Maronda Homes - new builder in Cinci region? Any complaints? (Columbus: real estate, foreclosures)

[colossus]

Maronda Homes is one of the best builders out there. Nobody can touch their prices when it comes to cost per square foot. You get a lot of home for the money.

You must remember that Maronda must meet and exceed building codes like all the other guys. Like you said, all home builders regardless of their price point have lawsuits against them. Homes are comprised of MILLIONS of parts and a home is almost 100% man-made, so you can expect some minor issues.

I would carefully examine homes built in 2004-2005, at the peak of the buying season, because many builders were pumping out homes as fast as they could to keep up with demand. Now that it's a buyers market, the construction supervisors are able to pay closer attention to the construction.

Maronda, in many cases, builds a higher quality home because they employ many of the people building it... often times plumbers and electricians are on Maronda's payroll--not just another subcontractor. Because their guys are building the same homes over and over again they know how to get it right the first time.

Maronda doesn't work with buyers agents... that's true. That's how they can get their price so low. Most builders pay a 3% to 5% commission to agents so Maronda just cuts out the middleman and they can further reduce their price.

As you can tell, I am very familiar with their process. In my area of Florida, we had the choice of using an outside lender of using Maronda's own lender. Maronda's lender (MFC) offers the best rates and you get free money towards closing costs.

I hope this helps you make your decision. I've never heard of Cristo and if I were building a home in the greater Cincinnati area I would build one backed buy a national production company like Maronda so you've got some peace of mind. If something does go wrong, they'll have the money to make things right.

[shaunatk]

I can definitely say that Cristo did a pretty good job on my house. I've been there 2 years, and haven't really had any problems. Sure there some minor annoyances, but you'll have that no matter who you choose to build your home. They give the homes a one year warranty, and they come in after 3 months and at the end of the warranty they come in and do any repairs.

I haven't heard any major complaints from any of the people living in my neighborhood either.

I believe they are mainly just building in the Trenton area right now, as well as Franklin.

[Maraco]

I bought a Maronda Home in 1998, Remington Model,and I have had no significant problems. Fit and finish is comparable to Dominion, MI, and even Rockford models that I have viewed. Probably the most important factor with any stick built home is to make yourself available on site no less then several times per week and develop a good relationship with the site supervisor. Let him/her know of any problems you notice so that they may be corrected quickly. The work is performed by sub contractors so if you can be on site and talk with them that helps as well. Many of the subs that worked on my home also worked for the other builders from time to time.

Regarding comments about insulation, my walls are fine and the attic was done well. 2230 square feet and low budget amount for heat. Based on your "realistic" notion of a house in this price range not being perfect, I think you would be well pleased with a maronda home. I would buy from them again.

[asalamay]

I have not heard a lot of good comments about the Maronda. I have friends that have purchased homes from M/I and had some good luck. But the house really depends on the Foreman and the sales person who you are working with. Also you have to keep on top of them during the construction and don't be afraid to tell them when you are not satisified. A new house is a large investment so treat it that way.

But if you want to see what Maronda offers in quality, Look at the season opener of Home extreme makeover. It was in columbus, the house they torn down was a Maronda and it was only 8 years old. If you are talking to Maronda I would bring this up and see what they say.

[Briolat21]

Really? That's very interesting... It would be interesting to know why an 8 year old house had to be torn down..

THanks for the info!

[Briolat21]

can you be more specific as to the Wrong? That's what we really want to know. We understand the big. We understand the prebuilt panels. We even understand the very basic building finishes (no bells and whistles, no real customization). That all makes sense to me in a controlling your supply chain sort of way.

but what is the wrong part? Subcontractors that don't do their job? Deliberate negligence? What?

Please elaborate, we are very interested and haven't yet signed a contract..

[gretchen25]

My husband and I have a Maronda townhome in Pittsburgh. It was built in 1995 and I have no complaints other than that they don't pay attention to detail. For example, we joke that our kitchen has no straight walls. My aunt has a Maronda single family home also in Pittsburgh that was a nightmare--it was built in 89 and was a money pit that needed new siding, regraded, all sorts of things... that said...you absolutely can't beat it for the money...especially if you are the first owner. You wil make a ton of money when you try to sell it and overall their quality has improved over the years. Personally, I won't buy another one because I prefer other homebuilders but that's my preference. You won't love it and it won't be your dream home,but you'll get a lot of space for the money. Good luck!

[gobucks2007]

A lot of the above is mis-leading. Maronda is a great builder. They just came in 3rd in quality out of all the builders in the Greater Columbus area. The problems people have had with Maronda are quality issues. That is CRAZY!! They walk you through the home before you close..Anything that is an issue they fix for you. Maronda DOES co-Broke with Realtors and they have nothing to hide! Maronda got a bad name from realtors a few years ago, because at that time Maronda did not co-broke. The realtors could not make any money with Maronda, So they said terrible things to people so they would not buy with Maronda. I have referred at least 100 people and everyone that has bought is very satisfied! I have built 3 times with Maronda and LOVE THEM. You are going to get the best quality home, The biggest home for the money. They use a 90%+ energy efficient furnace to help on heating. They use great insulation on their homes. The thermoply is a great product. It does not bread mold and is for efficient. They did have a home that was torn down. It was a home that was only up about 8 years. It was sold to a person that sold it to another. That person forclosed and pretty much destroyed the home. Maronda is a great builder and a great value...And Yes...I would build with them again!

[gobucks2007]

You do not have to use Maronda's in house financing! I used it the last time but not the other two times. The rate they got me was a full 1/2 point better and they paid my closing cost!

[streetcreed]

I live in Columbus, and I have only heard bad things of this companies homes built here in Columbus.

Trust me Columbus had lots of home builders build homes here in the last 3 decades, and Maranda is a bad one

Im pretty sure that they built a home that was recently tore down on national tv (extreme home makeover) here in the CMH and the home had a bad foundation, the house was falling into the ground. I am sure this is not the norm with their homes, but it seems their construction can be poor.