New Home Communities at Phoenix.org April 15, 2018 by Times Media Group

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

New Home Communities Meritage offers energy efficiency with smarter built homes BY SHERRY JACKSON

or the sixth consecutive year, Valleybased Meritage Homes has been awarded the Energy Star Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence award. Meritage Homes, which has been building homes in the Phoenix market since its inception in 1985, is the seventh-largest public home builder in the United States with more than 90,000 homes built. It is behind Innovation Park at Eastmark in East Mesa. In Chandler, Meritage Homes will soon be selling a new townhome community, Paseo Vista Village. In Gilbert, two new Meritage communities are also coming soon, Lakeview Trails at Morrison Ranch and Velvendo. “We were the first production builder to build every home to meet or exceed the Energy Star standard,” said CR Herro, vice president of innovation at Meritage Homes. “I really believe in the Energy Star program as it’s a set of

Inside

PHOENIX.ORG NEW HOME COMMUNITIES Features

Kitchen Tech

New to the Market

Community Map

(Photo courtesy Meritage Homes)

For the 2018 International Builders Show in Florida, Meritage built a “reNEWable Living Home,” partnering with experts to exhibit a new building and living standard for families.

unbiased best practices in the industry and a source of consumer confidence. Our recognition signifies that we’re a credible example of a best builder and it’s quite a complement.” Herro’s title is somewhat unique, especially in the homebuilding industry.

“Ten years ago, when the real estate market in the East Valley wasn’t so great, we recognized that home buyers had plenty of choices and many were ‘guessing’ at what home would work best,” Herro See

Meritage on page 4

On Phoenix.org/NewHome Dealmakers: Belfiore and Rose The Cays at Ocotillo

Belmont at Somerset to feature spacious homes BY SHERRY JACKSON

s farmland gives way to new home communities, the 230-acre property at the southeast corner of Greenfield and Pecos roads in Gilbert will soon follow suit. It will become Somerset, a master-planned subdivision developed by a partnership of the LeSueur and Barney families. The LeSueur family has owned the farmland since the early 1990s and has enjoyed farming and recreation on the site. They have come together to create Somerset’s master plan. The two have been involved in other commercial and residential ventures across the Valley. The two families will make “horizontal improvements” to the property to ensure the design vision is realized. “We always had the mindset that this property would ultimately be developed

into something special,” Ty LeSueur said. “We are excited that this community was designed with families in mind. Family is very important to us.” The community’s first phase will include 94 lots. Fifty-three of the homes will be built by California-based developer The New Home Company, which is also building homes at Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley, Silverleaf in Scottsdale and has future projects in Gilbert and Chandler. The additional 41 lots have not been committed to a home builder. The first 53 lots, dubbed Belmont at Somerset, will be a gated community with homes ranging from 4,117 to 5,295 square feet. The name is French for “beautiful mountain.” “It’s a fitting reflection of our European architecture and the surrounding San Tan and Superstition Mountain ranges,” said Pat Moroney, president of the

Arizona division of The New Home Company. “We think Belmont is a place where many families in the area will be proud to call home.” Belmont will feature single-story (Rendering courtesy The New Home Company) homes, some with Presales for the 53 lots at Belmont at Somerset in Gilbert begin in April. “pop-up” options The neighborhood will be gated, with homes ranging from 4,117 to 5,295 for a partial second square feet. story and basements, with architectural styles rang“Building homes at Somerset was paring from Spanish Monterey to French ticularly attractive to us given the comFarmhouse. These spacious homes, munity’s central location in Gilbert, the designed by Bassenian Lagoni Architects, fastest-growing city in metropolitan will offer three to seven bedrooms, three Phoenix,” Moroney said. “Our Belmont and a half to five and a half bathrooms buyers will appreciate the expansive and three to four-car garages. Pricing for the homes, which has not been finalized, See Belmont on page 2 is expected to begin in the $700,000s.

