1. What's the first step I should take when buying my new home?
Answer: You should get loan pre-approval from a reputable lender to determine the amount of home you can purchase. We recommend using one of our approved lenders which you will find under the Lenders tab at the top of this page.
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2. Do I have to use one of your approved lenders to purchase my new home?
Answer: No, you may use any lender you choose to purchase one of our new homes. However, we will pay a significant portion of your closing costs if you use one of our approved lenders (check with the community Sales Associate for the exact amount- in some cases we pay all customary closing costs if you use our approved lender).
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3. How do I know I'm getting the best value in my new home?
Answer: We know it can be confusing trying to determine what's included and what's not included in the price of a new home. With all the so-called specials and sales pitches out there, home buyers often experience frustration and remorse after signing their purchase agreement for a new home. We provide our buyer's with a Smart Shopper Sheet, as a courtesy, so they can compare us to other builders in an unbiased fashion in an open forum comparing apples to apples. We strongly prefer that our buyers purchase one of our new homes because they're comfortable and confident in doing so as opposed to being confused into doing so. It's a simple matter of being informed upfront.
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4. What makes Collins Builders different from other builders?
Answer: Our committment to doing the right thing. If we make a mistake, we will fix it to your satisfaction. Every member of the Collins Builders management team has had a new home built with another builder prior to joining Collins Builders. Every member of the Collins Builders managment team has also worked for other local home builders. Through this vast amount of combined personal experience, we have learned first-hand what's right and what's not right when buying, building or selling a home and have implemented policies and procedures to ensure that we only do what's right for our home buyers. We never lose sight of the fact that our most important and valuable asset (our reputation) is on the line with every home we build and how we treat our home buyers.
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5. Should I purchase a home for the maximum loan amount that a lender qualifies me for?
Answer: No. Purchase a home for the amount that your comfortable living with. If that happens to be your maximum pre-approval loan amount, that's fine. However, never allow yourself to be in a financial position where your home payment creates undue financial burdens or stress on yourself.
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6. What decisions must I make when I purchase a new home?
Answer: At the time of your new home Agreement, you should make all the optional structural decisions regarding your new home (bay window, covered patio, garage orientation...etc). Once your new home Agreement is signed, your new home plans are ordered, engineering is performed, energy calculations are performed and building permits are submitted for construciton. Structural changes made after signing your new home Agreement are not as simple to make as you may think. Even for the smallest structural change; new plans must be drawn by our architect, new engineering must be ordered, new energy calculations must be calculated and new permits must be submitted for....all at an unanticipated cost to the builder. This is why our policy is not to make structural changes after signing your new home Agreement and why we request that you make all optional structural changes at the time of signing your new home Agreement. Otherwise, numerous unanticipated costs arise and construction delays are incurred.
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7. After I sign my new home Agreement, what should I do next?
Answer: Our design center will contact you within three days after signing your new home Agreement to schedule your personal design center appointment. Here, you will personalize your new home, depending on your standard features and the options you've chosen, you will choose carpet, appliances, vinyl, tile, paint, countertops, cabinets, fireplace mantles, wood floors, tubs, toilets, sinks, lights, water fixtures and more with our Professional Licensed Interior Designers who will prove to be a major help to you with your selections. After completing your design center appointment, we will contact you to do a Plan Review of your new home.
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8. What is a Plan Review?
Answer: We schedule and conduct Plan Reviews with all of our new home buyers once we have received all permits and completed all engineering for your new home, and once building on your new home begins. This is done as a courtesy to ensure we build your new home exactly the way the Contract says you wanted it.
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9. How will I know what's going on with my new home during the construction process?
Answer: We provide you with a User ID and Log In password to our extranet website where you can view the construction schedule sequence for your new home. You may also stop by the Model home in your community during normal hours and be escorted through your new home by our Sales Associate. We ask that you only visit your new home while accompanied by your Sales Associate or Project Manager for safety reasons during construction.
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10. When can I inspect my new home?
Answer: At any time during construction after scheduling an appointment with your New Home Sales Consultant. Additionally, approximately one week prior to closing we schedule and conduct a homeowner orientation and final walk-through inspection of your new home with you at which time items are documented which you desire to be repaired prior to closing on your new home, and an orientation is provided to you showing you your property boundaries, how appliances and systems of your new home work, general homeowner maintenance tips and answers to other questions you may have concerning your new home or your community.
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11. May I hire a home inspector to check my new home?
Answer: Absolutely. We're not only proud of the quality and workmanship we put in every home, we're confident that your home inspector will tell you that you've bought a well constructed home upon completion of the inspection.
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12. What is a Homeowner's Association?
Answer: A homeowner's association is a mandatory association each home owner within the community must join. The association enforces the bylaws, convenants and restrictions governing the community. In doing so, they help ensure the community maintains its value and harmony.
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13. What are covenants and restrictions?
Answer: Covenants and restrictions are published by the developer of the community with the purpose of ensuring the community appearance and property values remain consistent with homeowner expectations. They tell you what homeowner's can and cannot do on their property, as well as throughout the community as a whole. For example, typically 18 wheel trucks are forbidden from parking in driveways, clothes lines may not be erected in the front yard, driveways may not be used for operating an automotive repair shop, they may also dictate what exterior colors a home can and cannot be painted...etc. They also tell you what types of fencing, storage sheds and pets are allowed.
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14. What is closing and how does it occur?
Answer: Closing is the final step in purchasing your new home. We strive to provide our homebuyer's with at least 30 days advance notice prior to closing. Your lender, if a non-cash sale, will re-verify your loan application paperwork (employment, funds, credit), request that you provide proof of homeowner's insurance for the property at the time of closing, and order an appraisal of your new home. Our closing agent will order title insurance (to ensure the ownership title is clear for you) and a survey of your new home's property to ensure no encroachments exist. At closing, ownership of the property is transferred from the builder to yourself via closing documents. Funds are transferred to the builder and you're provided with the keys to your new home and a General Warranty Deed that reflects that you are the new owner.
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Contact Collins Builders today with any new home buying questions. We will be happy to answer any home buying questions you may have! We look forward to hearing from you!
Collins Builders continues to be Jacksonville's leading builder of superior and affordable homes. For homebuyers seeking to purchase a new home in Jacksonville, Florida - Collins Builders offers several spacious and luxurious home plans and exciting new home communities to choose from. Please browse through our menu below and begin searching for the new home of your dreams! Contact us today to begin building your dream home!
Builder's License#: CRC 1326552 - 3840 Crown Point Rd., Suite C, Jacksonville, FL 32257
Prices, plans, dimensions, specifications, material and availability are subject to change without notice. Illustrations are artists depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. We are pledged to the spirit, and U.S. Policy regarding, the achievement of Equal Housing Opportunity throughout the nation in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing regarding race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
