I just wanted to give a little input, as my experience has not been bad. As a disclaimer, I am early in the process, and only a single case with a single build. It would be unfair for me to give any kind of general satisfaction/unsatisfaction because there is still a lot ahead to be determined.
A quick snapshot:
-Purchased lot in February 2022.
-Completed permit package was submitted in June 2022.
-Construction Permit was approved by City August 2022.
-Category 4 (Almost 5) Hurricane hit the area September 2022.
-Lot was scraped November 2022.
-Currently in slab process with all fill dirt in place and compaction tests done January 2023.
I have put in effort to connect with people on biggerpockets who are going through the same or a similar process, so here are the positives I have found for my experience:
-The price point to this build was attractive. The design of this build was attractive.
-Builder immediately began our permit package. (Surveys, septic design approvals, etc.) During this time, when I inquired for updates, the builder sent me a comprehensive checklist of where we were in the process to see our progress.
-Getting the package to the city was congruent with (and a little ahead of) my expected timeframe.
-All permits were approved on first attempt. I felt very fortunate here, as the city has definitely had its significant faults with permitting.
-We visited in December. While in Cape Coral, we witnessed fill dirt being brought to our lot, and saw some progress in those few days we were there.
-Throughout the slab formation process, we have been sent another comprehensive checklist of where we are in the process, so we understand what is happening.
-We have experienced continued progress in the last couple weeks through our compaction tests.
-Overall, the builder has been responsive to questions and inquiries in a 2-3 day window.
-While not immune from price escalation, there has been no indication of price escalation thus far.
A couple of other notes:
-As mentioned, we visited last month. While this isn't Sanibel, Matlacha, or FMB, the hurricane damage was no joke. The majority of homes in Cape Coral sustained some type of damage. 3 months after the hurricane, there were still blue tarps everywhere, debris at curbsides, fences and boat docks down, etc. There's a lot of work for labor in the area. There will undoubtedly be blue tarps on roofs for months and months to come.
-In speaking with investors, others have experienced some of the same issues mentioned throughout. Long permit times (some greater than a year) and a slow process overall in Cape Coral. Additionally, some investors with other builders have mentioned experiencing some significant price escalations.
Do I initiate a lot of the updates/questions? Yes. Do I, at times, wish things were faster? Yes.
Overall, I do not regret working with Delta at this point. I continue to believe in the area and the project. I am interested to see the timeframe of my slab being completed and how things move forward from there.
Good luck to everyone!
