Newly built homes in days rather than months

Today, many homebuilders offer quick-move-in homes for customers who want the advantage of new construction, but they can't wait six to nine months for a house to be built.

The urgency to purchase a new home could result from one of several scenarios. A person has landed a new job and wants his family settled into a newly constructed home before school starts. A person receives a job transfer and wants a home that is complete and ready for immediate occupancy so the family can move in before the holidays. A person's apartment lease is up next month, and he wants to move into a new townhouse as soon as possible.

In each of these situations, the buyer wants new construction where everything is included, and the house is ready for the new homeowner.

Some people may find the selection process daunting not knowing how the finishes will look in their home. With a quick-move-in home, the builder has done all the work for the customer in terms of selecting finishes, designer colors, lighting packages and interior hardware. The builder delivers a finished, beautiful home.

Here's a look at what some homebuilders offer at their new-home communities.

William Ryan Homes

William Ryan Homes has always offered quick-delivery homes, but it's more relevant in today's market, and there is more need today than in the past, said Anita Olsen, director of sales and marketing.

Today people aren't comfortable buying a new home without selling their current home, and some people may put their home up for sale to get a feel for the market. If the home sells quicker than anticipated, homeowners may need to move out of their home in 30 days. If they want new construction, a quick-move-in home is ideal under these circumstances.

"We typically offer a floor plan that has been a favorite of our buyers, and we anticipate what options customers are looking for and go with the popular options that people are choosing," Olsen said.

The builder offers a quick-move-in home in the Woodcrest neighborhood at Highland Woods in Elgin. The Jericho plan is a popular Georgian brick with five bedrooms, 3½ baths that sits right down the street from an elementary school, which is adjacent to the clubhouse and swimming pool area. It also features a lot of amenities including the builder's signature morning room, an extended family room with fireplace, a butler pantry and basement with a 9-foot ceiling height.

The builder also offers the Coventry, a ranch home in Hampshire Highlands, a community in Hampshire that has been popular with ranch buyers because of the wide homesites. The ranch plan has been a big seller because a three- to four-car garage is a standard feature because many people in that area have recreation vehicles and appreciate the space.

Also available is a ranch home in Kainer Court in Barrington with a double master, as well as a second floor plan that is great for multigenerational families with a walkable location near the train and shopping.

Gerstad Builders

Gerstad Builders features spec home at the Trails of Dawson Creek in Poplar Grove, Liberty Trails in McHenry and has one in process at Bailey Estates in Williams Bay. Wisconsin, said Tom Roach, sales manager.

"Most of our inventory homes are ranches, which appeal to a lot of empty nesters and first-time buyers," Roach said. "I think that's unique to the market as a lot of builders don't feature ranches for quick move-ins.

"We've always offered quick-move-in homes to some degree in McHenry because that location receives the most foot traffic, but we're seeing more people needing to move quickly now than in the past."

With the resale market picking up, people are selling homes quicker than they anticipated. Many buyers don't think they will sell their existing home quickly, then all of a sudden they have to be out in 40 days, he said.

"We have something available in each subdivision where people can move in quickly. People are happy they can find a home so fast, and we want to keep one up in each subdivision for this type of buyer," Roach said.

"There's a great advantage for the buyer with new construction, and we have a model we can show people right away. We build the same plan in different subdivisions, so buyers can see the plan without going from subdivision to subdivision."

D.R. Horton

D.R. Horton offers quick move-in homes in most of its area communities.

Homebuyers often have the ability to decide between multiple quick move-in homes at various stages of construction in order to find a time frame that best suits their needs, said Chris Naatz, director of sales and marketing.

Some buyers choose a home that allows them to move within 30 days and others choose a home that is in a 90-day time frame. Buyers who previously may have only considered an existing home because of timing now realize that D.R. Horton offers homes that provide them with the same flexibility.

The builder's quick-delivery homes are in high demand, and it strives to make sure that they are consistently available, Naatz said.

He said customers also purchase D.R. Horton quick move-in homes because they only want a new home versus a resale home that may require some updating and additional cash expenditures after closing.

Shodeen Homes

Shodeen Homes is also staying ahead of the game by building several move-in-ready homes that give people a wide range of designs to choose from at Mill Creek in Geneva.

"A big strategy for Shodeen is to always have homes available for occupancy and to show people just about every different floor plan we build," said Nathan Amidon, sales director.

Quick-delivery homes include a Harrison plan in the Pinehurst neighborhood with 2,282 square feet, three bedrooms, 2½ baths, fireplace, lookout basement and covered, screened-in porch.

Another offering is the Palmer ranch situated right on the golf course. This home features 2,193 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths and a three-car garage.

Many quick-delivery homes throughout Mill Creek allow buyers the opportunity to make color selections and work with the design center.

The builder also features quick-move-in homes in Elburn and Sycamore.