Lessons Learned

1st lesson learned

Best bang for the buck

Be patient.  The first time I called and talked about pricing I was quoted a price of about $260k +.  I determined I was not interested.  Later down the road I learned there are incentives available.  If you use NVR mortgage for example you get a deduction (-$7,500 in my case).  There may be a monthly special.  Work with your sales agent and continue to ask for discounts or any cost cutting measures you can.  I was told I bought at the ideal time (December) since Ryan Homes needed to make end of the year sales to meet company goals.  Bottom line is you can get the house for less than you think.

2nd lesson learned

They say yes until you sign then you will hear no a lot

Know exactly all the options you want before Ryan Sales Rep takes the deal to "corporate" for final approval.  I submitted an original offer and options and got a $15k discount off their asking price.  Afterwards, I wanted to add more options.  I did not get a discount on the additional options.  Its easier to say you want everything and remove it then to say you want less and add it.

3rd lesson learned

How the RH Sales Rep gets paid

Ryan employees get paid based on the sale of the house.  Not how much they charge you for the house.  If you want ask them what the price is based on their minimum amount of profit needed to make the sale.  If you are lucky they will offer that price to begin with.

4th lesson learned

Realtors should I take one or will I lose negotiating $

Take a realtor with you Ryan will not offer you a discount if you do not take one with you.  They have separate accounts for paying realtors.  They are paying for you to be represented whether you have it or not.  Again, they do not pass the savings on to you might as well get the realtor on their dime.

5th lesson learned

Guardian is costly

Guardian is a rip off.  If you can just put the upgrades in yourself or hire a contractor. Although Ryan will not authorize you to do this if you ask they will not physically try to stop you after their work day is over.  Make sure it is done right and will pass an building inspection.*

6th lesson learned

Don't re-invent the wheel

Talk to your neighbors (fellow bloggers) and see what problems and experiences they have/had.  Learn from their mistakes before it is to late to fix it with your house.  Examples I learned of where to add extra insulation between the interior walls to cut down on noise. Wrap the pipes to cut down on water noise.  Get a 20 foot wide driveway. Reconfigure the HVAC room walls to give yourself more living space. Find things out for yourself when it comes to "permit" issues if you ask the zoning board yourself what going on you may get the opposite answer RH will give you.  Get more light in the garage, stairwells, and smaller bathrooms.  Do the wiring for cable, phone, and surround sound yourself. 

7th lesson learned

The worst they can say is no

Ask for a lower interest rate from NVR.  I stalled them for about a week on my "lock in date" and finally said if you give me the lower closing costs "I will lock today." they jumped on it and I saved an additional 1,606.95. 

8th lesson learned

I said they heard

Pay close attention to the details on the pre drywall meeting.  I had so many mis-communications particularly with the placement of electric receptacles and light switches that it still bothers me to this day.  We have a walkout and they were not going to put a light switch in that controlled the flood lights.  Then I asked for a triple light switch socket to be put in and they put in two separate light switch outlets.  Which I felt was unnecessary.

9th lesson learned

Years later...

The garage is my biggest regret.  It is to small.  Knowing what I know now.  I would have walked on the whole deal if they would have refused to make the garage bigger.  I have two sedans both are Ford Taurus' I can barely jam them both in the garage it is horrible.  Not enough depth or width.  Demand a bigger garage!!