Marvin Development Corp is a Fort Myers Florida based home building company and has built over 3500 homes in cities such as Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Golden Gate Estates, and Ft. Myers. Marvin Homes has also built in fine southwest Florida communities such as the Wildcat Run, Spanish Wells, the Veranda, Caloosa Preserve, the Rookery, Bonita Springs Country Club, Longshore Lakes, Pine Shadows Air Park, Imperial Golf Estates, St. Charles Harbour, and Gulf Harbour, and the Brooks.

Contract and Disposition

After the house is selected the contract is written and the paperwork process begins. Our office will process the contract, order the survey, power location, and water and sewer availability letters (if applicable). Most other paperwork required for permitting hinges on the completion of the building plans.

Loan Application, Approval, Appraisal, Closing

If the house is financed the Owner must make application to an approved lender for the funding of the project. Any amount the owner intends to finance must be included in the loan. After the closing of the loan additional funds cannot be borrowed. We suggest that the loan closing be delayed to coincide with our ability to break ground on the home. It is the owner’s responsibility to schedule closing and to ensure that sufficient funds are borrowed.

Among the items needed for application are:

• Copy of Contract
• Copy of Drivers License, Social security cards, Passport
• Most recent pay stubs covering 30 days and 2 years of w2’s
• Most recent 2 months of bank statements
• 2 years tax returns with profit/loss if self employed
• Name and address of landlord
• Copy of divorce decree and settlement (if applicable)
• Bankruptcy papers including discharge (if applicable)
• Lease rental agreements on income property (if applicable)
• Contract on present home or closing statement if home has sold within last 6 months. If home is on market a copy of the listing agreements (if applicable)
• Copy of warranty deed, closing statement, and Owner’s title policy if you own the property already
• If you have co-signed a loan 12 months of cancelled checks or the loan will count against you.
• If gift funds are used a gift letter must be filled out and returned with a copy of the deposit slip showing the funds placed into your account and evidence of withdrawal from the donors account.
• Copy of most recent statement of all debts (name, balance, acct. #, monthly payments)
• Application Fee
• Copy of stocks, annuity, 410k,etc.
• Builder will supply the bank with plans and specifications for appraisal.
• Notice of Commencement (NOC): The Owner signs this document at the bank closing. It is recorded into the public records of the appropriate county and is posted on the jobsite.

Cash Transactions

With all cash transactions we require that one advance draw be placed in an escrow account with a lender on our approved lender list. The lending institution will disburse the Owner’s funds to us directly during the course of construction. The lender records the notice of commencement, inspects the project after we make a draw request, and collects contractor’s affidavits of no liens, surveys, etc., from us prior to disbursing any draws. All costs associated with the escrow agreement are by Owner.

Plans and Colors

Check Print.

The check print is the start of the planning process. The construction of the home and most of the paperwork hinges on the timely completion of this print. During this print all changes that are reflected in the building agreement are placed on the plan. Any other customer changes (other than electrical) must be made at this time. Additional drafting fees will apply if the Owner makes changes after the check print. The Owner will sign the check print indicating approval of changes. Paperwork will not proceed until this print is complete.

Final Print

The final print is a review of changes that were made on the check print. Only electrical changes may be made on this print without the Owner incurring additional drafting charges or fees. The final plan is normally a minimum of five pages long and includes a plot plan (shows where the house is placed on the property) foundation plan (this takes the house to the slab stage), floor plan (this takes construction through the framing stage), electrical plan, and elevation page (shows the four sides of the exterior of the house). The Owner will sign the final print indicating approval. Paperwork will not proceed until this print is complete.

Color Selections.

During the color appointment all colors associated with the house must be selected. This appointment must be scheduled no later than the final print. All selections for the house must be made at this appointment. These selections include: cabinetry, flooring, paint, tile, plumbing, roof, etc. The Owner will sign the color selection sheet indicating their approval. Requires completion of either check print or final print

Engineering

We hire an independent structural engineer to review all structural components in the home. The engineer looks at two issues: the pressures exerted on the foundation, columns and beams due to roof loads, and the pressures exerted on these items due to wind forces. The house engineering takes place after the final print. The process for engineering requires two trips to the engineer. The first time the engineer will “redline” the plans, making any required changes in red pen. We apply these redline changes to the master plan, make a minimum of three full sets of plans and return them to the engineer. The engineer will then verify that we have made his required changes and apply a raised engineer seal to the plans. He will also attach approximately 10 additional pages of engineering to the plans. Requires completion of final print.

Misc. Paperwork

Energy Calculations

Each home is required to meet minimum standards for energy efficiency as mandated by the state of Florida. Proof that the house is energy efficient is a calculation that takes into account the home’s insulation, AC efficiency, windows and sliding glass door sizes, roof overhang lengths, and energy savings components. Requires completion of final print.

Septic Design

If central sewer is not available an engineer is hired to design a septic system. The engineer is given the plans and a survey. He goes to the building site and takes soil samples in the immediate are of the proposed septic system. He classifies the soils, determines the water table, and designs the system. After we receive this we apply for a septic system permit. Requires completion of final print.

Notice of Commencement

The NOC is prepared by the bank (if applicable) and is recoded into the public record of the appropriate county. It is required to comply with Florida’s lien law. We cannot pick up the permit without an NOC.

Manual J

This is also known as a residential load calculation. It is used to determine the proper size for the AC and heating systems. It, like the energy calculation, takes into account the exposure and size of glass area, and insulation in determining the size of the AC unit. Requires completion of final print.

Truss layouts

This important plan shows the different trusses in a house, the placement of the trusses, and the positive and negative loads placed on the truss system. Requires completion of final print.

Drainage Plan

Some communities require a proposed drainage plan for the immediate area around the house. Requires completion of final print.

List of subcontractors

Some building departments require that we submit a list containing the names and license numbers of subcontractors we intend to employ. This is to insure only licensed subcontractors are used.

Garage Door Details

This is engineering to prove that the overhead garage door meets the wind load requirements.

Window and Door Certifications

These are engineering sheets to prove that any windows or doors used meet the wind load requirements.

Shutter Details

These are manufactures cut sheets showing the type of shutter, method of installation, and certification.

Building Permit Application

This is the application for permit. It contains basic information about the house, property, builder, and owner. Requires completion of final print and all misc. paperwork.

AC Tonnage, SEER, Heating system KW, and Roof Type

This is a basic statement concerning the size and efficiency of the AC and heating units, and the type of roof (tile, shingle, metal). Requires completion of final print.

Proof of Insurance

The builder must supply the building department with proof that he carries necessary insurance.

Water and/or Owl Letters

If in the city of Cape Coral an affidavit stating that the property does not have burrowing owls is required. If on well system the owner must sign a letter stating he will not hold the city responsible for the quality of well water.

Septic Authorization

This form gives us your permission to apply for a septic permit on your behalf.

Deed

If recently purchased a recorded deed to the property showing the Owner’s name must be supplied.

Special Permitting Issues

The city or county may occasionally require special permits, variances, vacation of easements, etc. Normally these are the responsibility of the owner. Requires completion of final print.

Permit Application

After we collect all required submittals we apply for a building permit. The appropriate building department will then process the application. Timeframes vary greatly here depending on the building departments workload. Generally it takes about 30 days to approve the building permit. Requires completion of final print.

Construction

After the building department issues a building permit we begin the site improvement phase of construction. See Construction Process

Note: Submittals, timeframes, application requirements will vary depending on the process.