New Home Buyers in Jacksonville (homebuyer, construction, costs)

[ShakenStirred]

I've read a lot of threads on this forum that discuss areas of town, quality of builders and so forth, but there is one topic that I haven't found yet that homebuyers really need to be aware of....that they don't necessarily see in the finished product of a new home. Mold, mildew and moisture damage has been increasing in this area and can affect your health as well.

For the most part, Jacksonville builders are way ahead of the rest of the nation in moisture protection, however, especially in todays market, many of the builders are starting to cut corners, using trades that aren't licensed or certified to install these products, using inferior products, and doing everything possible to cut costs on this critical part of the construction process. Make no mistake, if this process is overlooked and one minor detail is done incorrectly, you will have house leaks, which could lead to mold and health problems. They usually take about 3-5 years to appear, depending on the severity of the problem, sometimes it shows up quicker.

Feel free to ask me any questions regarding this part of the construction, and I can tell you just about every detail of what almost every builder in this area is doing and whether they are doing it right. You need this information when considering a new home. This portion of the house costs the builder less than 1% of the selling price, yet in this market, it amazes me that the builders will skimp on the details for a mere $30-40 these days. This cheats the consumer in my opinion.