IrvineRealtor_IHB
New member
Just curious to what your thoughts are on the best builders in the area.
Wm Lyon, JLH, Lennar, StanPac, CalPac, TollBros, etc. Weigh in.
Wm Lyon, JLH, Lennar, StanPac, CalPac, TollBros, etc. Weigh in.
Builder Rankings - Who builds the best homes?
- Thread starter IrvineRealtor_IHB
- Start date
irvine123_IHB
New member
I have (had) homes from WL, SP, Richmond America, and Toll Brother. All brand-new.
I would rank SP No. 1, Richmond second, Toll Brother third ( my experiences with their is out of state), and WL last.
SP's sales staff, construction staff, customer svs staff were very very good. I don't like their design studios (option / upgrade center).
WL: For the track I bought, the construction super was so bad to the point that I believe he and his crew had no clue how to build it right. They don't have a good qa qc process, and their construction management skill is poor.
My experience with Toll brother is not in CA. I didn't like them at all.
My experience with Richmond America has been nearly ten years. Their build quality was very good, and their customer svs staff was nice and flexible.
Several of my friends have Lennar homes in Coto, they all love Lennar.
I would rank SP No. 1, Richmond second, Toll Brother third ( my experiences with their is out of state), and WL last.
SP's sales staff, construction staff, customer svs staff were very very good. I don't like their design studios (option / upgrade center).
WL: For the track I bought, the construction super was so bad to the point that I believe he and his crew had no clue how to build it right. They don't have a good qa qc process, and their construction management skill is poor.
My experience with Toll brother is not in CA. I didn't like them at all.
My experience with Richmond America has been nearly ten years. Their build quality was very good, and their customer svs staff was nice and flexible.
Several of my friends have Lennar homes in Coto, they all love Lennar.
25w100k+_IHB
New member
My parents house seems really well built. Its taylor woodrow I think....
bkshopr_IHB
New member
Taylor Woodrow no longer exists. It was sold to Morrison Homes.
[quote author="25w100k+" date=1212814152]My parents house seems really well built. Its taylor woodrow I think....</blockquote>
[quote author="25w100k+" date=1212814152]My parents house seems really well built. Its taylor woodrow I think....</blockquote>
With the building code requirements, the integrity and "quality" of the underlying construction is pretty consistent. Where you are going to have differences is between jurisdictions, where one City might be tougher during inspections than another.
Otherwise, the perceived quality of the home to the buyer is going to be relative to the finish work. Although this doesn't necessarily affect the core construction quality of the home, the perception will impact how the buyer feels his home is constructed throughout.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the backbone construction of the homes won't differ much. Most of the other factors are annoyances, and how the builder deals with them is arguably more important than how many you have (to a point).
Otherwise, the perceived quality of the home to the buyer is going to be relative to the finish work. Although this doesn't necessarily affect the core construction quality of the home, the perception will impact how the buyer feels his home is constructed throughout.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the backbone construction of the homes won't differ much. Most of the other factors are annoyances, and how the builder deals with them is arguably more important than how many you have (to a point).
asianinvasian_IHB
New member
The builders don't actually "build" the homes, construction work is all contracted. You can bet the different builders in the same area are all using the same construction company.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
Some builders managed projects better than others. Experienced project managers resolved plan and architectural detailing issues while the homes are still on paper stage. When that is not the case butchering up the models are necessary and sometime the problems will be resolved in the later phases.
Laing Luxury and Cal Pac have good project managers while Stan Pac has good construction specialists that resolve problems during the bid process. Subcontractors often have several teams hired by different builders but "A" team is often reserved for the best account (builders with repeat business and pay on time). When a builder takes on too many projects quality will suffer regardless of its reputation.
When the jobs are closer to corporate subcontractor does a better job because CEO will swing by the job site to inspect.
Laing Luxury and Cal Pac have good project managers while Stan Pac has good construction specialists that resolve problems during the bid process. Subcontractors often have several teams hired by different builders but "A" team is often reserved for the best account (builders with repeat business and pay on time). When a builder takes on too many projects quality will suffer regardless of its reputation.
When the jobs are closer to corporate subcontractor does a better job because CEO will swing by the job site to inspect.
lendingmaestro_IHB
New member
The Dutch, but you'd have to travel many hundreds or thousands of miles to find anything like that.
waiting2buylater_IHB
New member
Based on my untrained eyes, Standard Pacific builds beautiful/high quality homes.
BKshopr, Taylor Woodrow and Morrison now goes by the name of Taylor Morrison.
BKshopr, Taylor Woodrow and Morrison now goes by the name of Taylor Morrison.
bkshopr_IHB
New member
Brookfield has creative merchandising and great presentation of the models. My observation is that the floor plan works extremely well for the elevation "A" (model elevation) and does not get resolved perfectly for the remainder of elevation "B" and "C". Brookfield is a good builder and its products appeal overwhelmingly to the female buyers. I would recommend buying the same elevation as the model because the team labored over the model plans and ran out of steam for the remainders. This is true for most builders.
EvaLSeraphim_IHB
New member
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1212828944]Brookfield is a good builder and its products appeal overwhelmingly to the female buyers.</blockquote>
Then they have been reading the IHB. IIRC, a number of male posters have spoken about how their spouses have been primary decider on a home. It also explains why their kitchens have so many bells and whistles. Personally, I dream of the Paloma kitchens the way 19th Century English kids supposedly dreamed of sugar plums.
Also, FWIW, I was very surprised to notice that the Taylor Woodrow office off the 91 in Carona had not yet changed its name to Taylor Woodrow. Did Morrison take a closer look at the books and give them back?
Then they have been reading the IHB. IIRC, a number of male posters have spoken about how their spouses have been primary decider on a home. It also explains why their kitchens have so many bells and whistles. Personally, I dream of the Paloma kitchens the way 19th Century English kids supposedly dreamed of sugar plums.
Also, FWIW, I was very surprised to notice that the Taylor Woodrow office off the 91 in Carona had not yet changed its name to Taylor Woodrow. Did Morrison take a closer look at the books and give them back?