MDC Homes: The Selections Process Guide

Welcome to the most exciting part of building your home! This guide walks you through the selection process step-by-step. Our goal is to make this experience smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free . By following this roadmap, you will stay on track, on budget, and confident in your decisions from the first showroom visit to move-in day .

 

1. Overview: How It Works

The selections process is divided into three key phases designed to take you from inspiration to ordering:

• Preparation: You will gather inspiration and review your functional needs to ensure you are ready for a productive showroom experience .

• The Visit: This is the hands-on phase where you meet with vendors to explore options, ask questions, and make your primary decisions .

• Finalization: We conclude by organizing your choices and completing any remaining selections to keep your build on schedule .

 

2. Phase 1: Planning the Visit

Before you step into a showroom, a lot of coordination happens behind the scenes to ensure your trip is efficient.

🏁 Getting Started

In order to begin scheduling your vendor visit, we MUST have your final plans and an executed construction contract.

• Once these milestones are met, Matt will send me an alert that you are ready to start.

• I will then reach out to you directly to solidify your dates for coming to Chattanooga.

📅 Scheduling Your Trip

We require you to plan for a minimum of 3–4 days in town for these selections .

Why do we need 3–4 days? Making selections is a detailed process that cannot be rushed.

• Vendor Hours: Most vendors are only open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM . Weekend availability is very limited and rare .

• Volume of Decisions: You are making decisions for the entire home. Spreading this over several days prevents decision fatigue.

• Flexibility: Coordinating with multiple vendors requires some "give and take" regarding time slots . Vendors and reps have other clients and schedules to navigate, so a multi-day window ensures we can fit everyone in .

📋 Creating the Itinerary

Once we determine your arrival date and the duration of your stay, I will begin coordinating with our vendors.

• I will share your allowance budget and final house plans with the vendors in advance .

• This ensures they are prepared for your specific project before you walk through the door.

• Once I have confirmation from every vendor, I will finalize your itinerary and send you the schedule.

 

🕰️ Example Schedule To help you prepare, here is what a typical selection day might look like. Note that this is intense work—wear your comfortable shoes !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Phase 2: The Visit

This is where the fun begins! To ensure your time in the showroom is productive and enjoyable, here are the guidelines for a successful trip.

✅ Client Do’s

• Know Your Style: Come prepared with inspiration photos from Pinterest, Houzz, or magazines . Visuals help vendors understand your language instantly.

• Focus on Function: Beyond looks, think about how you live. Do you need durable floors for pets? Easy-clean surfaces? Features you simply can’t live without?

• Bring Your Notes: While vendors have your official plans, your personal notes highlight the specific details that matter most to you .

• Trust the Process: Vendors already know your specific allowances . Let them guide you to options that keep you within range.

🚫 Client Don’ts

• No "Window Shopping": These scheduled visits are for making final decisions, not browsing . Please come ready to choose so we can keep the build moving .

• No Direct Vendor Contact: All communication must run through MDC so nothing gets missed . We act as the central hub to ensure your order is correct. The vendors are under strict instruction that they will NOT communicate with you outside of the selection coordinator, so please do not contact them via phone or email without going through MDC Homes. 

• No Unapproved Vendors: We strictly use partners chosen for their reliability, pricing, and protective terms . Sticking to the approved list protects you and your warranty.

• DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PURCHASE ANY SELECTION ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME OUTSIDE OF MDC HOMES!!!! This complicates so many things behind the scenes and will impact the timeline of your build. We want you have the beautiful things you envision for your new home, but without approval from MDC Homes, the item will NOT be installed or received. We have a proven process that has not failed us by following this process. You are welcome to present us with anything, and from there we will discuss it in detail, but do not purchase anything on your own. 

📍 At the Appointment

Here is how to get the most out of your time in the showroom:

1. Documentation: Take photos of your selections!

• While not required, photos help you remember details later when you are reviewing options at home .

• They also give us a helpful visual reference when we place orders .

2. Punctuality & Respect:

• Stay on Schedule: If your time runs over, we will reschedule rather than make the next vendor (or client) wait .

• Running Late/Early? Please call ahead. Vendors are accommodating, and a quick heads-up helps them prepare for your arrival .

3. Ask Smart Questions: Don't be afraid to ask the vendor detailed questions to ensure you are happy with your choice :

• "Are there options that fit better within my budget?"

• "What are the care or maintenance requirements?"

• "Are there color or finish alternatives?"

• "How will this choice work with my other selections?"

💰 Financial Expectations

Understanding how selections affect your bottom line.

• Handling Overages: If you choose something over budget, that is no problem. Just know that we will need payment for the overage before ordering the item .

• Change Orders: Accuracy during this visit is key. Changing your mind after an item is ordered will result in a $250 change order fee plus any applicable vendor fees .

 

4. Phase 3: The Selections Wrap-Up & Next Steps

Once the showroom visits are complete, we don't just send you on your way. We conclude the week with a dedicated sit-down to ensure every detail is correct.

🤝 The Selections Wrap-Up

At the end of your visit week, we will meet at the MDC home office for a comprehensive review. The goal of this meeting is to consolidate your choices and set the stage for the next phase of the build.

What happens at this meeting:

• Recap & Review: We will sit down and recap each vendor visit, reviewing the choices you made to ensure they align with your vision.

• The "Safe Zone" for Changes: This is your opportunity to make any additional changes to items selected with vendors. Since nothing has been ordered yet, you can make adjustments now without the risk of a change order fee .

• In-House Selections: We will select several items that didn't require a vendor visit. I will have samples of most of these items ready for you at the office.

• Client Portal Demo: I will provide a live demonstration of your client portal, teaching you how to use it and walking you through what you can expect to see in it moving forward.

🏠 Leaving the Meeting: What Comes Next

When you leave the Wrap-Up, you can relax knowing the heavy lifting is done. I will immediately begin working on the back end to make the adjustments we discussed and prepare orders.

The Next Few Weeks & Construction Walk-Throughs Although the purpose of this visit is to finalize as much as possible, we understand that some decisions need to be revisited once construction begins and you can see the space in person.

• Framing Walk-Throughs: Once framing has commenced, there will be walk-throughs that you will be asked to be present for.

• Revisiting Vendors: If a vendor needs to be revisited at that time, that is acceptable.

• Example: Cabinets are quite often not finalized on the first visit. While you made initial drafts during this trip, you will have another opportunity to solidify those plans once the framing is up and construction is underway.

📞 Communication Expectations

To ensure nothing falls through the cracks as we move into the construction phase:

• Single Point of Contact: All communication continues to run through MDC, not the vendors .

• Response Times: Please allow up to 48 hours for a response. Larger question lists may take 3–5 days .

• Flexibility: Scheduling and ordering involve multiple moving parts; a little patience and flexibility go a long way .

✨ Enjoy the Journey!

This is one of the most exciting parts of your build . Nearly all of our clients who follow this process say it made the experience smoother, faster, and more fun .