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

THE DEALMAKERS

REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURES

Defects in Arizona residential property BY JIM BELFIORE AND JORDAN ROSE

icture this: After nine long months of searching, you finally found the perfect home for your growing family. The price is right, its location is ideal, and it has a nice big yard for the kids. Just as you’re beginning to feel settled in, your new neighbor warns you of the registered sex offender down the street. Or maybe, you just discovered a substantial amount of mold behind the bathroom paneling. Are you concerned? Probably. Should the seller have said something? Maybe. If you’re like most Americans, you’ve just made the single largest investment of your lifetime—and you expect that it will be safe for your family. It may surprise many Arizona buyers to learn there are some things they would probably consider to be major factors when looking for a new home that sellers don’t actually need to disclose. For example, Arizona law doesn’t require sellers to disclose to a homebuyer that a homicide

Belmont from page 1 homes ideal for large, growing families that are close to excellent schools, upscale retail and set in an intimate, peaceful setting with a quality social infrastructure.” Shared community amenities will include numerous neighborhood pocket parks and tot lots, ramadas, basketball and tennis courts, walking trails and a neighborhood lake. The LeSueur family tried to create larger lots (some up to half-acre) and will select home builders who cater to families, LeSueur said. “We believe The New

occurred in the home, that the home was occupied by someone exposed to HIV, or that the home is located in the area of a sex offender. Sellers are only required to disclose to buyers known facts concerning the property that materially affect its value. So, what is “material?” Arizona courts have determined that a material fact is a fact that a reasonable person would find as important when purchasing a property. For example, latent defects, or defects that are hidden and not readily observable, must be disclosed when material. If your agent received a residential seller’s property disclosure statement (SPDS), commonly referred to as a “spuds,” you probably saw a checklist of past and present problems affecting the property. The SPDS is divided into six sections: property and ownership; building and safety information; utilities; environmental information; sewer/wastewater treatment; and other conditions and factors that concern the property and might affect the buyer’s decision-making process,

the value of the property, or its use. Common property defects that should be disclosed in these sections include knowledge of mold, leaky pipes or a gaping hole in the roof. It is important to note that while sellers are obligated to disclose all known material facts JIM BELFIORE JORDAN ROSE about a property to buyers, completion of a SPDS form is not a speedy settlement. If necessary, legal a requirement imposed by law. Rather, action for breach of contract, breach of it is provided by the Arizona Association the duty of good faith, fraud or other of Realtors to assist in making the disclo- causes of actions may be pursued. To be sures, and therefore may not be totally successful, a buyer will need to demonencompassing. If you are a seller, it is rec- strate that the seller had knowledge of ommended that you seek legal guidance the defect or material information that to assist you in meeting your disclosure was not disclosed. obligations. Omar Abdallah assisted with this article. If you purchased a home and discovJim Belfiore is founder and president of ered a material defect you believe the Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, Arizona’s seller misrepresented or failed to disclose leading independent real estate research during the transaction, you may be able firm. Jordan Rose is the founder and presto seek recovery from the seller. A sim- ident of Rose Law Group pc, a full-service ple demand letter from an experienced business and real estate firm and the largest real estate attorney may be sufficient for woman-owned law firm in Arizona .

Home Company is capable of delivering a quality home that will allow families to fully enjoy the Somerset community.” For Somerset, LeSueur said they wanted a “little something different than what we typically see in the Southeast Valley. We were pretty particular on what we wanted for the landscaping, entry features and walls. The entry features and amenities will exhibit timeless European architecture. Additionally, we have focused on a planting palette that will allow layered and lush landscaping to accentuate the community and complement the architectural design.” “While we certainly live in a desert

climate, we’re trying to be sensitive to the environment,” LeSueur added. “We will be using reclaimed water in most of the landscaping areas and we’re creating plenty of outdoor spaces to allow for family gatherings and activity centers.” Eventually, the existing farm will go away as part of the overall development plan; but for now, its activity will continue for the next several years. Hay barns, an arena and farm-related buildings within the project will be the last areas to be developed, LeSueur said. Once completed, Somerset will have 330 homesites with a mixture of builders, including custom home sites and a

lock and leave product geared toward mature adults. LeSueur said it’s highly possible that family members will opt to build a new home within the Somerset community. “This is definitely a legacy project for families,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together as a family on that property and we want to see that legacy of family togetherness with other families carry on.” Presales for Belmont at Somerset will begin this month. Models are expected to be completed in late May. For more information visit, thenewhomecompany.com.

Experience you can count on. Belfiore Real Estate Consulting is Arizona’s leading, independent real estate research firm. The company provides data products and advisory services to those tracking current market trends- whether at a macro Metro Phoenix, Metro Tucson, or Northern Arizona level or within a particular community or specific competitive market area. Leading homebuilders, developers, appraisers, brokers, lenders, title companies, landscape management companies, retailers, and investors rely on Belfiore’s stats and projections.

