhomes.com/warranty

Manufacturer Provided Warranty

For information regarding manufacturer warranties:

❑ Most manufacturer warranty information can be found online

❑ There may also be copies of the warranty documents in one of the kitchen drawers

❑ Our Customer Care team will enroll your appliances and notify you once completed

EMERGENCY PROTOCOL

An emergency exists when there is a substantial risk of serious physical damage to the home or a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to its occupants if a defect is not immediately repaired.

❑ Contact Adair Homes immediately if an emergency issue emerges: 360.727.0724

❑ Take reasonable and necessary action to mitigate the emergency until you receive authorization

❑ Review your provided warranty booklet for more information

Customer Care Contact Information

It is our privilege to help our customers build the home they’ve always dreamed of. Our dedicated warranty and customer care teams are passionate about providing you with peace of mind after the build is complete.

❑ Fill out a Customer Care request: www.adairhomes.com/customercare

❑ Call the Customer Care team: 360.727.0724

HOME CARE

Maintenance & Tips For After Move-in

Your home is your happy place, the place where you will build memories and secure your financial future. Our team developed this exterior maintenance schedule to help you take care of your home. This is by no means a complete list, but a great starting point.

ANNUAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

❑ Check the grade around the foundation to ensure it slopes down and away. There should be no standing or pooling water near the house. Fill in any areas that have settled around the foundation.

❑ Inspect gutters for debris, blockage, and leaks. Remove debris from downspouts and gutters, repair as necessary.

❑ Check alignment of gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks to ensure that water is properly diverted away from the structure and foundation. Repair if necessary.

❑ Check landscaping sprinklers to make sure that they don’t spray the siding or form puddles near the foundation. Adjust if necessary.

❑ Check and repair missing mortar in exterior masonry.

❑ Check painted surfaces for cracking, peeling, or fading. Repaint if necessary.

❑ Check the roof for damaged, loose, or missing shingles. Check flashing around roof stacks, vents, skylights, and chimneys and in roof valleys for missing or loose flashing. Repair or replace if necessary.

❑ Trim back trees and other plants to make sure they are not in contact with the structure.

❑ Check for water stains in the attic on the back of the roof sheathing and in the exterior overhangs or soffits. If water stains are present, locate and repair the cause of moisture intrusion.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

❑ Every two months: Check to make sure that interior mechanical ventilation systems (such as bathroom, kitchen, and utility room vent fans) are in good working order. Repair if necessary.

❑ Twice yearly: Check and repair missing, cracked, or peeling caulking or weather-stripping around window sills, door frames, and in siding gaps.

You may have additional considerations relevant to your unique location and property.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WARRANTY

Set a calendar reminder for 10 months after closing to check for any potential issues you might want noted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Surveys

Since 1969, we have built well over 20,000 custom homes. After all these years, we are still looking for ways to constantly improve. Our teams are inspired to deliver a customer experience that is enjoyable and rewarding. To deliver on that goal we need your help. By better understanding your experience we can innovate and improve.

At this point, you have received several surveys about your experience with us. The survey that comes after you have moved-in is the most important survey because it will be an overview of the complete process. It is the longest of all the surveys we will send and we understand that you might be hesitant to fill it out, but please know how much we appreciate and value this feedback.

We want you to #adairlove your home. Because of that, the surveys don’t stop after your move-in survey. You will also receive a final survey approximately one year after you move in. If you have any questions about the survey process, we encourage you to connect with our Customer Care team.

Referrals

Did you know we will gladly compensate you for a referral? Learn more:

IT’S OUR PRIVILEGE

Thank You from the Adair Homes Family

We like to say, “it’s a privilege to help our customers,” and we mean it. We are grateful for the trust you placed in us to build this home with you.

With your home's construction nearing the end, we want to take a moment and say thank you. You have been our partner in this joint home building project, and we wouldn’t be here without you. Likely there have been some highs and some lows, but we have appreciated having you by our side every step of the way.

We hope the information in this book is helpful as you are going through the closing process and in protecting the investment you made for many years to come. Our relationship doesn’t end when you move in. Please lean on us as your resource either through our online resources, filling out a form on our website, or picking up the phone.

Congratulations on this achievement!

It’s a privilege to help our customers.