Buying a New Home with RM Homes (FAQ)

When buying a new home, many prospective buyers have similar questions. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs), for buying a new home from RM Homes:

Who is RM Homes?

RM Homes is a small, local homebuilder with their office in Puyallup, WA. Owner Ryan McGowan and team have built over 3000 homes in the Puget Sound area since 1998. The team is small and highly experienced, which means every home we built has the scrutiny and expertise of our designers, construction managers and superintendents. Learn more here.

Where does RM Homes build?

We build homes in the greater Puget Sound area, predominantly the greater Eastside/Bellevue area, and the northend/Snohomish County area. Learn more about our current and upcoming homes here.

What’s included in the base price of my new home? 

At RM Homes, “Exceptional Finishes are our Standard.” This means that many of the premium features you’d often pay extra for with other builders are already included in the base price of an RM Homes new construction home. Your new construction home will be finished with a fully landscaped yard, main level hard surface flooring, and extensive hand painted millwork.  Your kitchens will include soft-close wood cabinets, slab quartz counters and stainless steel appliances. Our luxury finishes may vary amongst communities and homes, but our high standards won’t waiver.

Here’s a short list of our standard features across all our homes:

• Exterior paint custom selected for each home - no two are alike in a community
• Extended hard surface flooring throughout main level
• Plush durable carpeting
• Slab quartz countertops throughout home
• Full-height tile backsplash in kitchen
• Soft-close cabinets with roll-out shelves in lowers
• Stainless steel appliances
• Quality millwork package
• Fully landscaped yard
• Smart Thermostat
  

What “extras” can I purchase or add to my new home?

This varies per community and per home. At some communities items may be upgrades including the refrigerator/freezer and washer/dryer. For many communities and homes, window blinds are an optional upgrade.

Do I get to choose finishes or materials?

Rarely - but there’s a reason. Unlike many builders, we typically build our homes prior to selling them. Many items in the construction progress require a long lead time for ordering. Cabinets are a great example, we must place the order for cabinets when we finish framing each home. In rare occasion, we are able to presell a home prior to framing. In that case you can select from our designer-selected color schemes.

Do I have to use the RM Homes preferred lender?

No, you’re not required to use our preferred lender for your home financing, but you may find that they are able to offer rates and specials that other lenders can’t match.  We always encourage talking to them just to see what your options are, and to see if they can save you money

Who is the preferred lender?

We suggest talking to Jim Trout of US Bank: 425.239.7440. He is familiar with all the loan products available to you today, and has access to great programs and rates for new construction home loans.

How long will the whole process take? 

Closing on a new home with RM homes can take anywhere from 10 days to over six months - This all depends on what stage you enter the buying process.  The process of touring, choosing a home, and signing paperwork takes as long as you need it to, but we may need several months to complete the construction of your new home.  We’ll always be up front and clear about our construction time frames, and keep you in the loop as your home progresses. Sometimes, we wait to release homes until they are finished or near completion, allowing for a shorter closing period - so please check with the specific listing agent on current availability and time frames.

How often should/can I check in on my construction progress?

If you happen to purchase early in the construction process, we know how exciting it can be to watch your house appear!  While we encourage that excitement, there will often be times that your home is inaccessible for touring due to construction activity.  If you ever want to check in and see how it’s coming along, please get in touch with our listing agent first.  Once the home is completed, you’ll have the opportunity to do a thorough walk-through or home inspection before signing the final papers.

What should I expect during that final walk through?

Your walk through has two main goals.  The first is to make sure there are no defects in the home before you move in.  We have multiple inspections of our own throughout the building process - both from local jurisdictions and from our own quality control, but we want you to have that opportunity too.  The second goal of a walk through is to introduce you to your new home. You’ll learn things like where to find the main water shut-off, and how the whole house fan works.

What kind of warranty will I have with RM Homes?

Our warranty is designed to give you peace of mind by covering certain issues that may come up after you move in. For the first year, it typically includes defects related to how your home was built—things like workmanship and major systems such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical components. Beyond that, there is longer-term coverage focused on major structural concerns. Like most warranties, there are some limits and exclusions, and routine maintenance and normal wear and tear are not included—but overall, it’s there to help protect you from unexpected construction-related issues.

Can RM Homes build a custom home for a client?

Thanks for asking, but we don't build custom homes at this time.

I have land I’m interested in selling.  Does RM Homes buy land?

The short answer is yes! We do buy land.  You can learn more about that here. 

I'm interested in more information about buying a home from RM Homes, who can I contact?

When you're ready for more information or a private showing of one of our homes, contact Kim Martinez of Matrix Real Estate, 425.417.3115.