As a full-service firm, Belfiore’s Team of analysts produces off-the-shelf advisory and data-tracking products, as well as Custom Market Feasibility Studies and Asset Management Reports. Clients have access to award-winning, comprehensive, webbased software that contains five distinct pricing metrics for actively-marketed Arizona communities, incentive levels, inventory levels, lot information for inactive, planned pipeline communities, land and lot sales comparables, and much more.

Analysts visit and update data within every new home community in the Phoenix-area, Tucson-area, and Northern Arizona a minimum of six times annually, updating information with the company’s proprietary software. 3930 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044 480.706.1002 belfioreconsulting.com

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

TECHNOLOGY:

STIRRING THINGS UP IN THE KITCHEN

BY SHERRY JACKSON

echnology, as we know, is constantly changing. Every day we come across new innovations to make our life easier and our home more connected. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the kitchen. Refrigerators can now tell you when you’re out of eggs, a kitchen island can cook and charge a cellphone, there’s a 3-D printer that makes pancakes (pancakebot.com) and ovens connected to Amazon’s Alexa. “Buyers are beginning to be focused on integrating connected home features that allows you to take your home with you wherever you are, whether that’s on your sofa or on a business trip,” said Craig LeMessurier, senior director of corporate communications, KB Home. “New tech features and smart appliances increase convenience and conserve energy and water, with ovens you can preheat from the grocery store, delayed-start and water-saving dishwashers and vacation mode settings on refrigerators.” Here’s a look at just a few of the innovations coming to a kitchen near you.

Multisurface kitchen island

Expected to be available fall 2018, GE’s Monogram line is introducing a new kitchen island concept that packs food preparation, cooking, traditional countertop usage and mobile device charging into one eye-catching, yet inconspicuous, unit. “It’s the ‘wow’ factor that really strikes you,” said Ed Mammorella, Monogram marketing manager. “For years, consumers have imagined an unassuming countertop that’s also a cooktop and more,

CUSTOMIZED KITCHEN

MULTISURFACE KITCHEN ISLAND

but to actually bring this idea to life has been a remarkable undertaking for our engineers and inventors. We are redefining what the island can bring to our kitchens by bringing more to the island. We already use them to make spaces seem larger and let the room breathe, and by joining the countertop and cooktop with storage, seating and other conveniences, it elevates this appliance category to new levels of elegance and enjoyment.” The Monogram Island is distinguished by a 36-inch induction cooktop concealed beneath a glass-ceramic pane. The glass ceramic is attractive, extremely easy to clean and cool to the touch. The island will also include a warming zone to keep recently prepared foods warm until ready to serve, optional wireless cooking probe, pan presence sensors that heat to the size of the cookware and shut off when none is present and a wireless charging zone with Qi inductive technology for recharging mobile devices.

Customized kitchen

GE has also introduced Monogram

Columns, customized refrigerators and freezers that can be mixed, matched and relocated to reflect the style, personality and needs of the owner. “Cookie cutter doesn’t cut it in the kitchen anymore,” said Sheri Gold, national showroom and design manager,

Additional features include accent lighting that highlights glass shelving, an autofill pitcher that sits on the center shelf to automatically refill cold, filtered water. There are also antimicrobial nano-coatings on glass shelving that cause liquid spills to bead versus spread for easy cleanup, customizable panels that sit flush for seamless sightlines and connected features that include nighttime snack-mode lighting, temperature control and notifications when the door is left open or when the water filter needs to be replaced.

Connected refrigerator

This spring, Samsung is releasing its newest version of the Family Hub refrigerator with a wide range of smart features including syncing up food storage with meal preparation, keeping family members better connected and organized, and providing enhanced entertainment. “Since Family Hub’s introduction in 2016, consumers have embraced it as their home’s digital command center CONNECTED REFRIGERATORS to help manage food, family and fun. We’ve been listening closely to current users and created a new Family Hub that’s even smarter and more advanced than before,” said John Herrington, senior vice president, general manager of home appliances, Samsung Electronics America. “The integration of Bixby and SmartThings into the Family Hub is bringing a new level of intelligent connectivity into the room where people spend the most time: the kitchen.” The new Family Hub works with the SmartThings ecosystem, allowing users Monogram. “When it comes to the heart to control and monitor their connected of the home, it’s all about personalization home from the Family Hub screen. The and giving owners something that truly SmartThings app seamlessly connects the reflects their lifestyle.” Family Hub with hundreds of Samsung Monogramed Columns enable deand third-party compatible connected signers to separate appliances, double devices. So now, in addition to seeing up on refrigeration or freezer space and what’s inside their fridge from the groeven tuck away appliances that are used cery store or leaving a note on the white less often. For retrofits, two Monogram board to remind the kids to clean their Columns are also designed to seamlessly rooms after school, users see who is at the fit 42-inch or 48-inch openings without the need for cabinet or electrical modifications. See

