General outline of the SEDA home building process

The official start: The completion of the plan review is the official start of the home-building process. It begins with placing your future home on the Start Sheet and making sure that all of the subcontractors and vendors involved are supplied with copies of the plans, as well as the information on the choices you made to personalize your home during the design process. Various orders will also be made at this time, including those for cabinets, windows, energy calculations and much more. The appraiser will also receive a copy of the plans and selection sheets, which are needed to complete the appraisal that will be needed to complete the construction loan process.

Preparation of the lot: The next step is to prepare the site for your home. It will be cleared and filled if that has not already been done. At this point, we await the building permit before proceeding with the work.

The permitting process: After planning work that includes energy calculations, shearwall engineering, and truss engineering is done, the completed permitting package for your home is sent for approval by the county building official. You’ll receive a notice in the mail when the permit is received. Please note that the permitting process and the length of time necessary to complete it varies from county to county.

Foundation and slab preparation: This phase begins with the setting of form boards for your home’s concrete slab and foundation. This is also the time for installing underground plumbing systems, which must pass an inspection.

Pouring the slab: Once plumbing has passed inspection, the dirt is properly graded and we begin digging the footings. After reinforcing steel and the vapor barrier have been installed, the work will be inspected. The slab will be poured when the inspection is passed.

Framing: This is an exciting time for our homeowners as they see their new home begin to take shape. Several inspections will be done in this phase, during which trusses and exterior sheathing are installed, an additional termite treatment is applied and the home is “dried in,” which simply means that the structure is now protected from rainfall.

Systems are roughed in: Your plumbing, phone, TV, electrical, HVAC and other systems will be “roughed in,” meaning they will be installed prior to closing up the walls with insulation and drywall, but their final connections will not yet be made. Each trade that installs a system will have its work inspected before the project moves on.

Drywall installation: It’s time for walls! This phase also includes the application of ceiling textures.

Trim out: The term “trim” includes many items and features in your new home, from tile, interior doors and cabinets, to plumbing and electrical fixtures. During this trim-out phase, the plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems will have their final inspections. The best news? You’ll be sent a letter indicating the anticipating closing date for your new home! Note that the date provided will be subject to change.

Concrete: Your walkways, sidewalks, and driveway will be formed and poured.

Landscaping: Your new home’s yard will be graded for drainage and plants and sod will be installed.

New home orientation: The SEDA Project Manager will contact you to schedule your New Home Orientation meeting. This is your opportunity to review the home and receive instructions on all systems in the home. A maximum of two hours is allotted for this meeting. This meeting and the final walk-thru are scheduled Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9am and 3pm.

Final walk-through: Your final walk-thru meeting is typically scheduled at the end of the New Home Orientation meeting. This walkthrough is to ensure that the home has been completed. A half hour is allotted for this meeting.

Closing: The closing normally occurs a day or two after the satisfactory completion of the Final Walk-Thru meeting. The closing will occur at the closing attorney’s office. We will notify you of the exact time and date of the closing.

The above is a general outline only. Exact sequencing may vary. SEDA Construction Company reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify the building process. As a reminder, home buyers are not allowed to visit the job site unless they are escorted by their SEDA Sales Agent or are attending the New Home Orientation and Final Walk-Thru meetings with the SEDA Project Manager.

Your SEDA Sales Agent will be your primary point of contact for all issues regarding the home. They will be contacting you from time to time to update you on the construction progress. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your SEDA Sales Agent.