Comparison of Builders (Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Castle Hills: for sale, houses, neighborhood)

[nuhmbyr_23]

Can someone tell me how Newmark ranks as a builder in DFW area? How do they rank compared to Highland, Grand and Drees

[socketz]

Newmark is a midrange builder. The others you mentioned are a tier above, with the exception of Grand, which tends to have a less than stellar reputation in the metroplex.

Drees and Highland will build in much nicer communities than Newmark, but then the price point of a Newmark home is probably 75k less than Highland or Drees.

[m00se]

Originally Posted by socketz

Newmark is a midrange builder. The others you mentioned are a tier above, with the exception of Grand, which tends to have a less than stellar reputation in the metroplex.

Drees and Highland will build in much nicer communities than Newmark, but then the price point of a Newmark home is probably 75k less than Highland or Drees.

I do believe Newmark has now become Wall Homes. Someone please correct this if it's wrong but I do know that the Newmark model in Grand Prairie is now Wall.

[LOK222]

I guess you'll get varying opinions on this..

a lot here "hate" on GRAND and for me they are the best out there. I looked at them all at went with GRAND over Darling, Drees, Sotherby, landstar and highland

Originally Posted by nuhmbyr_23

Can someone tell me how Newmark ranks as a builder in DFW area? How do they rank compared to Highland, Grand and Drees

[allovertheplace]

Can anyone post opinions on David Weekley? How does it compare with other builders in the metroplex?

[loves2read]

davidn weekly was doing development in Grapevine and got into lot of trouble w/city because he persistantly would damage trees on his lots--homeowner sued him because they paid a premium for lot with lots of trees which were damaged during home construction and later died so had to be cut down...
think he is a careless builder who is more into advertising than quality---we have been in his homes underconstruction and there does not seem to be lot of care taken w/premises--sloppy work/disarray--like just trash the premises and not pick up food wrappers---leave the windows open so workers get air (which is no problem when they are there) but go off and leave them open when rain is expected and rain gets into the rooms--that is NOT GOOD for flooring or walls--
His houses look nice and co has won some awards but don't know about real customer satisfaction...

Think Wall homes is new company started by local guy who has been in home constructin for several years--have had couple of positive articles in paper which are more sales-oriented than hard news--

my thing is go and look at homes under construction--several times--talk to couple of the workers if they will talk to you--ask about how long they have worked in industry and how long for builder--
look at how well they do things like window fittings--is there good water seal protection--how energy efficient is the home--is he using tyvek/felt on outside wrapping--is there thermal decking in attic--13 SEER is mandatory now--so he HAS to do that--not like he is upgrading for energy efficiency--

costs lots of money to build a home--lesser priced homes CANT off the same level of construction features that a more expensive one can but they should offer the same QUALITY or better of construction--joining of sheetrock seams/straightness of wall/framing structure should be done to code, not short-cuts to save time and wood...

[allovertheplace]

I was driving around the Castle Hills neighborhood, where Darling, Highland and David Weekley are building. I noticed that there are many Weekley lots available for sale, but not many Highland or Darling. Is this because those builders build a lot of spec homes or is it because those are preferred over Weekley?

[loves2read]

weekley might have already had specs started and had to go forward w/construction before market slacked off---other two might only do so many specs and wait for contract before they actually pour slab and go forward--
don't really know that area--only speculation

[sonshinelife]

I have a friend and her husband who bought a Darling home in Castle Hills. They have been nothing but pleased with their home since moving in. Darling in their opinion has lived up to the quality they produce. I think loves2read may be right on track about Weekly already having specs... Darling is more conservative than most builders in general from what I've seen. I think that is why I prefer Darling myself.

[TexasNewbie]

I have visited many houses by different builders. The builders impressed me the most are Drees and Toll Brothers. Darling and K Hovnanian are good but Drees is great. The bigger the houses, the more differences you will feel and see about the amount of detailed work Drees and Toll Brothers have put in.