Maronda Homes - new builder in Cinci region? Any complaints?

[levelhead]

Yes YoMikey 627, I have seen the show. Have you? The show came to this family's aid because the guy was a veteran who was a 9/11 ground zero hero (makes for good TV) with 6 kids.... in a 3 bedroom house. They needed way more space! I'm guessing that you have not given any thought to how a show like that works.

They do not come in and do just needed repairs- no drama there! They do not have a budget to work within- the sky is the limit! They make the most of the situation that they have to work with. They have to find all kinds of things wrong with the home. It's better TV if they make the family appear to be in desperate need of new housing! It needs to look like a "dire situation". They don't just add on to a home. They always demolish it, or gut it and make extreme changes- thus the name of the show.

Can we also keep in mind here that the condition of a home depends greatly, almost entirely on the upkeep of the home? Geesh! Was the home maintained? Caulked and repaired as needed? Mechanicals checked on and maintained? Who knows. ANY home can become rundown in a very short period of time.

Remember, this is a TV show that needs to keep ratings high. The show was able to take the large family of a hero veteran that had been crowded into a small home and give them a huge, beautiful new home! Wonderful! That's good TV!

I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE- I'm not just blogging about things that I have seen or heard. I live in my new home every day and I'm grateful for the quality and customer service that Maronda has been able to offer my family!

Anyone thinking about buying a home from any builder needs to do legitimate research- Better Business Bureau, neighborhood residents, specs from the builder, compare builders. I'm not trying to sell Maronda, I just think these blogs turn into the ridiculous!

[beer and brats]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A jury on Tuesday ruled that a major homebuilder must pay more than $3 million to a family who accused the company of shoddy construction work, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported.
The lawsuit against Maronda Homes was filed after Jennifer Cosner accused the homebuilder of failing to properly connect her house to its foundation.
During the course of the case, Cosner's attorney, Dan Mordarski, showed jurors scores of pictures that showed water running into wood work.
"The water eventually turned into mold," Mordarski said.
The family claimed that the building problems caused emotional, financial, and even physical distress, Aker reported.
"It really did destroy this family because for 2 1/2 years, they didn't know where they were going to sleep, where they were going to stay, whether their house is going to be fixed or not," Mordarski said. "They still don't know how they're going to pay the bills."
A Maronda Homes vice president declined to comment during the trial last week, but a jury on Tuesday awarded a $1.7 million verdict that jumped to $3.1 million after consumer sales practices were awarded, Aker reported.
Following the jury's decision on Tuesday, Maronda issued a statement that said it was "exploring all of its legal options."
Those options could include an appeal, Aker reported.
But there is more than just one allegation against Maronda. The company has been the focus of 10 Investigates stories in the past for alleged deceptive practices and shoddy work, Aker reported.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office confirmed that 52 complaints have been filed against Maronda in the past five years.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

[beer and brats]

Maronda was kicked out of the BBB from 2001 to 2003 for non compliance and poor customer satisfaction when the Local president at the time refused to deal with any complaints and his attitude and the attitude of the company was " let them sue us" Look out your front door. every one of there communities turns into trash.

This is not a risk I am willing to take with my money!

[DanBev]

They are building homes here in Lake City Fl in a new subdivision at low price based on square feet,$159,000-over $200,000.Does not sound like a builder that cares.Maybe the local contractors will do better???

[bkirtland]

If I were checking out ANY BUILDER, I would knock on some doors of current homeowners in the community of interest and ask about their experiences. The building experience and the resulting product depend primarily on the company representatives who are directly involved.
Is the sales rep honest, knowledgable and sharing, or is he/she just saying stuff they think the customer wants to hear? Does the superintendent respond to questions and concerns quickly and thoroughly? Does he/she keep an eye on the subconstractors' work on a daily basis? Does the superintendent take pride in his finished product? Does the mortgage representative thoroughly explain the process and required cash requirements? Is the closing process smooth or a nightmare? The various complaints listed about Maronda Homes may well be valid, but I can assure you that the entire staff at Maronda Homes in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Division is dedicating to building quality, affordable homes and commited to total customer satisfaction. We encourage you to "knock on some doors".

[Briolat21]

Hi - as the OP I would like to say I made my decision, no it was not Maronda, (for many reasons) - so at this point this thread is just in general for others with questions about them. I am not looking for the info at this point, as I am too busy trying to put in a fence at the other builder's house we chose.

