Comments on: Are there any home builders that should be avoided at all costs?

By: Real Estate Guy

Real Estate Guy — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:05:59 +0000

Dan Ryan in the WV/PA/MD area.
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By: tink

tink — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:47:59 +0000

I would suggest becoming a member of Angie's List. It's a small monthly fee compared to what a bad job could cost you. Also, if you find a builder do an internet seach, for example Dura Builders Complaints.
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By: Expert Realtor

Expert Realtor — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:57:59 +0000

Yes, Portrait Homes aka Pasquinelli, Ryan Homes, KB Homes and Beazer.

These are extremely low end construction homes…what they sell for makes no difference…..they are still made of junk.
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By: TheCre8iv1

TheCre8iv1 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:31:59 +0000

I'm not sure where you are located but there is one in Maryland in the DC Metro area. They are based in Rockville and the company name is Premiere Homes and they are owned by Mr. E. Kevin Smart. I had a terrible experience with them because they hid some underlying problems with the lot they built my house on and would only fix the problem after 9 months when i enlisted an attorney to handle the problem. I later found out they were in several lawsuits for going under contract with a buyer then later finding ways to get out of the first contract once they were under contract with a new buyer that offered a higher price. Very shady.
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By: Moody

Moody — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:49:59 +0000

cooooooooll………….
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By: spaci

spaci — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:08:59 +0000

i deliver mail to some of those communities that the home builders develop. in one of those communities the homes are built by CAMBRIA. the people that live there have told me plenty. from cracking walls to uneven doors to stuck windows. one lady said the smell in her new homes bathroom was SO BAD that she tore up the floor and found old lunches from the construction crews under her floor rotting. another guy said his carpet was so lumpy he finally pulled it up and saw the carpet pad was incomplete. a piece here, a piece there, no pad in some places. i hear the builders don't help w/squat. i also deliver 50+ certified letters every few months because of hoa violations-everything from a single weed in the grass to siding on the house that is loose-builders fault!
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By: RedHeeler

RedHeeler — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:46:59 +0000

There are a few very bad bottomfeeder builders but the one that absolutely must be avoided at all costs is COSCAN. They are consistently ranked among the worst in customer satisfaction across the board. They use bottom-tier labor and cut corners at every turn. I have seen their work upclose and marvelled at how irresponsibly they attempt to fool the public by using subpar materials that wont last a decade. Most roofs built by coscan will have to be replaced within 15 years. Floors will always squeak within 2 years of use. Shoddy craftsmanship, cheap materials, nonexistent customer support. Avoid Coscan.
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Commercial/Residental Appraiser 24 years.
Former principle/Project manager RTKL Baltimore

By: Landlord

Landlord — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:36:59 +0000

Off the top of my head the only one that is consistently awful is KB. There is another one that starts with a P, if I recall the name I will edit this.
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By: jmpainting1@sbcglobal.net

jmpainting1@sbcglobal.net — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:58:59 +0000

yes and a big yes
best way to check is with your state lic board
they are there for you
calif has one as many other states do too
cali is the hardest place to get your lic
if you get it here you can get it any where else
good luck
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cali state lic contractor for 25 yrs

By: Andrew J

Andrew J — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:18:59 +0000

The ones that are almost bankrupt. Really!
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