Frequently Asked Questions

For homes already permitted or under construction, depending on the stage of construction, buyers may have the opportunity to change certain finishes, colors, and select upgrades. Please understand all selections are chosen prior to construction beginning, so making changes at any stage of construction is very time sensitive and cannot be confirmed without a signed contract. Changes may be subject to restocking fees, rush fees and or change order fees. The below timeline should serve as a general guideline to give you an idea of what may be possible at varying stages, but is not guaranteed:

*Prior to permitting – windows, roof, floorplan/floorplan changes
*Prior to slab – floor outlets, plumbing changes including tub/shower changes or laundry sink/stub, kitchen island/location
*Prior to framing – siding/siding accents, water table, door/window size or location, exterior doors, indoor fireplace type or location, appliance package (range or cooktop, double ovens or single, microwave type etc), cabinets
*Prior to rough mechanicals – lighting/electrical additions or locations, gas lines, low voltage wiring, garage door
*Prior to drywall – exterior paint/stain, stone/brick color, insulation type, interior door style, door hardware, interior trim items (newel posts, stair pickets, wood steps, baseboards, window and door trim), appliance model numbers
*Prior to trim – interior paint/stain, trim accents, plumbing fixtures, vinyl/solid surface flooring
*Prior to interior paint – light fixtures, shower enclosure, mirrors, cabinet hardware, tile flooring/shower
*Prior to cabinets – carpet, countertops, backsplash

*Items that may be upgraded at any time – additional concrete, additional sod, gutters, window screens, blinds, gable accents, interior trim accents, built in shelving, drop zone, entry storage cabinet, mud bench, barn doors, coffee bar, built in buffet, laundry cabinets, change bedroom light fixture to a ceiling fan, change outdoor light to a ceiling fan, change led light to a fixture where applicable (island pendants, breakfast area etc), outdoor fireplace, screened porch, refrigerator, washer, dryer

Yes, they will include a cooktop/wall oven or range, dishwasher, and microwave/venthood or microhood combination. Upgrades are available to add a matching refrigerator, washer and dryer if desired. Appliance packages vary by community, so be sure to the neighborhood page you’re interested for specific details.

Yes. New homes are built to current building codes and often include energy-saving features that can help reduce monthly utility costs. Home features vary by community. Please visit the neighborhood page you are interested in for more details about what items are included as standard features.

Yes. Trademark homes include great warranty coverage designed to provide peace of mind after closing. There is a 1 year builder warranty, followed by a 2-10 warranty plus numberous manufacturers warranties including an industry best limited lifetime window warranty. Please check out the applicable neighborhood page to review the full warranty terms and coverage.

Trademark new construction homes offer modern layouts, energy-efficient features, lower maintenance costs, builder warranties, and the peace of mind that comes with brand-new systems and materials so you can spend more time doing what you love to enjoy your home.

Trademark Quality Homes is a locally owned company out of Greenville, GA committed to building quality homes with exceptional value, thoughtful design, and outstanding customer service. Our goal is to enrich the communities we live in and make the homebuying experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible for our friends, clients and neighbors.

Yes. Builder incentives are available throughout the year and require the use of a preferred lender (or a cash purchase). Incentives vary by community and sometimes lender. Please visit the neighborhood page you are interested in for more details on preferred lenders and the incentives being offered.

The best starting place is to get your finances squared away. If you are obtaining a mortgage, start with a preferred lender. Getting pre-approved to ensure you are ready to buy and going over loan estimates to be sure you are prepared for the cash to close amount needed as well as monthly payments amount is instrumental in a smooth and successful purchase. 

Once your finances are in order, if you have a home to sell, that’s the next best step. If not, you’re ready to go house hunting! Contact your buyer’s agent if you have one or reach out to Alane & Brooke if not and we’ll start touring.

If you have a buyer’s agent, please ask them to coordinate with us directly. If you do not have a buyer’s agent and would like to work with us, simply call or text Alane & Brooke at (770) 233-7505 anytime and we’ll be happy to schedule a private tour of available homes and communities.

As a rule, sale contingencies are accepted on pre-sale contracts and homes that are currently under construction with more than 90 days before the estimated completion date. 

For move in ready homes or homes with less than 90 days until the estimated completion date, the contingent home would need to be under contract with due diligence/any inspections satisfied and any other contingent dominoes would also need to be under contract with due diligence/any inspections satisfied. This may vary slightly by location. Inquire for confirmation.

Of course! We welcome buyer representation. Please ensure if you have a buyer’s agent that all communication and scheduling goes through your agent. They will need to be present with you at all times on site.

Yes. We encourage home inspections! The only thing that we ask is that you please complete any inspections you wish to have in time for us to receive the full report at least 1 business day prior to your orientation appointment. Your building superintendent will go over the report with you then and answer any questions you may have so that allows time for them to review prior to meeting with you. 

Yes. We call this appointment New Homeowner Orientation and it takes place at the home approximately 7-10 days prior to closing and lasts roughy 1.5-2 hours. The first portion of the appointment you will learn all about your new home and be shown key features like where to change your air filter and where your water shutoff valves are. You’ll also receive a Home Book filled with lots of helpful tips for your new home, a copy of your plat and any applicable covenants, utility providers, instructions for filing a warranty claim, emergency contacts for warranty emergencies and more! The second part of the appointment involves going room by room to mark up any imperfections and complete the final punchlist with any items that may need addressing prior to closing. 

