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Curious about your opinions about Essex homes. Seems like you get more house for your $ with them but I wondering if you give up anything in exchange...i.e. quality, etc.
The office I work in is in charge of sales for 6 Essex communities, so we are around them a lot. I can tell you my opinion of them, but in the end you really need to form your own. They build a quality home, and so do other builders here in Columbia. The best thing to do is to tour a few Essex communities and see what you think of their floor plans and homes. Then take a look at some other communities from different builders, in the same price range, and see how they add up and campare to one another.
The office I work in is in charge of sales for 6 Essex communities, so we are around them a lot. I can tell you my opinion of them, but in the end you really need to form your own. They build a quality home, and so do other builders here in Columbia. The best thing to do is to tour a few Essex communities and see what you think of their floor plans and homes. Then take a look at some other communities from different builders, in the same price range, and see how they add up and campare to one another.
Agreed, with the exception that my company has no affiliation with Essex. I don't think you get more for money with Essex any more than you do Mungo, Shumaker, Hurricane, etc.
I'm pondering the same question myself. I've been corresponding with JLBoney and the pricing on the developments by Essex for the Cooper's Pond community sound reasonable. Question is, if a similar size floorplan and sq.footage layout cost 50-75k less, than what C&C Builder's have been offering, that difference has to come from somewhere.
Of the homes in that area that Essex has their names posted as the builder's of some homes and communities nearby, they don't look to bad, (i.e. construction quality and layout). So I'm curious to see what they do in the Cooper's Pond development and other neighborhoods in the area.
The Lincrest community across the street from Cooper's Pond is another Essex community. They are in the high $200's to low $300's. They are nice quality homes, as you would expect from the price. I believe the lots in the Copper's Pond community were purchased for a better price. A lot of the land in Blythewood is more expensive for the developers, which makes the price of the homes higher due to the price of the land.
New construction price differences can come in a variety of ways starting with the value of the land/location, the builders profit margin, upgrades, construction type, etc.
I relocated to the Columbia, SC area 4 years ago and bought a new Essex Home(Commons of Winchester) I have been regretting it for the last 3 years. Incidently, that's when the warranty expired. Where do I start? Leaking roof over the garage, constant HVAC problems, nails popping out of the walls all over the house. Now, major pre-existing drainage problems on my on my lot--and many of my neighbors--that, soaks and kills a major portion of my lawn every year! These homes are warranted for 1 year, after that, you're on your own. The builder could care less after the year is up. It appears you get more for your money with Essex Homes, but based on my experience as a owner, you actually get less in the long run. "Big house, little money" buyer beware.
Last edited by curtycurt_99; 05-09-2009 at 08:54 AM..
Reason: spelling errors
Stay away from Shumaker homes- they built me a house that had so many problems ( they wouldn't fix) that within one year it was worth only half what we paid. We sued them and won by getting them to buy the house back at full price!
Why was it leaking? Was it a boot vent, shingle blown off, etc? A leaky roof does not necessarily mean poor craftsmanship.
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