Finding Their Forever Home
Angie and her daughter, Kennedy, had been living in their townhome for nearly four years, but Kennedy longed for a backyard to play in and a neighborhood filled with friends her own age. So, Angie made a promise. She promised Kennedy that by the time she was in third grade, they would be in a single-family home in a community she loved. And she delivered.
They were set on staying in Woodbury to keep Kennedy in her same school district, so when she discovered Pulte Homes had a new subdivision in the area she was looking, she went to tour the model homes and community.
“From the minute I met the Pulte sales consultant Heidi, I felt like she really understood what I was looking for and what kind of floor plan would be the best home for me and Kennedy,” says Angie.
The first few model homes Angie and Kennedy toured felt too big for just the two of them. When they came back to tour two new models that were more the size they were looking for, Kennedy let her mom know they had found the one.
“My daughter and I walked into the Mercer model home and fell in love,” explains Angie. “From the owner’s retreat to the playroom loft to the open floor plan, it was the right layout and the right amount of space for us. I’ll never forget how Kennedy told me, ‘Mom, this feels like our forever house!’ How could I possibly choose anything else?”
That’s when things got serious. When they put their townhome on the market, it sold in just two days, so they ended up renting until their dream home was complete.
Building New Begins
Angie knew she would need to be disciplined to stick within her budget and found plenty of support from the Pulte Homes team. The team kept her on budget and presented options that would work with her and Kennedy’s lifestyle. Her sales consultant, design consultant, field manager and the Pulte Home Mortgage team were all the perfect fit.
“Heidi was good about pointing out the times that I started venturing into my design element ‘wants’ and wasn’t sticking to what I had identified in my budget. She really took the time to answer my questions, provide suggestions, and recommend other properties or models to view for design ideas or layouts,” says Angie. “She wasn’t selling me a floor plan; she was really focused on helping me and Kennedy build our home.”
Angie had built new before, so she was familiar with the process and knew how different it would be from buying an existing home. With a new home she was able to choose finishes and features she loved and be involved in the progress each step of the way.
“From wood flooring to carpet to cabinetry, our design consultant, Natalie, presented options and recommendations while giving me space to make my own choices without pressure or influence. She also ensured I stayed on point with my budget by only showing me the options that were within my price level,” explains Angie. “Her experience and keen eye enabled me to design a home that fit our style and needs perfectly.”
And Angie always looked forward to an email from their field manager, Ben, because it meant something new was ready for her to come preview — all a part of the fun of new construction and the anticipation of seeing her home come to life. He was always thorough when updating Angie on her home progress and she said he treated the build as if it was his own home.
Angie emphasized that while it’s important to be firm on your must-haves and budget, it’s important to be flexible during the process as well. Even the best plans may have a few hiccups and need to be adjusted — especially when considering Mother Nature.
Their Personal Touch
It’s easy to see how Angie and Kennedy have put their personal touches on the home. From the beautiful dining table to the stunning lighting fixtures and even Kennedy’s blue striped bedroom walls, the home is filled with their style and custom features.
The kitchen and dining room are highlights for Angie and Kennedy. Plus, they were able to design this area to include both a window to the outside and open sight lines to their home office space, a feature they loved about this particular floor plan.
“Kennedy can sit in the office space and do her homework or play on the computer while I’m making a mess in the kitchen,” explains Angie. “It works out really well for how we like to spend our evenings together!”
Kennedy can’t get enough of the neighborhood. She loves biking and spending time in their neighborhood pool. And she now has her forever home with some of the best friends she could ask for. “When I came home from school one day, all the kids in the neighborhood were waiting for me chanting my name,” Kennedy shares.
Angie agrees that the neighborhood is everything she could have hoped for. “I couldn’t ask for better neighbors! I feel so blessed that we have already formed strong friendships and trust in each other, despite us moving in only a few months ago,” says Angie. “The combination of patience and flexibility, with a commitment to my financial bottom line, really helped me make sure that my home was filled with all the things I really need in life — family, laughs and love!”
Photos by Meghan Doll Photography | Home built by Pulte Homes