The Perfect Homebuilder | Mark Eberwine | a mySA.com blog

Most everyone who has bought a home knows that there is no such thing as a perfect home.

Anyone who has gone through the home building process knows that even when the homebuilder is put under much scrutiny, mistakes get made.

I recently inspected a home that is just about to have the insulation and the drywall installed. This recent inspection prompted this article.

Known as a ?pre-cover? or ?pre-drywall? inspection, it is the most opportune time to discover defects with the framing and plumbing, wiring, and hvac systems, as well as issues with the exterior flashing and claddings.

What is fascinating is how different builders react to news that they have defects in their product, defects that need to be corrected prior to the insulation and drywall installation.

There are builders that will spend more time arguing about why the defect is not a defect, than it takes to correct the defect.

This particular builder spent time downplaying the inspection findings. What this accomplished was putting their homebuyer in a state of distress.

Their buyer, my client, had seen firsthand all the defects during the inspection. Their buyer had already seen the sagging roof, the wobbly walls, and the unlevel flooring. They didn?t need to be told anything by the builder other than ?we?ll correct the defects?.

What eventually happened is that the builder hired an engineer that ended up telling them they needed to correct the defects I had discovered and reported.

This brings me to the point of this article.

In spite of the fact that many homebuilders have a reputation as corrupt and inept. There are a number of homebuilders that take pride in their products, make an effort to improve the quality of their homes, and have a genuine concern for their clients.

If you are considering building a new home there are a multitude of things that can go wrong.

The first mistake people make is shopping homebuilders based primarily on price. The ?low-bid? homebuilder has fooled many a homebuyer. Buyers often believe that a builder who bids a construction project at a much higher price is ?making too much money?.

Often, the opposite is true. The ?low-bid? homebuilder entices the potential buyer into signing a contract that lacks many critical details about the type of materials to be used, lacks engineering details, is void of any penalties if there are construction overruns, and has unrealistic ?allowances? for appliances, fixtures, flooring, etc.

A ?low-bid? custom homebuilder will often produce a contract that is $100,000-200,000 lower than the builder who produces a detailed bid that will result in a quality home.

Once you are committed to the ?low-bid? builder, you can find yourself being presented with dozens and dozens of ?change orders?. This is where you thought you were getting one thing and the builder says ?no, no, no, that?s not the way we do things, if you want us to change it, it is going to cost you.

Choosing a quality builder with detailed plans and execution when building a home is something many people will never have the opportunity to experience.

One builder, whose homes I have inspected, has demonstrated the commitment and willingness to educate their homebuyers about what it takes to build a quality home, on time, and under budget.

Tri-Built Custom Homes? Jason Gallas and Mike Coan appear to have committed themselves to making sure that during the homebuilding process, they become truly good friends with their home buying clients. For more information about the bidding process, the pursuit of the perfect home, and someone who cares about their clients, visit the Tri-Built website at www.tribuilthomes.com or call Jason at 210-535-4582

Mark has contributed to successful Texas legislation, and is an expert witness in construction defects litigation. In his spare time, he is a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot and an inventor and patent holder. You may contact him at mark@abuyersinspector.com or visit his Web site Five Star Home Inspections. If you are contemplating building a home, contact him BEFORE you choose a Homebuilder.

Source: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/markeberwine/2012/06/the-perfect-homebuilder/

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