Anyone dealt with McCar homes? (Charlotte, Winston-Salem: wood floors, sales, mortgages)

[shaylahc]

We are looking at one of their subdivisions in the Charlotte area. I am a bit concerned because I'm not getting the warm fuzzies from this builder. They seem to have some very strict rules and don't seem very customer friendly.

For example---if we want to build a home with a contingency (the sale of our current home) they actively market your home while it's under construction. Shows up on realtor.com and everything. If they get another offer from a buyer, you either have to remove the contingency or risk losing the house. I understand this can happen with any contingent contract, but this is the first builder we've run in to who actively markets the house to other buyers through Realtor.com. Also, they said for some of their options you are required to put down a 50% deposit. They also don't let you put down a deposit to hold a lot. You either go in to contract right away or you're out of luck. None of the other builders we've visited had such rules.

I wonder if anyone had dealt with them or knows someone who has. If so, how was your experience?

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by shaylahc

We are looking at one of their subdivisions in the Charlotte area. I am a bit concerned because I'm not getting the warm fuzzies from this builder. They seem to have some very strict rules and don't seem very customer friendly.

For example---if we want to build a home with a contingency (the sale of our current home) they actively market your home while it's under construction. Shows up on realtor.com and everything. If they get another offer from a buyer, you either have to remove the contingency or risk losing the house. I understand this can happen with any contingent contract, but this is the first builder we've run in to who actively markets the house to other buyers through Realtor.com. Also, they said for some of their options you are required to put down a 50% deposit. They also don't let you put down a deposit to hold a lot. You either go in to contract right away or you're out of luck. None of the other builders we've visited had such rules.

I wonder if anyone had dealt with them or knows someone who has. If so, how was your experience?

Sounds unreasonable to me, that they should market your home while it's being built. How much of a deposit did they want to start building?

[shaylahc]

Originally Posted by a1m1700

Sounds unreasonable to me, that they should market your home while it's being built. How much of a deposit did they want to start building?

$5000. Several builders we've talked to have quoted this amount, I'm not sure if this is standard for the area

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by shaylahc

$5000. Several builders we've talked to have quoted this amount, I'm not sure if this is standard for the area

I guess it varies. Dr. Horton at Steele Creek landing told me 5,000 and the one in Davidson asked me for 1,000 only.

[leighbhe]

In my experience, large production builders generally do this. I have clients who are buying a pulte home, put 20k down but the home is still being marketed and yes, they will get in touch with the buyers if someone else wants to buy it and see if they can take the contingency off of it. Basically, they are not really giving you a contingency because with a typical contingent contract you, the buyer, has 48 hours to either take the contingency off or lose the house. With pulte (and apparantly the group you are dealing with) they don't take contingent contracts, they will let you put earnest monies down, and they will let you pick out everything you want in the house and build it on the lot you want and to your specifications BUT, if you cannot take the "contingency" off of the contract, they will sell it to someone else.

So, if you feel like the house you are trying to sell in order to move is not going to sell quickly, you may want to reconsider, or don't get invested in the house you are going to buy. You never know, the house you were thinking of building may not get any offers.

Anyhow, if you have more questions, feel free to pm me.

Leigh

[Washingtonian]

Sounds unreasonable. It's interesting that McCar is so inflexible when sales have dropped off for the home builders. I would not put a contract on the house unless I sold my home. Houses are taking a lot longer to sell.

I have a friend in Cary, NC (very desirable area) who has had her house on the market for 6 months. It's a very nice home but it's competeng w/ new builders and their incentives. She moved to Columbia,SC and put a contract on a house. She is suppose to close on Tuesday but she can't because her other house in unsold. The contingency clause is saving her from having two mortgages.

How long do you think it will take to sell your house? Are you in a location where people are still buying? Good luck w/ your decision.

[Weis02]

Originally Posted by leighbhe

In my experience, large production builders generally do this. I have clients who are buying a pulte home, put 20k down but the home is still being marketed and yes, they will get in touch with the buyers if someone else wants to buy it and see if they can take the contingency off of it. Basically, they are not really giving you a contingency because with a typical contingent contract you, the buyer, has 48 hours to either take the contingency off or lose the house. With pulte (and apparantly the group you are dealing with) they don't take contingent contracts, they will let you put earnest monies down, and they will let you pick out everything you want in the house and build it on the lot you want and to your specifications BUT, if you cannot take the "contingency" off of the contract, they will sell it to someone else.

So, if you feel like the house you are trying to sell in order to move is not going to sell quickly, you may want to reconsider, or don't get invested in the house you are going to buy. You never know, the house you were thinking of building may not get any offers.

Anyhow, if you have more questions, feel free to pm me.

Leigh

Keep in mind what is happening now, with these contingencies, buyers who can't sell their homes are walking away and now buildesr have to sell these homes so we may see builders do more of this or increase what they require they hold and how much you can lose if you back out.

Also, they may show the house on a site, to make the phohe ring, after all, any ad is designed to do that. I have seen many realtors still show listings that are sold, but that ad got you to call, so maybe they - even a builder - can sell you something else.

[Abby]

Trust your intincts - I wish I would have! If you think McCar Homes is being inflexible now, just wait until you ask to move a door or light fixture etc (it is your house afterall, isn't it???)...And their quality is really sub-standard. I've built production homes before and let me tell you, for a $300K + home I received the worst quality floors, carpet, plumbing and workmanship ever. I will never build another McCar home again - and in speaking with my new neighbors, neither will they! More to come I am sure....

[saint999]

I agree with Abby...We built a McCar Home in Clemmons and the staff during sales period will promise to fix anything even if it means ripping it out. Once your close to closing 5 months later ...forget it they will just find someone else to buy your home if you dont like something. Even McCar management treats you like your a fool for expecting quality. They will put you off and will keep telling you they will make problems right and then you never see them again. Most my neighbors agree with the poor quality that Abby described and have even discuss taking action as a group. Hard wood floors are awful as is sheet rock contractors. For $300++ home I know there is better quality you can find in other builders. I expect problems but dont expect to be treated the way they treat their customers when a problem arises. Run as fast as you can...

[jfsj]

As did Saint999, my wife and I fell into the trap of McCar homes in Clemmons which is outside of Winston-Salem. We found their listing on realtor.com while looking for homes. Initially we felt as if we were getting a really good deal, although the McCar representative we were working with was focusing on our needs and not the company, so they fired her halfway through out building process. They made many promises, which they failed to keep, as well as making agreements on specific aspects of our home, then backing out and taking the easy way of dealing with it. Not only is McCar's customer service a sham, so is their concept of sub-contractors. At no point could I even talk with any of the sub-contractors as I did not speak their language and there was no one on site who was able to speak with them either. The construction was sub-par, we have had more problems with the house and have only been in it for 11 1/2 months. The warranty work is being done now for the year end process, and they have completely screwed it up. The painters could not match the standard upgrade paint that we purchased. The paint they used is one shade darker, so it is obvious. The warranty person says that they never said they could match the paint, so it is our problem to deal with. My recommendation is that you do not put down any money on the home with McCar. Take what ever you were going to spend and find a reputible builder who genuinely cares about their customer's needs.