On the day of closing, we meet back at the house the hour prior to closing to walk through one last time ensuring all items were completed from the orientation list and get your new keys ready to hand over. Then we head over to the closing attorney’s office to sign the official paperwork and voila – you are the homeowner of a beautiful new Trademark Quality Home!

Unfortunately it’s not feasible to begin moving items prior to closing. The builder’s insurance cannot be responsible for your belongings and the home is not yet ready for furnishings so any items moved in advance could be in the way of preparing. That last week prior to closing, there are lots and lots of people in and out wrapping things up and ensuring that your home is ready for you to move in on closing day. 

If you have a buyers agent, just let them know you’re ready to move forward, make sure they have a copy of your loan pre-approval letter or proof of financing and they will take it from there. 

If you are working with Alane & Brooke, we’ll need to know exactly you want your name(s) on the deed, best phone number and email for each person on the deed, your current address and a pre-approval letter or proof of funds letter. If you have a sales contingency, we’ll also need to know list price and the current status of the contingency (will be listed, listed, under contract etc). 

There is no due diligence period because homes are warrantied. There is not a negotiation period for repairs like with a resale because any defective items are automatically fixed by the seller upon awareness. All you have to do is provide us with the inspection report and attend the orientation appointment to help make the final punch list. 

As a rule deposit amounts are 2% of teh purchase price and deposits are non-refundable. On a completed home, we are sometimes able to reduce the amount to 1% of the purchase price. This can vary by neighborhood/home. 

Construction deposits should be mailed via overnight service with tracking or wired ($15 wire fee) within 1 business day of contract signing. Upgrade deposits should be mailed via overnight service with tracking or wired ($15 wire fee) within 3 business days of amendment receipt. 

No, construction deposits and upgrade deposits/fees are all non-refundable under all circumstances. 

Trademark Quality Homes offers a variety of floor plans designed to fit different lifestyles, including single-story and two-story homes with multiple bedroom and bathroom configurations. Floorplan must be selected from the Trademark portfolio of plans. Most plans can be seen online here: https://alanerayburn.com/floorplans/

Each neighborhood page will have a plat showing which lots are available to build on. We are always on the hunt for more land so if you don’t see something you like, please let us know what you’re looking for and we can keep you in mind.

This is a complicated answer. Trademark Quality Homes will sometimes build on private land. It must be near other homes we are currently building and in a County that we work in. The land must also be transferred into Trademark Quality Homes’ name once a contract is in place in order for them to obtain financing. If you are interested in a specific parcel of land that you have not yet purchased, it’s much easier for Trademark to obtain the land directly and sign a contract with you for the build there. 

You are more than welcome to schedule a visit with your agent, but we do ask that you do not interfere or interact with any workers working and that you be mindful of the construction process. There may be any number of hazards like nails and items that you could accidentally damage such as wet drywall mud, paint, stain, mortar, grout etc etc. It’s best to limit visits when possible until we reach the orientation stage and the home is ready for critique. 

Most buyers are shocked at just how much they get to choose and customize for their new Trademark home. We consider this kind of a “semi custom” home – meaning you don’t just have 5 packages of finishes to choose from but you also are not able to go out to any store and choose anything you like. Below is a sample list of items you may get to choose:
-Cabinet colors, type, inserts & hardware
-Countertops
-Appliances
-Kitchen sink
-Backsplash, layout & grout
-Tub/shower type, door & features
-Bathroom tile & grout or vinyl
-Mirrors
-Flooring
-Light fixtures
-Plumbing fixtures
-Interior doors & front door style, hardware & color
-Trim package
-Stair pickets & stain or carpet
-Shelving type
-Fireplace type
-Trim accents
-Interior & exterior paint colors
-Exterior siding, accent siding, stone/brick accents
-Window color & style
-Roof color
-Soffit color
-Gutter location & color
-Garage door style & color
-3rd garage bay
-Detached garage

We strive to send out progress updates with photos at least monthly when possible. If you have not received an update and have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Construction timelines can vary a lot based on weather conditions, County/permitting requirements and the current workload. On average, it takes 5-7 months to build a new home.

Sometimes mistakes are made, especially on unique requests, but rest assured that any errors made will be corrected to match the signed build sheet. Your building superintendent is on site at least weekly to supervise the build and watch for these items, but you are welcome to send us a courtesy email to ensure we are aware of the concern. Please keep in mind that sometimes the specific person needed to correct the concern is not back on the build schedule for weeks so it could remain as is for a while – that doesn’t mean we are ignoring you or won’t address it. 

If the item you dislike is something you chose for the home, sometimes we do have the option of changing it but there will be a fee assessed for any applicable demo and for the materials and labor to make the change. Changes are not always possible. 

Yes. We work with trusted lending partners every single day who can help buyers explore financing options and determine what programs they may qualify for. Please check out the neighborhood page you are interested in for more info on preferred lenders as well as their direct links to apply online.

Yes. Sometimes different lenders are able to offer different specialty programs that may work for you. To ensure you are getting the best deal, we encourage you to shop rates and closing costs and compare apples to apples with at least 2-3 lenders.

The builder has a vested interest in ensuring the financing goes smoothly on every deal. It’s in everyone’s best interest that the lender be thorough, accurate and timely to ensure a smooth transaction with minimal hiccups. Unforunately, all lenders are not created equally so incentives are offered to incentivize the use of a lender who has proven to deliver time and time again. It’s a win win for everyone!

No. The builder nor listing agents receive any compensation for recommending preferred lenders or for you using a preferred lender. The preferred lender list is purely set based on consistently excellent transaction experiences.