DR Horton scares me. (company, complaints)

[Ponderosa]

A recent change to the TOS prohibits airing complaints about products, service, vendors, etc on the forum. This thread is basically about whether it is possible to build a quality home in 60 days which I don't think is a complaint, per se, so it continues. I will have to delete/edit anything that violates the rules, however. Thanks for your understanding.

[Altongirl]

I used to work for a great builder that was bought by DR and the construction suffered after 8 months under DR control. Lots of pay issues and the like........
My biggest suggestion is not to count on it being done and get an inspector before you close to find any "issues" to be corrected. DO NOT CLOSE BEFORE ALL ITEMS ARE ADDRESSED!
Good Luck

[asugraduate]

I did not have a good experience with DR Horton, and my house took a little longer than 60 days to build. Because I want to keep with the rules of this forum, I will not air my complaints. If you'd like more information, please feel free to PM me.

[carnut]

I believe that every builder has had some problems. Even in these current times we are having, right now. The question is not "if" you will have problems with the construction of your new home rather "how the builder will handle these issues".

I do not mean to defend any builder. I believe like most of you do that a quality product takes time. I would like to pose a question if I may. For those of you that have had problems with your current builder or with one you have dealt with in the past. The question is very simple. Were you involved with the build? By that I mean did you ask questions and talk to your builder or did you wait until the issues that bothered you festered into a boil only to then "explode". I have had both types of clients in the years. I can tell you first hand that if you communicate with your builder and try to follow the build plan you can get a quality product built with little problems.

Folks we must all admit that no one is "perfect", It is how we deal with these issues that makes us who we are.

As I stated before most any builder can build a home in 60 days "or so" given good weather. The question should not be if it could be done but what type of end product will you be getting. Building a home takes a lot of effort and it takes a lot of people doing everything right and on time. If one subcontractor gets out of order it can throw a wrench into the system. That causes delays. That is one reason some builders often change subs regularly. If the builder gets positive communication from the buyers it usually goes smooth. I will be the first to tell you this is not always the case but it often is.

If you look at what all is involved in building a home you will see it is indeed a monumental undertaking for everything to be performed correctly. I say that to also say that if you are always telling your builder you want this or that for free or you expect or demand too much it causes undue stress on the situation. You should be allowed to have what you want in your new home, yes, I agree. However you should also realize if you go to the grocery store they are not going to give you a steak because you bought a bag of potatoes.

If you try and cooperate and communicate with your builder I do believe you can get a decent home built in that time frame, providing it is a volume builder with a standard plan. If you have a lot of upgrades and changes you should certainly expect it will take longer. That only makes sense.

Again, yes I am a builder and community developer. However, I do not nor have I ever worked for DR Horton.

[Stumblina]

Thanks, Carnut, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us. I, for one, found it very informative and even though I've had several homes built over the years (two being custom), you provided insight into things I had no clue about!

[GSaavedra0922]

I would think twice before buying a DR Horton home, they do not stand by their work. They attempt to band-aid major defects and they do not disclose defects in their slab or anything else. We have had 4 major leaks, we have been without a kitchen for 2 months and have at least another 2 weeks to go. All they do is place blame on their sub-contractors and just remember they hired them they are responsible for them. They have been known for falsifying inspection reports.......see the appeal democrat in Marysville California


Keep Looking

[carnut]

Originally Posted by Stumblina

Thanks, Carnut, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us. I, for one, found it very informative and even though I've had several homes built over the years (two being custom), you provided insight into things I had no clue about!

You are more than welcome.
I believe if we did as much research on our largest investment as we did on, say "chewing gum" a lot of adversity could be avoided.

Communication is always the key. If you are not happy with something, or with your builder's rep simply ask for another one. Usually volume builders will be more than happy to comply with this type of homeowners request. As long as they are presented professionally and with courtesy. If you yell, scream and whine, you will get exactly that in return. Builders as a whole do not like adversity any more than anyone else does. It is simple, communicate your desires in a normal tone of voice, do not threaten to get legal council until all is hopeless and move on. I know sometimes it IS unavoidable though. If it does come to that point send certified notice to the division office, copy the corporate office and give ten days for a response. If they do not respond get the meanest "Pit Viper" you can find and clean their wagon. Nothing burns me up more than a builder who is non responsive to homeowners concerns.

We are people too and we have families and occasionally like to go to the ball game just like you do. Just be realistic, ask questions if you do not understand something.

[FranD]

Scary is not the word, whether they can build one in 60 days or not how much is it going to cost is even more important.
My husband and I are in the market, we visited a community in the Houston area and DR Horton's model was nice enough to be interested in. However we could not get a pricing on the model we wanted. According to the sales rep, we needed to sign a contract before the visit to the "Design Center" at that time we would be given the numbers. I do not know about any of you, but I do not intend to sign a contract before I know I much I am going to spend. According to the agent this is standard in the home building venue. It made us re-evaluate and look at previously owned homes for sale before venturing into the unknown...
Frand

[imtaya2]

WARNING... I hear that DR Horton homes are not desireable. Worst in PHOENIX. We have a DR Horton in Rio Crossing (Avondale) - never had issues but when we talk to people they have very negative comments. We live in Buckeye and I know exactly where the community you are looking at. They are over producing at this point with so many SPEC Homes. I would look at other builders in BUCKEYE - there are a lot on Southern whichi is a little west of watson.

[SamOwen]

I live just South of Queen Creek in Florence @ Oasis-Magic Ranch. Problems and scary are lovely words to describe the things I'm going through right now with DR H