Kitchen tech on page 6

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

NEW COMMUNITY BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

he $90 million community, The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo, unveiled an expansive 9,500-square-foot clubhouse and two new model homes during a recent opening event. The clubhouse and the homes are part of the recently completed second phase. Fifty percent of the 70 homes in the second phase, priced from the mid-$200,000s, are sold. Seven of the 76 homes in the first phase remain. Two future phases are planned to include 64 more residences for a total of 278 homes. “The Cays is one of the only forsale and move-in ready multifamily opportunities with the largest resort-style amenity offering in Chandler, and it’s exciting to see the continued demand as we complete the second phase,” said Alana Mann, president and owner of The Statesman Group. “We’re seeing a wide range of buyers including downsizers, second-home investors and empty nesters that are drawn to the The Cays for the lifestyle and turn-key living they can’t find anywhere else in the East Valley.” Residents have access to resortstyle amenities at The Cays, including the clubhouse that

THE CAYS UNVEILS CLUBHOUSE, TWO MODEL HOMES

features a gourmet community kitchen, two-sided fireplace, a media center and social lounge, yoga studio, billiards and shuffleboard located at the heart of the property. Other amenities include an 1,800-square-foot fitness center with locker rooms and private steam showers, yearround heated swimming pool surrounded by private cabanas, an outdoor kitchen with gas barbecues and a bar, fireplaces and lush landscaping. In addition, the newest model homes at The Cays showcase two popular floorplans, including The Isla Vista, a 1,011-square-foot home with one bedroom plus den and one-and-a-half baths; and The Montecito, a 1,348-squarefoot home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Cays features designer-selected finishes like large master bedrooms, split floorplans for privacy, spacious walk-in closets, 20 feet by 20 feet ceramic tile flooring throughout the home, 42 feet upper and 36 feet lower cabinetry with a choice of finishes, Whirlpool upgraded stainless steel appliances and expansive patios or balconies for indoor/outdoor living. Each home will also come equipped with state-of-the-art SMART Technologies featuring

Meritage from page 1 said. “Meritage decided to build a home better than just one that met buyers’ fundamental needs. We wanted something better: healthier, more comfortable and lower operating costs. That’s what I do.” He stressed homebuyers should look at the total cost of a new home, including operating costs, regardless of the builder. Many builders have a third-party company conduct an energy score rating that buyers can use to compare how much electricity it will cost to run a home. “One of the things I’m proud of is our homes (Meritage) consume less than half of the energy per square foot than the average home in the United States. That can be a significant savings per month and equate to over a $100,000 over the life of the house.” Energy savings is a win-win for homebuyers and energy companies such as APS and SRP, said Herro, adding that

(Photo courtesy The Statesman Group)

The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo residents have access to resortstyle amenities.

fiber optic high-speed internet producing a minimum of 200 megabits per second guaranteed. Another major attraction for homeowners is the close proximity to Downtown Ocotillo, with its restaurants, wine lounges, a coffee shop, salon and professional services. The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo is located at 2511 W. Queen Creek Road in Chandler. For more information, visit thecaysatocotillo.com or call 480-248-3737.

Meritage and other builders are often incentivized to build energy-efficient homes. “It benefits the buyer by not having wasted energy and it benefits the energy supplier by avoiding cost-effective expansions of their energy generation plants.” One of the things that sets Meritage apart from other home builders in the area is its insulation and technology, Herro said. Meritage uses a spray polyurethane foam that seals the home and the spray gets into all the “nooks and crannies, including the roof of the attic.” No other builder in the market has standard spray foam insulation, he said. Herro equates the difference between a paper bag and a Yeti cooler and says it can reduce heating and cooling by 50 percent. The company also uses high-quality windows and Energy Starrated appliances. Technology is another energy-saving feature that Meritage is proud of. A

(Photo courtesy The Statesman Group)

The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo’s year-round heated pool is surrounded by cabanas.

