It seems that when buyers talk about "new construction", they often are concerned about problems related to "construction quality". I often hear comments about they don't build like "in the good old days, etc. Clearly, we live in a different world with many new products and workers that have different values and work ethics. Actually, homes today are built to stricter energy standards than just a few years ago. I also see workers on new home sites working way past what many of us consider normal hours, even framing at 7 PM on a Sunday night in the summer months. What's really happening?Â
I don’t think there is any builder that wakes up in the morning and decides “today, I’ll cut corners and build a crappy, poor quality house”. That just doesn't make good business sense.
I would say that no matter which builder you research, there will always be someone who is unhappy with something and will blame the "builder". Fact is, a builder hires sub-contractors that provide various services. The builder must monitor these workers and results to insure delivery of a quality product. Supervision and monitoring is a main key to a quality result. The builder gets all the credit both good and bad for the final result you will call home. Â
Another important aspect to understand is how "production builders" operate. Locally, it may be Crown Communities, Wilson Parker, JR Homes, Bill Beazley Homes or others. Who is the real "builder"? The big name is obvious however, these builders have "builders", "foremen' or "construction supervisors" on site that actually coordinate construction. This person is "the eyes on the ground" and may only work in one of the many subdivisions under construction.  Â
It could happen from time to time in a neighborhood that construction is not up to the standards set by the owner of the building company. This is no different than a cook messing up your dinner but it doesn't make the restaurant all bad. Once problems are identified, the responsible company owner makes corrections and if appropriate may even “fire” the people who messed up and fix the problem. Builders do realize how important a "reputation" is and at the end of the day want happy customers.
Having personally had several houses built by local “reputable” builders (including our office), I would always suggest hiring an independent home inspector to monitor different phases of the construction. This will help avoid missed items that can easily be corrected during the construction process. In the event a house is already complete, an inspector can be retained prior to walkthrough and closing. The items of concern can almost always be addressed before you go to the closing. In Georgia, you also have a full 1 year builder warranty but it's best to have any obvious mistakes corrected before you move in your new home. New homes today can offer great value. Call us today to discuss your needs and see if a newly built home is best for you. Â
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