KB Homes (Atlanta, Marietta, Woodstock: sales, appliances, home builders)

[theta]

Hi, I'm considering purchasing a 5 year old home in the Marietta Area. It's a KB home, and I have heard some bad things about the quality of their work. Most of the problems I've read about were in Texas, Florida, Colorado and California.

I was wondering if anyone here has had bad experiences(quality of structure) with a KB Home, Particularly in the Marietta/Woodstock area. Thanks.

[Brewboy]

I would highly advise you to stay away from a KB home! They are very poor quality, especially from 2004 and before. I work for a top home inspection company and I can tell you that we have seen our share of bad craftsmanship, framing and qaulity of work.

[theta]

hmm, I was afraid of hearing that. Which homebuilder would you recommend?

[ready2move]

Originally Posted by theta

hmm, I was afraid of hearing that. Which homebuilder would you recommend?

When I was there in November, I looked at several John Weiland homes. New construction and old, and it was a well built product.

[strat1969]

Any thoughts on DR Horton or David Weekly new builts (>2005)?

[Brewboy]

Well we currently live in a DR Horton home in Canton and trying to sell it ourselves right now. Has been a great home for us!! We have built a new home about 5 mins from here, built larger as my parents are getting older and could be living with us in the next couple of years and with interest rates still so low we figure now is the time to make a move to bigger.

[LLD]

KB Homes is one of the top 5 biggest home builders according to an article in CNN Money -- but have to say that they don't have a very good reputation in Texas, nor here in New Mexico either and it would seem not such a great one in Georgia either. They seem to build less expensive homes with the quality being less as other more expensive builders so you get what you pay for I guess. If you go up one notch in builder prices (e.g. D.R. Horton) I think you get a bit more quality for your money. My advice when buying a home is always to get a good inspector.

[Zelia]

I agree with Brewboy and LLD. I have heard some bad things about KB, too.

KB is now building some homes in Atlanta designed by Martha Stewart. She's been in Atlanta several times promoting her homes. A second subdivision is now in the works. I don't know how her homes differ from standard KB homes?

John Wieland is a major builder not only in Atlanta but in the Southeast. I think he is the largest builder in Atlanta. His homes have a very distinctive look.

John Wieland Homes' major sales pitch is a 5-20 year warranty--supposedly the longest warranty in the business. I really don't know how good the warranty is. Some of the warranty specifics apply to appliances--that's the five year warranty.

The sticking point for most home buyers is the document home buyers must sign, signing away your rights to sue the builder for construction flaws and defects, after a certain time frame. I think most Georgia builders require you to waive your rights to sue. I guess this is pretty much standard operating procedure now.

Z