The Shea Homes Building Process

The Shea New Home Building Process

Since 1968, Shea Homes® has built over 112,000 homes. Our experience has led us to constructing award-winning designs, built on providing quality homes fit for your evolving lifestyle. When you choose to build with Shea, you’re embarking on a journey with an incredible team of builders, designers and financial experts who are here to help bring your dream home ideas to life. Discover more about the stages in our home building process, from choosing your homesite to getting the keys to your new ‘home sweet home.’
 

 

 

 

Shea Homes Pre-Construction Process

 

Choosing Your Homesite and Home Plan

An exciting and unique advantage to the new home construction process, is that you get to choose your home plan and where your home will be within the community itself. Location of your homesite is extremely important. You’ll want to consider whether you prefer a corner homesite that might offer greater direct sunlight into your home, or an interior homesite where you might potentially encounter less street traffic, which could be good for families with kids.

Deciding on the right floor plan for your family is also a significant consideration in the homesite selection process. For example, maybe a flex room is a priority in your floor plan to make a flexible space that can be used for entertaining, working or getting in a sweat session. To help you make sure you’re getting everything you need out of your future home, check out our resource outlining how to choose a floor plan and tips to consider when evaluating options. 
 
At Shea, our community representatives work diligently to review available homesites and provide a tailored list of which will work with your desired floor plan.

 

Purchasing Your Home

Now that you’ve found your ideal home, it’s time to find you the right mortgage. The first step is pre-qualification, which gives you an idea of the loan amount you may be able to receive from a lender. And while getting prequalified doesn't guarantee an approval, it’s important for helping you estimate how much you may get to borrow. Once you’ve gone through your loan pre-qualification process, our Shea Mortgage team will continue to work with you to find the best loan option for you. Your loan approval deadline will already be outlined in your purchase agreement.

At this stage, you will also be meeting with your community representative to sign your purchase agreement. Keep in mind that an earnest money deposit will be required.

Tip: Try to have all your finances organized when getting ready to submit your online mortgage application. To make it easy on you, we have a free downloadable pre-qualification checklist so you can come prepared!

 

Selecting Your Shea Homes Design Features

At Shea we give you the opportunity to visit our Design Studio and meet with one of our designers to select options and design finishes. You will get the opportunity to personalize elements such as your home’s flooring, countertops, lighting, and paint colors.
Shea Homes also offers smart home technology features to help you stay connected to your home every day. Here are some features that are included with SheaConnect™:

• Eero Wifi

• Amazon Echo Show

• Ring Video Doorbell Elite

• Garage Door Connectivity

• Kevo or Kwikset Electronic Locks

• Honeywell Pro Smart Thermostat

• iDevices Wall Switch

Explore more about how SheaConnect™ elevates at-home living.

If you’re not looking to build from the ground up, Shea also offers a variety of quick move-in homes across our various divisions. A quick move-in home is a newly constructed home that is either complete or is already in the process of being built. Although many quick move-in homes come complete with designer-selected features, you may still have the option to personalize some features in your home depending on how far along the home is in the construction process.

 

Shea Homes Construction Process

 

Step 1:  Construction Preparation

Our construction team takes pride in building every Shea home and is available by appointment to walk you through the building process and answer any questions you may have. 
 

Step 2: Breaking Ground 

During this phase, our team starts breaking ground on your new home! The first step is getting the foundation of your home complete. We will start by doing some digging and ‘earthwork’ on your homesite. After this, we will lay the foundation. Our structural engineers take many factors into account when designing your foundation, such as the region you live in, soil your home is built on, the weight of your new home and much more. Once your foundation is complete, you can better envision how your home will live on your homesite.
 

Step 3: Building Your Home’s Frame

Your home is beginning to take shape! Typically, lumber or masonry is used to build the structure that will support the rest of your home. During this stage, you will see the walls stand up, roofing assembled, and windows installed.
 

Step 4: Pre-Drywall Orientation Meeting 

This meeting will give you a preview of how your home is being built and how it will work for you. During this 30 minute to 1-hour appointment, we will walk you through your home and verify plumbing and electrical options before the walls are covered with drywall. We will also have a copy of the design selections you previously made with the Design Studio. You’ll be able to walk through your house and see where some of those items are located, like sinks, fixtures, and light switches.
 

Step 5: Mechanical Inspections 

At this point, the team of skilled craftsmen are busy putting in pipes and wiring and are just about ready to insulate the walls and close them. During mechanical inspections, our team will review the mechanical systems of your home, including the heating system, air conditioning unit, plumbing, and electrical.
 

Step 6: Completing Your Home’s Drywall

At this stage, we are in the home stretch! Please keep in mind that there will be a lot of activity happening on your home during this stage, including drywall, cabinets, countertops, flooring and the home’s “finishes.”
 

Step 7: Customer-Walkthrough Appointment

Approximately 30-60 days prior to completion, we will provide you with an appointment date for our team to guide you on a room-by-room tour of your entire home. During this appointment, we will explain the features and operating procedures of your home and give you an opportunity to ask questions. The Customer Walk-Through appointment will take place a few days prior to your closing. Please allow at least 2 hours for this appointment.

Step 8: Closing On Your New Shea Home 

Approximately 45-60 days prior to closing, preparation for final loan review will occur. If you choose Shea Mortgage as your lender, they will connect with you to share an update on the status of your loan approval and discuss the plan for the final 45-60 days of closing. In order to submit your loan for final approval, it is typical that your loan officer will require updated information for some of the documents you provided earlier in the loan approval process. This is normal and to be expected.

Once your home is nearly finished, we will meet with you again at your home for your Home Delivery Meeting during which, we will conduct a feature, function, benefit demonstration of your home components and review manufacturer care and maintenance suggestions. The service process and warranty guidelines will also be explained as well as our 1-5-11 Month service visits to your new home.
 

Discover The Shea Homes Difference

At Shea Homes, our legacy has been built on quality, innovative design and exceptional customer service. We take pride in being a home builder that designs for a variety of needs and goals, so that no matter the life you lead, you always feel at home. Take the next step with Shea by reaching out to one of our knowledgeable New Home Advisors who can answer your questions about starting your journey toward building a new home with Shea.

* Regardless of the stage of construction, construction sites are inherently dangerous. As outlined in your Property Access Agreement, risks include, but are not limited to, falling debris, electrical lines, unprotected openings, falling from heights, dust, hazardous substances, sharp objects, vehicles and other machinery and slips, trips and falls. Accordingly, you must make an appointment to visit under construction properties.

*Processes many not be the same for every buyer especially when buying a completed or nearly complete inventory (quick move-in) home.

*Although we ask that you prequalify, buyers are not required to use Shea Mortgage as their lender, are free to use any lender of their choosing for the purpose of securing mortgage financing, are not limited to Shea Mortgage, and are free to decline any incentives tied to the use of Shea Mortgage. AZ: Mortgage Banker License No. BK 0904079, CA: Bureau of Real Estate Corporate License Endorsement No. 01197403, CO: Mortgage Registration Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, CO: Uniform Consumer Credit Code Supervised Lender License No. 988132, FL: Office of Financial Regulation License #MLD111, NC: Commissioner of Banks License #L-106078,  TX: SML Mortgage Banker Registration, VA: Licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (Lender and/or Broker License #MC-5849, NMLS #40397, WA: Washington Consumer Loan Company License No. CL-40397. For licensing information, please visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Opportunity.

*Amazon, Echo, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
*While SheaConnect ™ is available at most locations, it may not be available on all homes in all communities. Product availability subject to change.