Ever go to the grocery store without making a list first? You think, “I know what to buy this week, I don’t need to write it down.”

Walking through the grocery store, everything starts to look good. Several impulse buys later, you get home and realize you forgot the key ingredients for meals, but you really took care of the cravings.

The same thing happens when you enter a new home community to build the house to fit your lifestyle. You begin to salivate. A great builder thinks of all the possibilities - addressing a wide variety of tastes, needs, wants and desires. Touring the Henry Company Homes Design Center is the opportunity to see all the ingredients unfold before you. This is part of the joy of building a new home.

Suddenly you are that starving person grocery shopping. You want stone fireplaces, decks, deluxe appliances and the kitchen sink. Just kidding, you always get a kitchen sink. But are you going with the under mount with brushed nickel fixtures?

With so many options to choose from, it’s important to separate your needs from your wants. Then you’ll know up front what the most important elements will be when you arrive at the HCH Design Center. You don’t want to walk out hours later and think, “oh but we really need this, that, and the sunroom.”

Before you go new home shopping, sit down and make a grocery list of your most important ingredients. A wants and needs list is the recipe for your plan – all of the elements need to be there. Once you have the structure of your meal down, you can go hunting for that rich chocolate cake to finishing everything perfectly.

Ask yourself a series of questions:
• Do I need 4 bedrooms, or 3 and a flex space?
• What school district does my home need to be in?
• Is a gourmet kitchen important to my lifestyle?
• Open floor plan, or traditional formal rooms?
• Luxury bathroom?
• Where do I spend the most time?
• What kind of rooms do I need for hobbies?
• What are my structural needs?
• How efficient is the home?  What will be the total cost of ownership?
• Do I need to think about resale?

Then make a list of things you’d love to have to design the house just for you. By making two lists side by side, you’ll start to see what the most important features are in your new home.

Now when you walk the model, you’re armed with a shopping list. First find the structure that fits your lifestyle. Do you have the spatial plan, the right kitchen, and so on? Then you can start dressing spaces with the proper appliances, counter top materials, and flooring choices to fit your tastes.

If you forget major ingredients like the finished room over the garage for scrap booking, or the 2-foot bump out with the optional gas fireplace - those things are a lot harder and more expensive to add later. Tick off the needs on the list, then look around at the optional ingredients that will give your home the exact amount of flavor for your lifestyle.

If you leave out the needs, it’s like leaving the yeast out of your cake. It may still taste sweet but it falls flat and in the end something is missing. By making your lists ahead of time, you’ll be ready to go shopping and be sure to have everything that makes your house a home.

Bathrooms and Main Floors: Apply grout sealer to ceramic tile grout if you wish to give the grout additional protection against discoloration from spills and stains.

Electric: Locate the main circuit breaker in the electric panel box and show family members how to turn it off in case of emergency.

Fire Extinguisher: Purchase a general purpose fire extinguisher for your home plus one small kitchen extinguisher in case of grease fires. Demonstrate proper usage to family members in case of emergencies.

First Aid Kit: Keep first aid materials and a book on first aid procedures in an accessible location.

Flooring: Attach furniture protectors underneather furniture legs to proct floor finishes.

Household Tools: Acquire basic tools to help you with normal home maintenance chores, including: pliers, adjustable wrench, flat-blade and phillips-head screwdrivers, claw hammer, hand saw, tape measure, caulk and caulking gun, putty knife, paint roller and brush, power drill and drill bits, assorted nails, brads, screws, nuts, bolts, sandpaper, utility knife, toilet plunger, flashlight and batteries.

Landscaping: Review and implement recommendations in the landscaping and grading section of your homeowner's manual.

Plumbing: Please locate the main water line shut-off valve and all individual plumbing fixture valves and show all family members how to close them in the case of a plumbing emergency.

Consumers typically make purchase decisions largely based on two factors: price and convenience. Many factors deserve consideration when choosing how and where to spend your money. Buy from a bonded, local builder with a history of quality like Henry Company is one of them – after all, it’s your town.

WARRANTY’S

Do your homework before purchasing a new home from a regional or national builder. The last thing you want to worry about after closing is a malfunction in your new home. Check the track record and number of claims that have been made against the regional and nation chains. (Feel free to Google for results – and don’t forget to Google us for our track record too! We stand by the quality and excellence of our designs and finished homes and have been recognized by the Bonded Builders Warranty Group for being Claims Free since 1990!)

Would you rather get assistance from distant headquarters or drive to our office in Pace, Florida or one of our model homes across Northwest Florida? The pre-inspection process from start of your new home to finish is the key. Find out what steps are taken to ensure your new home was given quality care during the building process.

THE ECONOMY
Regional or national builders design and manage local facilities from distant headquarters, using a minimum of local goods and services. Functions such as purchasing, marketing, legal and finance are performed elsewhere. Profits are transferred out of the local area while local businesses struggle. Local businesses invest, hire and spend locally. Local ownership minimizes the risk of economic catastrophe due to corporate relocation, restructure or closure. Local builders are unlikely to outsource functions outside the local area or move out of the area once their inventory is gone.

