Home Builder Reputations (Seattle, Bothell: neighborhoods, buying, living)

[just*us]

In the Salt Lake area, I can pretty much tell you which builders are fantastic and which to avoid. I am hoping some of you can do the same for me. We visited this weekend while DH arrived to begin his new job. We really like Bothell, and really like the option of possibly building a new home or buying a spec home. We are pretty much unfamiliar with the builders.

Here are a few I saw:
Belmark
CamWest
DR Horton (we have heard of them, but don't know the quality)
Centex (also have heard of them, no idea on quality)
Buchanan
Murray Franklin

Any opinions? Any other good ones to add to the list? We already know to avoid Quadrant...saw a model and saw some resales...

Thanks!

[Ira500]

I've seen some very nice Camwest homes, as well as Buchan( maybe that's what you meant by Buchanan)? They both have good reputations.

[blesstd]

From what I've heard and have seen (comparing CamWest & Centex from the list you provided), Buchan and Murray Franklin build the better quality homes.

[wsugrad03]

Buchan is hands down the finest builder up here. Their homes are just timeless and very high quality. I can't speak as much for Camwest just because I haven't seen many of their homes, although I have heard that they're good. Murray Franklin is another good builder I've been hearing good things about.

[just*us]

Thank you to everyone, I especially want to hear if there is any builder to totally avoid.

[wsugrad03]

Totally avoid Polygon Homes. They're the cheapest builders in Seattle and it really shows. I know they had a lot of law suits in the past several years (Problems with toilets falling through the floor and such).

[just*us]

Originally Posted by wsugrad03

Totally avoid Polygon Homes. They're the cheapest builders in Seattle and it really shows. I know they had a lot of law suits in the past several years (Problems with toilets falling through the floor and such).

Thanks, that is frightening. I hadn't heard of them yet but I have made a big mental note!

[Ira500]

Another builder with a good reputation is The Burnsteads. I've been in a number of these homes and they appear to be built using quality materials and workmanship.

[Anders15]

My mother is a LNP and she LOVES Centex. They are offering around $25,000 towards a home (because of the Heroes Program). I don't like all my eggs in one basket so I was wondering if there were any other good companies in the area? Do any offer discounts such as Centex does? We are in Virginia so I'm not sure how to convert the standards of living but please if there are any other good quality builders in good neighborhoods let me know!

[tudorjason]

I spent my teenage years in a new home built by Benum, supposedly the second most popular and respected builders in the South Puget Sound area. There Web site is here: http://www.benumenterprises.com/index.php. We were able to customize the floor plan, which made it more marketable when it came time to sell.

A great resource for those planning to, as they say in their commercial, "buy, build, remodel, or maintain their home" is the following:

Welcome to the Master Builders Association web site.

Good luck on your new home.