A Guide to Moving to Fort Myers
Paige Czerpak and her husband Josh were able to not only able to purchase a new home as their very first home, but they were also able to personalize and move into their home with an easy and stress-free process—an extremely important detail since Josh was deployed mid-build of their home! Read about their experience building their new home in Central Ohio.
Tell us about your home building experience. What memories stick out to you from that time?
My husband, Josh, was getting ready to be deployed when we started looking for homes. The idea to was to start looking before he left [on deployment] and that maybe I could find a home while he was gone. We just wanted to get an idea of what we both liked.
Then, our [real estate agent] asked if we ever thought about a new build. Never in a million years did I think we could afford a new build as our first home.
We met with several builders and was most impressed with M/I. Josh was able to start the process with me and go to the design center and sign all our paperwork to start building. He left for his deployment before they had even a chance to pour the foundation.
I thought I would be overwhelmed building a home by myself [while] working and finishing up a second degree, but M/I made the process incredibly easy. Every single person I came into contact with was helpful, especially with the hundreds of questions I had since we had never owned a home.
My Construction Supervisor, Mark, took his time explaining things and helping wherever he could since I was doing it alone. He was also in charge of the home next door, and he stopped by frequently after I moved in to make sure I was settling in and everything was perfect.
The entire process was seamless for us. Josh is thankful for how easy everything was for me while he was away.
What’s your favorite part of your new home, and how do you use this space?
Josh and I both agree our open-concept kitchen and living room is our favorite space. We are constantly entertaining his family and mine.
There is plenty of room for everyone to sit together and enjoy time together. We were able to host Thanksgiving this past year for my entire family. We comfortably fit almost 30 people. It was special to be able to host my favorite holidays.
If we’re not entertaining, we are usually spending a cozy night in together. We cook dinner together and cuddle up on our couch to watch a movie.
What do you love most about living in your new home community?
We LOVE our Facebook page. We all stay connected on Facebook with community events, answering each other’s questions, and for what’s going on in Powell.
We have a community manager, and she coordinates events in our neighborhood. Last summer we had Thursday night happy hour in our green space. That is where I met many couples our age, and we’ve made so many friends in our community.
We’re doing a summer bash party this year, she also organizes food trucks every third Friday of the month, and she even organizes events for children in the neighborhood.
What suggestions would you share for things to do in the Powell area for other homebuyers thinking about moving there?
There is so much to do in Powell. Downtown Powell has many shops and restaurants. We drive down there and will park and walk around. It’s all walking distance to shops and dining.
We love trying out new local restaurants. Local Roots is one of our favorite spots, they get all their food locally and change their menu with new dishes depending on the season.
The Columbus Zoo is also close to our home. We’re less than 10 minutes away. Investing in a Zoo pass is the way to go! Not to mention Zoombezi Bay is there as well.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing future homebuyers need to do if they’re considering building a home?
Make sure you build the home YOU want. Take the time with your New Home Consultant to make sure you go over every option you can get. It never hurts to ask for anything.
We knew what our budget was but, when we started designing, we added EVERYTHING we could possibly want. We said yes to everything that interested us. We saw our total and then started knocking off things that weren’t completely necessary or things we could easily change later on to get in budget.
We tried to focus on structural things that would be difficult to add later on, such as a loft space, a rough-in for the basement to add a bathroom, opting for the full basement, and getting a bump-out for our garage. You can always change flooring, paint, tile, countertops, etc.
Also, be honest and upfront. Don’t be scared to speak up. This is YOUR home and they’re building it for you.
Hearing from other homebuyers just like you can really help you make the right decision for your new construction home! Read other Happy Homeowner stories from M/I homeowners.
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