ICI Homes, Plantation Bay (Hampton: rent, appliances, home builders)

[Bangolufsen]

My girlfriend decided to buy a spec townhouse in this community. She has not closed yet. I was looking at a single family house for myself. It is about 2650 sq feet. However, I can hardly find anything positive about ICI Homes on this forum or in any other reviews. Would any of you please comment on the current or recent quality of construction from ICI ? I would like to hear experience good or bad relating to either doing business with this builder or the quality of what they are building.

[Bangolufsen]

Any help please? Does anyone have any experience with ici in any community?

[judeK]

Originally Posted by Bangolufsen

Any help please? Does anyone have any experience with ici in any community?

We almost bought one of their $400K homes in North Hampton back in 2008, but after walking through one of their half finished homes and seeing the quality of the materials they use and their subs work we quickly changed our minds and backed briskly away.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by judeK

We almost bought one of their $400K homes in North Hampton back in 2008, but after walking through one of their half finished homes and seeing the quality of the materials they use and their subs work we quickly changed our minds and backed briskly away.

We did the same thing when it came to picking a builder - walked through homes under construction. Even a lay person can spot the most obvious bad stuff.

Note that I don't know anything about this particular builder. Robyn

[JMMH]

I purchased a new home from ICI a few years ago. I had done research concerning prior builds, and remember reading about one in my neighborhood that failed inspection that was built in 2007. The company was quick to admit that at the time they were using a sub-par contractor and that they had since changed who they use to build homes.

I wanted a new build in Julington Creek and in a gated community, so ICI was the only option available. We did rent a house in our neighborhood a year before building that was built in 2007, and that house had no issues in talking with the homeowner and in the year we lived there.

I had an inspector evaluate my home at framing, after dry-wall, and also before closing and again one year afterwards. The issues he found were mostly cosmetic and not very serious. Being within the one year warranty, ICI was responsive in getting all the issues addressed.

Like all builders, ICI marks up options that you can choose (i.e. cherry cabinets, etc) and skimps on the mandatory things, like appliances. Our GE dishwasher included with the house was a cheap model and had very poor online ratings. It didn't work well and was frustrating to the point that we replaced it within 3 months after closing with a Bosch.

Honestly nobody on this forum thinks very highly of ICI for probably legitimate reasons. Thankfully to date I have not had a reason to complain, but due to others' having issues I also won't necessarily advocate for them either.

[oneslip]

I don't know anything about ICI specifically but when looking at some new construction homes, I just so happened to knock/tap on the walls and realized how cheap & thin they felt. I didn't know drywall came any thinner then 1/4''. They look nice but use such cheap materials you feel like the wolf will easily blow your house down.

[Bangolufsen]

I found them to be high pressure and difficult to deal with. They also have an inflexible one sided contract. I just wonder how their houses will hold up after 10 years. They seem to rush each house to completion

[Bangolufsen]

How do they compare to the other builders in the area all the way to jax?

[JMMH]

I think most home builders have the same mentality. All are rushed to get houses done to close so they get paid, and all they care about is the bottom line. Looking on the internet you'll find people who have issues with any of them, KB, Toll Brothers, etc.

I was fortunate when I bought that the market hadn't heated back up, so ICI didn't do high pressure things at the time. In fact they were running deals so they paid my CDD fees and gave me an extra 400 square feet for free.

[Bangolufsen]

Now ICI is not offering CD/DVD fees or closing costs, but they don't seem to be selling very many houses in plantation bay. I noticed how quickly they put each house up and I am wondering how long these houses are designed to last. Is Toll or David Weekly any better?