We’re having a town home built for us by D.R. Horton. They just recently broke ground. I’ve never been intimately involved in a build before, so I wanted to see what steps they have to go through so that we can compare to what we’re seeing on the ground. I’ll try and add some commentary and maybe some pictures as they moves through different steps. Here’s a list of the steps from howstuffworks.com:

Grading and site preparation
Foundation construction
Framing
Installation of windows and doors
Roofing
Siding
Rough electrical
Rough plumbing
Rough HVAC
Insulation
Drywall
Underlayment
Trim
Painting
Finish electrical
Bathroom and kitchen counters and cabinets
Finish plumbing
Carpet and flooring
Finish HVAC
Hookup to water main, or well drilling
Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
Punch list

Our builders are currently in the grading and site preparation stage. According to howstuffworks.com, “the site-preparation crew typically arrives on the site with a backhoe and/or bulldozer. The crew’s job is to clear the site of any trees, rocks and debris, level the site if necessary and dig as necessary for the foundation being built.” We’ve seen the backhoe crew there, along with the plumbing crew. Since the site was previously cleared and leveled, they were tasked with digging the trenches and laying the PVC for water and sewage.

Basically, right now our site looks like a landmine went off. Hopefully in the next step, foundation construction, the thing will start to look like a home construction site. My main concern now is: (1) does the site look level? (2) are the PVC lines laid well? (3) and are the trenches free of debris?

What else should I be looking for at this point?

Check out post two in this series here.

Related posts:

1. How to Build a Home – Foundation Construction
2. How to Build a Home – Framing
3. How to Build a Home – First Inspection
4. Budget 8% for New Home Upgrades
5. Site Issues