[knowthefactspeople]

It's so interesting to me how many people blame their Builder for lack of maintenance on THEIR new home. If you see a crack in your stucco, repair it. This will ensure you do not get water into your home when it rains. All homebuyers are welcome to have a home inspector come out to inspect the home prior to closing. Is it because it is at your own expence? NO HOME IS WATERPROOF! Do your reserach and know your facts before selecting a ne whome builder.
Having worked for many years at a High end Builder and Maronda Homes, I can tell you that both build to the same codes and use the same materials to build new homes. Each home is inspected by local Governtmental agencies prior to the next stage of construction, if the inspection failed, it had to be taken care and passes before the next step could take place. New homes will alwaysw settle after the first 6-12 months and may crack your tile, this is inevitable people! If you know anything about construction you will know this. I live in a Maronda Home and have no issues with it. Great customer service and they back up their product unlike most national builders do. You also get alot of sq. footage for your money. If you want to be fooled by other more expensive builders, then go pay $168/sq. ft. I'm not that stupid to do so.
As far as financing goes, yes, they have their own Lender and would like their customers to use them, obviously. They offer zero down and zero closing costs, I dare you to find another bank that will do that for you and have your closing documents at the closing the day you are to close. 85% of delayed closing are a direct result of outside lenders that have not a care in the world, they have dropped the ball one too many times so the customer is the one that suffers.
Maronda Homes has not co-broked (particiapte with Realtors) since 1971, never had too. Not one builder in the state of Florida can touch Maronda's price per sq. ft. and standard features.
Maronda now offers Realtor participation but all they do is wine and cry that we never co-oped in the past so why should we do it now. HELLO! STEERING YOUR CLIENTS IS ILLEGAL REALTORS! Local Realtors must be making alot of money that they turn away a paycheck, especially in todays market. Perhaps it's their second job keeping them current on their mortgage payments.
I'm tired of people pointing the finger at their home builder, when it is, in fact, homeowner maintence. If your too good to buy a home at a lower price and stupid enough to do so, that to me, sounds like a personal problem.
If you live in Florida, you know its humid and wet, high winds, and mold is highly expected. It is YOUR responsiblity to ensure your home is protected, not the builders.
If there are letent defects in your Maronda home, call them or do a service order via internet, and they will stand behind their product and fix it! Bitching about in a blog is not going to fix the problem.
I just wish more people were educated about maintence on a home in Florida before they make such claims.
Your superintendant is a huge factor between a you getting a GOOD home or a GREAT home, after that the responsiblity is yours as a homeowner.

[knowthefactspeople]

Negative. Just because the home price is substantially less than the competition, does not mean the quality of construction is bad. Maronda Homes owns over 40 acres where they produce a huge amount of their products, staircases, walls, etc. It is done by a 10 million dollar machines that is capable of producing 19 homes a week. No other builder has caught on to their genius ideas, which is why they cost alot more for the same products and materials used. Maronda also does not subcontract out, all trades are Maronda employees, this way they keep a closer eye on work done. With Maronda being a private company, those that makes claims are not always factual. They do not participate on the NYSE, information on profits/loss is not public, its private so it really boggles my mind how people write and speak as if they know things to be a fact, when in actuality, its false. They is no JD Pwersw survey, so where on earth do people come up with the stuff they say? Its because they are upset over some issue with their home and want to seek revenge.

Ponder this: Almost half the national new home builders have already filed bankruptcy, Maronda is not one of them.. Being in business as long as they have, they must be doing something right.

If their homes dont meet your personal standards, then dont buy from them.
Everyone has an opinion, and that was mine.

[knowthefactspeople]

Maronda Homes builds sound quality homes. Please do not be fooled by other builder claiming you only get what you pay for. Member Etrinc said it best! Maronda offers lower priced homes because we can. All building materials are manufactured in house which results in savings being passed on the the customer.
I worked for many home builders in florida and the only one that has the right idea thus far is MARONDA HOMES!
In 2004, the media ran Ryland and Lennar homes names through the mud after the series of hurricanes that hit central/south Florida, this year its Maronda, and this too shall pass. It's the media, need I say more?
Why is it only when a hurricane or 3 has hit the same area does the media decide to fault builders for choppy houses and poor construction? Lets focus on the task at hand, you declined to maintain your home and now want to point the finger the furthest away from yourself. This is all too common with 1st time homebuyers, which is why Maronda staff explains this clearly at the time of you purchasing the home. It is also available on the website if you care to read about required maintence on a new home. It's nothing new, you must educate yourselves and make necessary repairs. If anything else cracked in your home, you'd fix it, right? Then fix the cracks in your stucco as well.