How do I begin the home buying process?

The best way to begin your home buying journey would be to schedule a good time to meet with me so that we may sit down, discuss your needs & desires, and ultimately fill out a credit application with one of our approved lenders.* This will allow us to begin our planning phase and also obtain crucial budget information.

You may come into the home center to fill out an application OR I can even send you a direct link via email so that you may fill out the application on your own time. My email is kyle.josleyn@claytonhomes.com (Feel free to send me a request for an application.)

*Unless cash.

I already have a pre-approval with a lender. What’s the next step in the process?

The next step in the process is going to depend on if you have land, already, or if you’re still on the hunt. If you do not have land, yet, the next step would be to partner with a local realtor to help find property. You can either partner with one you already know or we can recommend ones we have used in the past.

If you already have property, or once you locate some, the next step would be to schedule a “Stage II / Construction” meeting with me. Typically, this only takes about 15-30 minutes. We will sit down, go over all things construction, go over your property information, get a few documents signed, and collect the $1,000 earnest money deposit. This earnest money goes towards any down payment the lender requires before closing, if applicable, and also helps us start to work towards getting any necessary permits, site evaluation, bids, etc.

After we have this meeting, I will get with my primary contractor, (or contractors), to schedule a site inspection at your property. They will typically visit your property within 1-2 weeks after we conduct the meeting. After the site visit, they will get back to me with full bids and numbers and we move on to the next stage.

Do you have your own financing, or do I have to find my own lender?

We do not offer “in house” financing. However, there are multiple lenders that we work with that offer flexible financing options. You can visit our home center and choose from a list of lenders and fill out an application. I can also send you an application and lender information via email.

Can I use my own lender?

You most certainly can!! However, make sure to ask them if they lend on “new construction manufactured or modular homes.” Many lenders may lend on existing manufactured homes on a piece of property but not necessarily deal with the new construction process. Clarification is key. If they do, I will need a pre-approval letter, contact information, and a list of items they require or need from Clayton Homes of Cleveland.

What are the down payment and credit requirements to purchase a home?

Generally, a down payment is often required. While I can’t speak to your specific financing needs, we do work with multiple lenders that offer flexible financing options. I have seen pre-approvals as low as $1,000 down and up based on qualifications and pre-approval.

Required credit scores vary depending on lender, loan type, and package needs. I have seen pre-approvals, with credit scores, starting in the 500s. However, the higher the score the less down payment and lower the interest rate, typically.

Do you have land or help find property?

Check with me, directly, to see if I have any current lots available. Otherwise, once we have a pre-approval with one of our lenders, we can put you in contact with a local realtor, (or you can bring your own), to assist you in finding land. Then we just put it all together inside one loan.

What all is included in your pricing?

I get this question, a lot. Here’s the scoop. Nothing in life is truly free. (Unfortunately.) I break down my pricing in the most transparent way possible. I show you how much everything cost. Pretty simple, right? I then present you with a grand total, show you my discounts, (I discount every home package), and then show you the bottom dollar package price. (Ask me about my “best price guarantee.”)

I break down pricing into three categories:

Home Only: This reflects the home, itself, including appliances. This price changes based on the options, upgrades, and selections you make on the custom ordered home. By default, this is the price shown, online, or on the fridge of the lot model home unless otherwise stated.

Land Cost: This is based on the seller asking price for the property you are looking to purchase. (If you already own/have land to place the home, you skip this part of the price puzzle!)

Miscellaneous: Everything that is not in the first two categories, including: Delivery, set up, foundation, footers, decks & steps, gutters, as well as land improvements such as clearing the property, cutting in a driveway, gravel/rock, pad prep and dirt work to state code, septic/sewer, water/well, electric, etc…

Another thing I often hear from my customers: “Company “X” includes free delivery and set up with all their homes…” Going back to my above statement- nothing in life is truly free. Those other companies or home centers are paying a contractor to deliver your home and set it to state code. If they say the price includes “free delivery and set up” what that means is that they have either increased the “home only” price you see on the fridge to cover for these items OR they have provided you with built in discounts to help off-set said costs…

Either way, after my generous discounts, the bottom dollar price, (what you actually pay when you sign on the dotted line), will usually be lower with me on any ordered home- apples to apples. (Again, ask about my “best price guarantee.”)

Do you guys help with set up?

