Experience building/buying home from Partners in Building (PIB)? (Cinco Ranch: sales, appliances)

[pacman777]

Possibly looking to build on a lot owned by Partners in Building in Seven Meadows or Cinco Ranch. We stopped by the model home in Seven Meadows, and it was very nice. Of course their prices are above average, but the homes and features are as well. From speaking with the sales rep, it seems all floorplans can be cut and pasted and customized to the buyer's liking. I like this idea, but I don't want to get nickeled and dimed for modifications and end up spending more than our budget. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences building with them and would care to share. It seems their standard features listed on the two page pamphlet is kinda vague, and I don't want to have to keep adding to the price to get so called "upgrades" when they should really be included in the price when you're paying that much. I know Trendmaker is more detailed on the features that are included, but of course you can not customize as much with them.

[jimboburnsy]

A co-worker had a very poor experience with Partners-in-Building. He and his wife had settled on a floorplan with some minor adjustments and the builder representative had offered several credits and discounts. When the negotiations were "finished," he requested that the deal they had discussed be put in writing. He heard very little from them for three weeks before they provided him with a written agreement from which everything they had settled on was redacted. I find that to be shady and of questionable good faith. Stipulate that you want the deal you think you're getting in writing and read it before any money changes hands.

[icon7]

I asked this question on another forum and for the most part got the same feedback as jimboburnsy. They do nickel and dime you for everything.

They never returned my call or emails on designing a house for me, thus I went with another builder. I think primarily when I talked to them I told them I did not want a stucco home, however all the homes in this particular area that they were building were stucco, so I guess they did not want to talk to me. Anyhow, they do put in some great commercial appliances. but you pay for it.

You can also work with trendmaker to get commercial appliances, and work with the sale's rep to move some interior walls and make additions that won't require major structural changes.