LOCAL JOB CREATION
Locally owned builders hire local architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers and contractors. Local accountants, insurance brokers, computer consultants, attorneys, advertising agencies and others help run it. Local builders carry a higher percentage of local goods resulting in more local jobs.
Providing jobs to your neighbors improves the vitality of your community. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the local tax base. For every $100 spent at a regional or national builder, only $14 remains in the community.

NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY
Where we shop, where we eat and where we spend leisure time makes our neighborhood home. One-of-a-kind, independent businesses are integrated within our neighborhoods and are an integral part of what makes our neighborhood a great place to live. Big Box businesses can alter the unique character of the community. When they do, it’s not necessarily for the better.

COMMUNITY VITALITY
Local business owners, typically residents of the community and heavily invested in their businesses, have a substantial interest in the community’s long-term health. They rarely threaten to relocate in order to receive tax, zoning, environmental or other regulatory concessions. They frequently serve on local boards and support numerous causes. Studies have shown that they contribute more than twice as much of their revenue to charitable causes as corporate chains. And local business owners are generally much more accessible than executives of large corporations based elsewhere. Studies show that entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their local businesses and distinctive character.

COMMUNITY CHARACTER
Local residents place a high value on individuality and consider homegrown independent businesses a source of pride. When asked to name a favorite restaurant, cafe, or shop, it’s typically a unique local business. Communities that preserve and support their unique, oneof- a-kind businesses and distinctive character are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment, new residents and visitors.

THE CONVENIENCE & CHOICES
Local business owners establish corporate offices within the community. Having a quick question or concern answered in a timely manner gives peace of mind. While regional/national builders offer cookie-cutter homes with little ability to make changes to an existing floor plan. Local builders can offer quick changes to floor plan requests, option choices and promotions. Choosing products based on local customers need and desire, not a national sales plan, guarantees a more diverse range of product and service choices.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE
Local builders, owners and employees take special pride in their services. They often possess a superior level of expertise and passion as they tend to have a greater interest in getting to know their customers. They are also likely to provide superior customer service.

PRICE AND AFFORDABILITY
Regional or national builders seem to inflate or deflate their pricing more often than local builders. Offering high commissions which canresult in higher pricing to the buyer. A local builder, in most cases can offer more square footage at a better price. Thus, resulting in little or no money down even after you’ve chosen additional options to your home.

This schedule is an approximate guide to the stages involved in the Henry Company Homes construction process. Construction schedules will vary depending on different factors. Contact your Neighborhood Sales Manager (NSM) for a more detailed schedule for your home. Your NSM will keep you informed of any delays should they occur. We will make every effort to complete your home by the agreed upon date.

Preliminary

• Start package sent to Personal Builder
• Lot cleared as needed
• Build up “building pad” if necessary

Stage #1:

• Foundation forms set
• Plumbing rough-in complete & inspected

Stage #2:

• Commercial Grade Monolithic foundation inspected & poured

Stage #3:

• Wall framing completed
• Roof decking installed & house dried in

Stage #4:

• Shingles installed
• Windows & doors installed
• HVAC duct work & furnace installed
• Plumbing & electrical roughed in
• Framing inspected by County

Stage #5:

• Wall insulation installed
• Drywall installed & taped
• Siding and/or brick installed

Stage #6:

• Walls & trim painted

Stage #7:

• Cabinets installed
• Driveway, porches & patios poured

Stage #8:

• Mechanical trims completed
• Electric trim out completed
• Sod installed

Stage #9:

• Carpet & vinyl installed
• Rough clean of home completed
• Drywall & paint touched up
• Attic insulation installed

Stage #10:

• Home totally completed & cleaned
• Electric service established
• Quality inspection by HCH Management prior to customer walk-thru

Before you get to sit back and relax in your new home, there’s a lot of work to do. The key to a successful and worry-free move is organization.

We’ve developed a few checklists and timelines to help make your move a little smoother. Feel free to print them out and use them as your guide.

Important Items To Collect For Your Move

• Boxes (computer and grocery stores are a good source)
• Plastic bags
• Newspapers
• Packing tape
• Scissors or utility knife
• Markers
• Bubble wrap
• Tissue paper

Packing Tips For Your Move

• Label your boxes as you pack them. Include where they should go in your new home.
• Pack heavy items in small boxes.
• Wrap breakables in newspaper, bubble wrap, clothes or towels.
• Leave lamps, china, and artwork and other breakables for professional movers to pack.
• Don't overstuff boxes. Leave some extra room at the top.
• Never pack jewelry, important papers or medicine.
• Tape cords underneath all electrical appliances.
• Don’t tape furniture doors and drawers because tape can damage them.

