As I begin to set words on this page, I must confess that I'm smiling...just grinning ear to ear because DJF Builders crafted a home that brings me joy and satisfaction each and every day.
My experience as a client of theirs began when my family and I moved here from the west coast, following a job, in search of a house to call "home". We were quickly discouraged at the offerings in town...many needed significant upgrades and most were quite dark or peculiar in their layout.
Our frustrations turned to hope when we were shown our future home as a spec build that was perhaps two-thirds completed at the time. It was just a shell at the time, but we saw the beauty in it's design...everything was thoughtfully laid out and the property they were building on was a true gem in the belt line of Raleigh. It was the first house that excited us.
Dennis Fitzgerald, the builder, allowed us to tour as much as we wished in order to make our decision to buy. We had a meeting with him and his incredibly talented on-staff designer, Chrissy Gupton. With the ease of true professionals, they presented their vision to us for the home. They didn't blink an eye when we asked about modifications to truly turn this into a custom build. They knew everything was possible one way or another. And we had confidence in that truth after touring other nearly-completed DJF homes.
Chrissy was a master at putting my husband and I (and our children!) at ease, helping me discover my own personal style along the way. Chrissy was our guide every step of the process, helping me stay within our budget, offering up creative alternatives when I hit a mental block, interpreting construction lingo that was completely foreign to me, visiting tile shops/lighting shops/paint stores with me until we picked exactly what we were looking for, keeping oversight on all of our selections to be sure every choice flowed properly for the home, and answering every email/text/call with a smile and reassurance.
We had never made selections for the build of a home before, so it was a daunting task...but that task turned into great fun as the project began with DJF's assistance. Everything was communicated to us...costs, timelines, etc. This continuous communication of information was another impressive skill of the company. Nothing was inflated or "sold" to us...we were always certain that what we were being told was accurate and timely, and, in the end, the choices were ours to make. It was a lovely way to experience what could have been a very anxious process.
Before moving in, we toured other open houses just to get ideas on styling, and we were surprised at the quality of materials being used in our own versus the other homes...for the same cost. You can just feel and see the difference between standard materials and those of a more upscale nature...we enjoy our white marble counters, custom stained (almost whitewashed) floors, beautiful windows, effective heating + a/c management, luxurious fixtures, clever features (like our contemporary glass railings), and practical-yet-design-forward elements like an oversized screened-in porch overlooking our backyard with a window to our kitchen and an angled corner that allows for a special perch above the stone patio/fire pit below.
Luckily, we were living as locals during this process, so I was able to visit the job site multiple times a week. I got to know the men and women who worked on site, as well as many of their vendors. I've learned that DJF works only with the best, most reliable individuals and companies in town. I felt welcome at all times and really enjoyed learning about the process.
Being on site, I could literally see the care that the team put into their homes. The DJF brand is not something that happens by accident...the attention to detail - from structural design to construction and from interior finishes to external landscaping/lighting- was what impressed me most.
I've had many people ask me what fell "short" after I moved into the home...because all new homes typically have some sort of incident that needs repair in the first year as things settle and the home is truly quality checked by being vigorously lived in by a family of five!
The home is so well-built, that my queries were silly. I had to ask why a certain outlet wasn't working and the subsequent inspection by DJF showed me that the outlet was actually intended to power outdoor holiday lights (!). Who knew? The house had bells and whistles I wasn't even fully aware of!
Any concern I've had under warranty or beyond warranty has been professionally and thoughtfully addressed right away. I've never felt anything but a part of the DJF family, in their home. DJF is proud of their work and we have a "forever relationship" with them now so that if we ever have to move, we will turn to them time and again for our home construction needs.
I could end my review here...but if you are in the market for a new home, there seems never to be enough information online to properly asses such a large investment. So, I'll be a little excessive and share a few more details with you if you are still reading.
In my experience, DJF takes full responsibility for their homes. They lovingly construct them from start to finish, appreciate their customers and their varied/unique styles-- being true to them all, and actually keeps budget in mind in every conversation. We had a very strict budget and ultimately didn't spend a penny more!
However, we were still able to make adjustments as needed to craft a home most useful to us. We removed cabinets in a laundry room to make art space for children. We removed shelving in a utility closet to make room for charging upright vacuums and wrapping supplies. The dramatic living room fireplace we designed together is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing, as a gas-starter wood-burning combination. And the mudroom which was to remain in our finished basement...well, we envisioned the kitchen as the hub of our family activity. So DJF commissioned a specialty cabinet maker to craft a large, 5- section, organizational dream, complete with shelves, hooks, and drawers, all neatly tucked away behind two heavy wood doors. It all looks seamless with our kitchen cabinets-- we couldn't live without it!
We even had a special "hidden" fort constructed under the stairs in the playroom as a surprise for the kids along with two garden boxes built on property for spring/summer plantings. I think the builders had as much fun customizing the home as we did because they could see first-hand how happy we were with the results (and the effort to make it happen!).
We moved in on time and trust DJF implicitly. We now live in a home that we appreciate day in and day out. It's a happy home. It's a safe, sturdy home. It's a beautiful home.
Thank you, Team DJF!
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