Of course! We have licensed and insured contractors that can help you move into your new home, turn-key. These costs can be financed right into your loan so you do not have to come up with any additional expense out of pocket apart from what the lender requires or what is not on our side of the contract.

Where do you deliver?

We have a 75-80 mile delivery radius from our home center located at 2350 South Lee Hwy Cleveland, TN 37311. I have helped countless families in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Are we able to purchase a model off of the lot?

Short Answer: Of course!! But it depends...
At times, we do have select inventory that is available for immediate purchase. Just reach out to me and ask what lot model inventory is currently available. (You can also look at the “homes” tab on this website to see current display homes. Some of these display homes are available for immediate purchase- just ask me which ones!)

Requirements to secure a lot model home: A pre-approval from a lender, (unless cash deal), $1,000 earnest money deposit, and have existing property to place the home.

What warranties come with the home?

Excellent question! Each home comes with a 1-year builder warranty. The appliances, if applicable, will each have their respective manufacturer warranty as does your heat pump. However, I actually include a 5-year extended warranty with every home purchase package. This gives you additional peace of mind after the default warranties expire. Just another reason to choose Josleyn Home Consultant!

Do you have a referral program?

I 100% do have a referral program! Thank you for asking. Regardless, on if you’ve purchased a home from me or not- should you send someone my way, and they purchase a home from me, they will receive a referral discount and you will receive a referral check. This can happen as many times as you like, just make sure they mention your name when they first come into the home center or reach out to me!

I see you have a “NPS” tab on your website.
What’s that all about?

NPS, (Net Promoter Score), is a common metric used by many companies around the world. The NPS score measures customer loyalty and satisfaction by looking at the likelihood they will recommend said business. Typically, corporate will call and ask you how likely you are to recommend Clayton Homes of Cleveland to friends and family. This is measured on a 1-10 scale. (They will also ask for comments.)

Promoters respond with a score of 9 or 10.
Passives respond with a score of 7 or 8.
Detractors respond with 1-6.

Josleyn Home Consultant, (and Clayton Homes of Cleveland), take NPS scores very seriously. If at any point, you do not feel like I deserve a 10, please, let me know so that I may take necessary action to resolve any issue(s) and get back on track. Anything less than a 10 means I failed you.

Are all the homes you have available listed?

You may have noticed the “Homes” tab on my Josleyn Home Consultant website. This section is where I list many display homes that are currently on our lot to view. Some of these listed models are homes that are ready for immediate purchase and others are simply “show” models we use for visual aid to help customers place new home orders. I try to keep this page updated. However, as new inventory comes in, there may be models we have at our home center that are not listed. For a full list of homes, currently at the home center, it’s best to reach out to me, directly. Also, remember anything on our company website, www.claytonhomesofcleveland.com, can be custom ordered for you.

How long does the process take before I can move into my dream home?

I break timelines down into three phases:
Phase I: Pre-construction. (Secure financing, property, and all property permits.)
Phase II: Home. (Lot model home vs custom order.)
Phase III: Construction.

While I understand timelines are super important to every single one of my customers, unfortunately, this is the one thing I simply can not provide exact numbers on. Timelines can greatly vary depending on a wide variety of circumstances….

Phase I questions: Are you paying for the home in cash or will it be financed? If it’s financed, what is the loan type? (Government loans such as FHA/VA typically take longer to process than a standard conventional loan.) Do you need land or already have land? If you have land, does it already have the necessary permits or do we need to obtain them? Etc…

Phase II questions: Is the home a custom ordered home or are you purchasing a lot model?

While purchasing a lot model home will help cut down some time with the overall process, it will not change the total timelines, drastically. Of course, ordering a new home vs purchasing a lot model will increase total time, somewhat, due to things like builder back logs, etc. The average timelines of building facility back logs change month to month, so be sure and ask me where they are currently before ordering your dream home.

Phase III: Once your new home arrives at the home center, it will be thoroughly inspected and then I will give you a call to share the wonderful news and schedule a “first view.” After this is completed, you will be put on rotation for construction. Your construction phase, (Phase III), does not officially begin until ground is broken. Depending on what all is needed and the scope of the project, phase III timelines will be different for each project. This, of course, varies depending on a variety of factors including delivery location, weather, and job site conditions, requirements, etc.

I pride myself in transparency and honesty both in my personal life as well as my professional career. I will do my absolute best to communicate ever changing timelines on each step of your new home buying journey.

After all phases are complete, we are clear to schedule the highly anticipated Welcome Home!!