KB Homes

[businessperson]

May I offer some suggestions as a Realtor? I'm not trolling for business because I'm not in the Raleigh area. I recommend to my clients that they choose upgrades that either cannot be put in place at a later time or are very expensive to do. For instance, go with hardwood floors. Things like wrought iron spindles in the stair railings can be upgraded later if you can't do it now. Or it may even not be the "in style" thing when you are ready to sell. You can't change square footage or floorplans. You can change the light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. I'd put my money on the floors, granite countertops, undermount stainless sinks, etc.

[deuterdu]

CHECK OUT RIPOFFREPORT.COM Here is only one of a couple of complaints:

KB Homes ripoff dramatically reduced the base price of my home 2 weeks after I closed on it Los Angeles California *Consumer Comment ..It Figures

Company
KB Homes
Address:
10990 Wilshire Blvd., 7th Floor
Los Angeles California 90024
U.S.A.
Phone Number:
310-231-4000
Fax:


i just recently purchased a home from kb home builders. i purchased the home at the base price of $247,900.

2 weeks after i moved in they dropped the base price to $230,000. i did not know the price decrease until i was informed by one of their employees who has nothing to do with sales.

when i learned of this change in price i felt cheated and deceived. i wrote a letter to the manager of the phoenix office only to be responded to by the saleman that sold me the house.

after i talked to the salesman, the district sales manager contacted me to inform me that he was very sorry but there was nothing they could do because the market was changing. "really"

the market had been changing for sometime now and price decreases were already happening. my issue was that the company had to of seen this coming.

they did not have the decency to or ethical standards of the business world to tell me.

i have recently come to find out that my neighbor, who moved in 2 weeks later received a reduced sales price on their home. how does that work?

my whole issue with this is that i purchased the smallest square footage house i could afford, which isn't even the house i really wanted.

the house i really wanted which is several hundred square feet bigger, has a base price less than the home i purchased.

now i have a house i didnt really want but the only one i could afford with a mortgage payment i can barely make each month. i had too much money down to back out.

i really wanted to back out of the deal but i risked losing my downpayment and threatend to be being fined $90 a day until i closed on the house.

so i really had no choice than to close on the house because i could not afford to lose the downpayment.

overall the quality of the house is awful. there are paint drips all over, debris under the carpet, door jams not sealed properly, humps in the walls. the list goes on.

now the houses in the neigborhood are going for the high $100's. this is just ludacris.

i have recently learned that they cut a deal with one of my neighbors as long as they signed a disclosure statement which does not allow them to talk about the deal.

my suggestion and reccomendation to everyone is to never but a kb home. all they will do is lie and deceive you. this is one of the worst experiences of my life.

i owe all of my recent hardships to kb homes who claims to be all about customer service and satisfaction.

i am not a satisfied customer and they do not care because they already have my money.

Brian
Queen Creek, Arizona
U.S.A.

[on the move]

My logic is that you put the things into a house that it would be hard to change after the fact. It is easier to install hardwood floors at a later point than it is to add a fireplace, particularly if it is masonry. I think you are on the right track offering h/w floors and a double vanity in the bath. I haven't seen the railing choices but I wouldn't think that would break the deal. I would consider the fireplace.

[OmegaBaby]

Originally Posted by NCHomeFinder

...a cat with stomach issues...

LOL!!! That's a funny way of putting it.

Whenever my cat starts throwing up, he purposely runs away from the linoleum and runs on to the carpet (or my slippers).

[OmegaBaby]

Originally Posted by NCHomeFinder

When looking at upgrades, your buyer's agent can help you tremendously in deciding where to put the money and get it back when the time comes to sell. (Again, YOUR buyer's agent, not the builder's representative or design consultant!)

Musts:
42" cabinets in kitchen
Double sink in master bath
At least the garden tub, if not the jets.
Upgrade standard tile
Fireplace


Maybes:
Flooring: A lot depends on how long you plan to be in the house, and how you'll use it. Personally, with two preschoolers and a cat with stomach issues, we weren't spending an extra penny on carpet - we'll replace it before we sell, regardless. Maybe sooner. However, make sure you don't have carpet in high traffic areas, such as a foyer or hallways on the main floor. Many builders extend the hardwoods in the models, but will price it as an upgrade to take it beyond the foyer.

Linoleum: Most people don't like it anywhere in any home over $250k. HOWEVER, the builders know that, and overprice the tile or hardwood upgrades. Get contractor estimates, it may be a better deal to have it done after closing.

Countertops: So much depends on price range when you want to know what future buyers expect. Usually, cultured marble in the bathrooms is fine, but you don't want formica in the kitchen if you're over about that $250k mark.

"Invisible" upgrades: HVAC, hot water heater, insulation, carpet padding, running a gas line for the range or the dryer... These are upgrades that will pay for themselves in energy savings and use in the long run, but because they're not "pretty", most people forget about them. Some of these, the builder will require be paid upfront, possibly non-refundable, because they don't get that back if you bail. Again, your buyer's agent can advise you on these.

Other things like granite vs. corian, wrought iron vs. wood spindles, and decorative tile work are, imo, personal preference. If you plan to stay in the home more than 5-7 years, keep in mind that decorating styles usually go on about a 10 year cycle, so what is stylish now will need updating in 10 years - even that awesome granite, especially if you use a bold color palette. Not everyone agrees with me on this, but before you spend $50k on your kitchen alone, consider the above timeless items first, then with what you have left over, let your inner decorater free.

Things like extending the deck, putting in a screened porch, landscaping... all of that can be done after closing. Go ahead and get estimates from outside contractors if you plan to have those things done.

And no wallpaper.

All very good information. The only thing I might disagree with you over is the tub with jets. I've heard that most people who pay the extra money for it end up never using it. So unless you're a 'bath' person, it's probably best to skip it.

[NCHomeFinder]

Originally Posted by jbognar

All very good information. The only thing I might disagree with you over is the tub with jets. I've heard that most people who pay the extra money for it end up never using it. So unless you're a 'bath' person, it's probably best to skip it.

Personally, I agree with you - having lived in an apartment with one that got mold in the lines, we never could turn on the jets without "floaties". ewww. We tried everything, to no avail. However, depending on the price range, it may be expected, and buyers do see added value, even if they aren't "bath people". At least the garden tub is a must over a standard tub, though.

And yes, my cat has great aim - she prefers my bedding, but my office chair has taken a few hits, too. Again, ewww. But we love her anyway!