Fast facts for Innovation Park at Eastmark 9735 E. Telemetry Drive, Mesa Number of homes sold: 225 Lots remaining: 150 Open since: September 2015 Expected buildout: 2020 whole suite of home-connected technology called M.Connected Home is available and includes advanced thermostats, lighting controls, smart door locks and garage doors, video doorbells and weather-sensing irrigation. “We’re enabling people and making homes more proactive than the homes of yesteryear,” Herro said. For the 2018 International Builders Show in Florida, Meritage built a “reNEWable Living Home” partnering with experts to exhibit a new building and living standard for families. The

home resulted in a new standard for a safer, more comfortable and healthier home that promotes more family connectivity, integrates technology seamlessly and challenges the very materials and processes used in conventional construction. The reNEWable Living Home contains enough renewable energy sources to meet a Net Zero Energy standard, meaning it produces all or most of the energy it consumes, according to the company’s website. Unlike conventional homes that have daily peaks and valleys due to changing weather and occupant demands, this home combines technologies to store energy and eliminate the normal erratic energy consumption that requires utilities to build trillions of dollars in infrastructure. Carried forward, this design could potentially change the energy consumption and supply needs of the world. See

Meritage on page 6

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

East Valley Communities 87 202

McKellips Rd. Pima Rd.

MESA

Brown Rd.

TEMPE 60

Ellsworth Rd.

Power Rd.

Recker Rd.

Higley Rd.

Greenfield Rd.

Val Vista Dr.

Lindsay Rd.

Gilbert Rd.

Stapley Rd.

Southern Ave.

Mesa Dr.

Dobson Rd.

Broadway Rd.

Main St. Country Club Dr.

University Dr.

Alma School Rd.

44th St.

Scottsdale Rd.

101

40th St.

Thomas Rd.

GILBERT

McClintock Dr.

Rural Rd.

Kyrene Rd.

Priest Dr.

Guadalupe Rd.

Warner Rd. Ray Rd.

Chandler Blvd.

Williams Field Rd.

CHANDLER

Pecos Rd.

Queen Creek Rd.

Cooper Rd.

McQueen Rd.

Arizona Ave.

Ocotillo Rd.

SUN LAKES

eR d.

QUEEN CREEK Chandler Heights Rd.

Riggs Rd.

MARICOPA

ous

Germann Rd.

Power Rd.

202

Ritt enh

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

Kitchen tech from page 3 front door with the ring doorbell, adjust the thermostat, or check on a sleeping baby in the next room, and more, right from the refrigerator screen. Family Hub also helps consumers manage food, with the View Inside app that enables users to see inside the fridge from anywhere. New for 2018, Meal Planner takes food management to a more personalized level by providing recipes for the family based on food preferences, dietary restrictions and food expirations dates. The new Family Hub keeps the family more closely connected and organized, with the customized ability to share calendars, photos and notes. With Bixby, Family Hub can also recognize individual voices and provide personalized information based on preferences. Ask “Hi Bixby, what’s new today?” and it will provide a read out of the news, weather and calendar updates specifically tailored to the user.

Smart oven

Whirlpool’s Smart Appliance line allow families to use automated and multi-step cooking to control meals from freezer to fork. The wall oven in its kitchen suite, has a scan-to-cook technology ensuring

SMART OVEN

the right settings every time you prepare a frozen food meal. Just scan the UPC barcode on a food package in the Whirlpool mobile app and it will send the right directions, temperature and cooking time settings straight to the appliance. The range can also guide families through a complicated three-step recipe. If cooking a dish that needs to bake, broil and then keep warm, rather than manually switching the oven, consumers can use the app to send the recipe directly to the appliance which will follow the cooking directions automatically. A Smart Front Control Range also lets families

start, pause, stop and adjust the temperature and cook time for the oven from anywhere in the home. The integration with Amazon’s Alexa allows consumers to ask Alexa via voice command to set and adjust temperature, time and cooking mode (bake, broil, keep warm, etc.). “Whirlpool believes a smart home should learn and grow with how families care for each other, but not get in the way,” said Jason Mathew, senior director of global connected strategy, Whirlpool Corp. “Whirlpool Smart Appliances intuitively learn habits and give families what they really want out of the newest technology, which is to adapt to a family’s day-to-day care routine.”

