‘Take your time,’ new buyers advise

For Xiomara and Jim Gotch, house hunting during their two-year courtship became such an enjoyable hobby that they still visit model homes in other communities. Having met and started dating in March of 2016, Xiomara and Jim began looking for a home together about a year later.

“We became experts on the market,” said Xiomara. “We saw so many houses and we really knew the builders and areas before making a decision.”

Their process included serious consideration of some resale homes. “We gained an understanding of real value and what was available in the market,” said Jim. “Occasionally, we would find a gem of a resale, but worried about how many people we would be competing against and how much we’d have to offer over asking.”

They pressed on, looking at several communities, including Tassajara Hills in Dublin, where Xiomara already owned a Toll Brothers townhome.

“We knew we liked Toll Brothers,” said Jim. “But we hadn’t found the right plan for our criteria, which included a view of the sunset, an in-law unit or the ability to add one, and lots of open space for entertaining.”

Combined, Xiomara and Jim have five children ranging in age from 15 to 23, along with two grandchildren. “We wanted a new place where we could start our life together and where family could always feel welcome,” said Xiomara.

Though tempted by many neighborhoods, they held their

ground until, one day, they received an invitation to visit The Bluffs at Tassajara Hills. Had they rushed the process and signed documents for a different home only a few months earlier, they may never have seen that their ideal floor plan had already been conceptualized by Toll Brothers.

“Toll Brothers was building the models at that point and the layouts were outstanding,” said Jim. “It was modern, luxurious and the space

was used properly, with 10-foot ceilings and open space connecting the kitchen, dining area and living room.”

The home gave off the “social” feeling the couple desired. “We like bringing people together and having everyone in the same places during parties is important when we have these big events,” said Xiomara.

The first floor included what could be an in-law suite or a flexible space for the future. After some discernment, Xiomara and Jim determined that the home on The Bluffs

was for them, but Jim still insisted on visiting the lot every day.

“I was obsessed!” he joked. “We would go every single day to see the sunset and imagine what everything would look like.” One day, they needed to visit Shari Welters at the sales office to sign paperwork for final design selections.

“In the office while signing papers, Shari and Xiomara were talking about how no one who’s previously married needs to get married again; that all you needed was commitment,” said Jim.

“All the while, I’ve got an engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket and I started doubting whether I should go through with it!”

Nevertheless, after the meeting and in the pouring rain on March 12, 2018, exactly two years after their first date, Jim persuaded a reluctant Xiomara to visit the empty lot with him once again. And on the sidewalk in the mud, under an umbrella, Jim took a knee, reminding Xiomara that they were not only building a new foundation for their home but for their

relationship. “She agreed to marry me, there in the mud and rain, in front of our new Tassajara Bluffs lot.”

Now in their new house for nearly four months, Xiomara and Jim have no regrets. They appreciate how the builder worked with them to meet specific needs and address questions and concerns during the process.

“Educate yourself,” said Jim, offering advice to house hunters. “Study the market, take your time and know your choices.” Patience also applies to major decisions around

things like exterior paint colors. “Don’t move too quickly. Speak up if you’re concerned about anything. The builders want you to be happy.”

The Gotches also suggest continuing to visit model homes. “We did that when we were designing our outdoor spaces and even deciding about furniture placement,” Jim said. One sales agent at the Toll Brothers community in Alamo who learned what they were doing even gave them a tape measure to keep. “We couldn’t be happier with the end result.”