Two Months Before

• Make a list or an inventory of all your possessions.
• Remove everything stored in your attic, basement, closets and other areas.
• Decide which items you want to keep. Donate, sell or throw away the rest.
• Use things that you won’t be taking with you like cleaning supplies and frozen foods.
• Contact at least three moving companies for estimates. Remember to ask about insurance coverage.
• Call your insurance agent to find out if your move is covered.
• Find out if any part of your move is tax-deductible.
• Keep all moving papers and receipts in a file.
• If you have children, arrange to have their school records transferred.

Six Weeks Before

• Get information on health-care professionals and hospitals in your new location.
• Complete a change of address card at the post office for the following:

• Banks
• Charge cards
• Doctors and dentists
• Friends and relatives
• IRS/Social Security Administration
• Insurance broker, lawyer, CPA and stockbroker
• Religious organizations
• Magazines
• Schools

• Hold a garage sale or donate items to charities.

• Choose a mover.

One Month Before

• Begin packing.
• Contact gas, electric, water, telephone, cable, trash collection and other services for disconnect and connect at your new addresses. Also, ask for final billings.
• Gather car licensing and registration documents, medical, dental and school records, birth certificates, wills, deeds, stock and other financial documentation.
• Request refunds on unused renter or homeowner’s insurance.
• Notify landlord and request a security deposit refund.
• Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowner’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.
• Arrange to close current bank accounts and open them in new locations.

Three Weeks Before

• Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address.
• Arrange for childcare on moving day.

Two Weeks Before

• Review arrangements with the moving company.
• Arrange special transport for pets, plants, jewelry and other delicate items.
• Service your car if you’re planning a long trip.
• Cancel newspaper delivery.
• Contact your veterinarian to get a copy of your pet records.

One Week Before

• Pick up your dry cleaning.
• Return library books and rented videos, etc.
• Be sure to have two weeks’ worth any prescription medication that you or family members are taking.
• Drain gas and oil from power equipment.
• Prepare detailed directions to both old and new homes for your moving company. Include an itinerary with emergency numbers.

A few days before

• Finish packing.
• Defrost refrigerators and freezers.

• Disconnect all major appliances.
• Contact your moving company for any updates.
• Pack first night items. These include: sheets, towels, toiletries, phone, alarm clock, change of clothes and flashlight.
• Pack a Mover’s Survival Kit. Your kits should include: scissors, utility knife, masking and/or duct tape, coffee, coffee maker and paper cups, water and soft drinks, snacks, paper plates and plastic utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, pen and notepad, local phone books, trash bags, shelf liner, and a pain reliever.

Moving Day

• Be home to answer any questions your mover may have.
• Record all utility meter readings.
• Stay until your movers are finished.
• Complete information on the bill of lading and carefully read the document and the inventory sheet before signing it.
• Keep your copies of the bill of lading and inventory until your possessions are delivered, the charges are paid, and any claims are settled.
• Take one final look around to see if you forgot anything.
• Give movers the directions to your new home and an emergency number (like a cell phone number) where they can reach you.

At Your New Home

• Be at your new home to welcome the movers.
• Unpack first night items and mover’s survival kit.
• Account for items on your inventory sheet.
• Check for damaged or missing items.
• Pay for movers.
• Place moving and other important documents in a safe place.
• Go to the post office and collect held mail.

Breathe deep. You’re home at last!

By Noah Everett

Special Real Estate Correspondent

To be an industry leader you have to be doing something right. To stay one of the leaders for nearly three decades you must make the commitment to keep doing it right.

Affordability

Edwin and Susan Henry began the company with a vision that every family could realize the American dream: owning a new home. “Early on,” CEO Edwin Henry says, “we learned to buy building materials in bulk and save money. We pass that savings right along to the buyer.”

Henry compares his concept to Sam Walton’s savings principle of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Wholesale Club. Volume purchases equal real value and savings for the consumer.

Design

Henry encourages consumers to look around and compare. “Design is where we [Henry Company Homes] really excel,” according to Brenda Whitfield, Henry’s Marketing Manager. “With well over 40 floor plans from which to choose, there is literally something for everyone.”

Henry’s floor plans are unique and innovative—designed for the way people live today. “Through research with home owners, we learn how people use their homes,” Whitfield continues. “We take that information back to the design team and modify our designs to provide the most livable floor plans available.”

Quality

Henry’s production managers and site superintendents have special construction training and all hold the title of “personal builder.” Personal builders oversee the construction process with each homeowner, ensuring high quality standards are met by all professionals involved in the construction. “I build each home as if I were going to live in it myself,” says Donnie House, Production Manager.

Location

Henry Company Homes builds all over Northwest Florida: Pensacola, Pace and Milton, Navarre, Crestview and Niceville. Each neighborhood is planned carefully around the most popular schools and close to the area’s recreational parks.

Warranty & Customer Service

Every home built by Henry Company Homes is covered by a 1-year construction warranty and an 10-year warranty from the Bonded Builders Warranty Program. Henry Company Homes has been certified as "Claims Free" since 1990 by the Bonded Builders Warranty Group.