Meritage from page 4 Meritage is already using some of these new features, such as an advanced concrete wall system instead of wood, at its Sedella community in Goodyear and technology features in its M.Connected Home automation suite featured in all new Meritage communities in the Phoenix area. Other building products and standards from the reNEWable Living Home are also being incorporated. Meritage is also helping educate the public about energy efficiencies. At Innovation Park at Eastmark, Meritage is helping consumers learn how to buy a better built home through its Learning Center. Yes, it showcases how Meritage builds better homes, but Herro encouraged everyone building, buying or even renovating a home to use the learning center as a resource. “Our Learning Center should empower buyers and Realtors to ask better questions, learn about the best building practices out there today and learn how to buy,” he said. “There are things hidden beneath the walls in homes that can impact your quality of life in the home.”

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

What to expect when visiting a new home design center BY SHERRY JACKSON

t’s easy for homebuyers to be overwhelmed the minute they step into a design center. They’ve chosen the perfect home and lot, and what’s supposed to be fun, can drive them batty. After choosing the perfect lot and the perfect house, But Phoenix.org and the East Valley Tribune have checked in with experts to find out what to expect and how not to break the bank.

Set a budget

“The first thing to do is set a budget,” said Clay Strawn, broker/owner with Legion Realty. “I caution clients to make sure they are not putting so many upgrades into their new home, they overspend.” Also, keep in mind the type of upgrades you choose and determine if you may resell the home in a few years, Strawn said. “I once had a client who put tens of thousands of dollars into a $175,000 house. They probably won’t recoup those costs when selling.” On average, new homebuyers average about 12 percent of the home in upgrades, although it can range anywhere from zero to 40 percent, said Rob McGibney, president and regional general manager for KB Home Arizona. “To stay within budget, focus on select things you really need in the home that are difficult to change later,” McGibney said. “Structural changes are usually made at sales, before going to the design center, but can add big bucks to the overall cost of the home. For example, converting a loft or den into a bedroom, multislide doors that open to the outdoor patio and extending living space options are costlier to change once the home is completed.”

Candice Palumbo, design center manager for David Weekley Homes in Phoenix, added homebuyers should determine what is import important, like the kitchen or a master bath. “Flooring, countertops and cabinets are big things you don’t want to have to remodel after you move into the home,” she said. “Other things like paint and fixtures are easier changes down the road.” Keep in mind that not everything is an additional cost. “Most buyers make some level of personalization to their new home,” McGibney said. “There are some colors and finish choices that are no additional cost with lighting, cabinet colors and countertops. There’s a way for buyers to personalize their home without spending any additional money.”

Before you go

Homebuyers do not need to make the new home decisions on their own. Most of the larger home builders in the East Valley have design centers that showcase standard and upgrade options. These centers often feel like a retail store, displaying many different types of cabinets, flooring, sinks, lighting, faucets and more. This allows buyers to see, feel and touch their options. Design professionals are on hand to assist customers with their choices. Both KB Home and David Weekley offer preview nights and open houses to allow customers to come browse and start talking over their options before their actual design appointment. “We encourage buyers to become familiar with the design center space, see what is offered and talk to designers during our preview nights,” Palumbo said. “Start thinking about how you are going to live in your new home and what you like/dislike from your current home.

We also have a buyer’s website with online tools and encourage buyers to fill out the design center wish list and lifestyle questionnaire to prepare.”

Decide on the details

The first design center appointment, which is usually one to three weeks after the buyers sign paperwork, should take about four hours. “Our designers keep in mind the buyer’s budget and lifestyle, and prioritizes when customizing their home,” McGibney said. Palumbo advised to “bring pictures, fabrics, sofa cushions or drawers from furniture. Anything that can assist us. Also, don’t be afraid to go back through the model homes and talk to your sales associate to understand what’s included and what’s optional,” she said. “We usually start with the overall color choices since those tend to take the longest to pick out.” Strawn added to also make sure there are plenty of outlets. “You can never have enough outlets and they’re easier to put in while the home is being built. Also, if the builder doesn’t provide a list of your choices made at the design center, take pictures or get brochures. Months down the road you may forget what color or style you picked.”

McGibney also advised that buyers upgrade to include blinds. “Purchasing the blinds from us is usually more cost-effective as we get pretty good pricing from our vendor,” he said. The new home-buying process can be stressful and the amount of choices overwhelming at times. “It’s not a forced process. We try to find a commonality and personalize the experience and make everyone feel comfortable,” Palumbo said. “If we see someone feeling stressed about a decision, we change up our process and come back to it later. This is the fun part.”

Top 5 things to remember when customizing a new home • Stay within a budget • Choose colors that are complementary to each other • Take photos or get brochures for the choices you’ve made

so you remember • Make needed structural changes before the home is built • Don’t stress! Take your time.

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | APRIL 15, 2018

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