From First Visit to Settlement: A Buyer's Path Through a New Packer Park Townhome

Buying a newly built home is a little different from buying a resale. There are more choices to make, and some questions only come up with new construction. This guide walks through the steps in a simple order, using one small community in South Philadelphia as the example.

Step 1: Check What Is Still Open

Renaissance Estates in Packer Park is a group of 14 townhomes on Renaissance Walk. The sales address is 3310 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19145. Because the community is small, availability shifts often. Limited homes remain, so start by reviewing the current list of Packer Park townhomes for sale before you set aside a day to visit.

It also helps to read a full summary first. The Renaissance Estates townhome guide lays out the features and location in one place.

Step 2: Tour the Model Home

A furnished model home is open for tours by private appointment. Call (215) 551-5100 or email [email protected] to book a time.

Use the tour to check things that photos cannot show well:

• How the 5-stop elevator feels as it moves from the lower level to the 4th floor
• How much light comes through the large Andersen windows
• The size of the roof deck and the decks off the kitchen and primary bedroom
• The path from the 2-car garage through the interior entrance
• How quiet the rooms feel, given the stated sound insulation

Step 3: Understand the Base Home

Each home offers about 3,200 square feet of living space, with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The lower level has a large window and can serve as a fourth bedroom. A few select lots have a full lower level, so ask which lots those are.

The base package already covers a lot. The kitchen has Porcelanosa European-designed cabinets, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolf range. Baths use Kohler fixtures. The home has dual-zone HVAC with two separate units, more than 60 recessed lights, smart technology for lights and cameras, a booster water pump and an interior sprinkler system.

Step 4: Make Your Selections

This is the step most resale buyers never get. You can customize cabinets, handles, doors, countertops and flooring. Selections and colors chosen from the provided samples are within the base price. There is also a Closet Works allowance for custom closets.

A few tips for this stage:

1. Bring photos of finishes you like so you can compare them to the samples.
2. Ask which choices sit inside the base price and which, if any, would cost more.
3. Get every selection in writing before you sign off.

Step 5: Review Price and Tax Questions

The base price is listed from $1,175,000. Initial prices are subject to change as costs and demand rise, so confirm the current number for the home you want.

The developer lists a full ten-year tax abatement. Do not assume the terms. Confirm them with the City of Philadelphia or your own advisor before you rely on them in your budget.

Step 6: Prepare Your Settlement Questions

Before settlement, sit down with your agent, lender and attorney and write out what you still need to know. Questions worth asking any new-construction seller include:

• What exactly is included in my contract price?
• How are my selections recorded and confirmed?
• What paperwork will I receive for the home's systems and appliances?
• Who do I contact with questions after I move in?

The answers will come from the seller and your own team, not from a general guide like this one.

One More Resource

For a second look at the project from a different angle, the Packer Park new construction overview is a useful companion read. Then reach out to the sales team luxury homes for sale Philadelphia 19145 to start your own path from visit to keys.