Home Builders (Cincy/Dayton)? (Hamilton, Lebanon: construction, schools, home inspector)

[Bugg77]

I am considering relocating to Dayton and am looking for recommendations on home builders in the Cincy/Dayton area; especially the Springboro/Lebanon areas.

I've been considering some Ryan Homes communities, but I'd like to get feedback from the local community on if they are a good builder and which other builders I should consider.

Thanks.

[MJBOYS]

We are moving to Springboro this summer (relocation too). We are building in Silver Lakes Estates with Ashford Homes. This was a Ryan community but they pulled out last month. Ashford Homes has a model at the community and a web site. So far they have been great to work with. The lots are beautiful and big, between 1 1/2 to 3 acres with a five acre lake in the middle of the development.
Good luck with the relo.

[Briolat21]

Re: Ryan. We built (closed Wednesday!) with Ryan in Cedar Trace - Lebanon (actually Turtle Creek Township, but Lebanon Mailing/Schools). It is an all city utility community, with 1 acre + (I think there are some 2's and one 3 left) lots.

We very seriously considered Ashford, but ultimately decided on Ryan due to floorplan/lot size/function/aesthetics/location/price. Also at the time Ashford (smaller, local builder) was not building outside of Butler/Hamilton County.

Ryan does have a history of pulling out of communities quickly if they decide there is little to no financial incentive for them to remain. I will not try to defend that - it is a smart business decision, but potentially bewildering for residents of those communities. However historically Ryan (if they pull out of a community) has left behind warranty/service departments to honor warranties in those areas. They are simply a giant builder who are quick to limit their financial liability should a market turn soft.

We have been pleased with our home's construction - my brother is an architecht and home inspector and he looked it over several times and said that they were doing just as they should.

Other builders in this region (that I know of): Dixon, Pendragon, Zaring/Drees/Marquis, TK, Gold Key (up nearer to Dayton), Fischer/Maple Street, Maronda (in Franklin), Ryland (are they still active?), Beazer (may have pulled out - there were rumors to that effect).

I didn't get up as far as Springboro, but the whole area - Lebanon, Franklin, Waynesville, Wilmington is a pretty one.

Good luck!! Feel free to ask more questions!

[dadonaldd]

Originally Posted by Bugg77

I am considering relocating to Dayton and am looking for recommendations on home builders in the Cincy/Dayton area; especially the Springboro/Lebanon areas.

I've been considering some Ryan Homes communities, but I'd like to get feedback from the local community on if they are a good builder and which other builders I should consider.

Thanks.

Ryan homes builds high quality homes in several states. I wish I had known they were here in Ohio when I moved here. Instead, I bought a home from Maple Street homes. What a mistake!!! Horrible customer service after the sale, and I found out (too late, I bought mine sight-unseen via phone, in conjunction with a move - I had to trust their people that everything was right... Mistake TWO)

They build homes out of a sheathing material that, as far as I can tell, most closely resembles cardboard. There's not a whole lot of wood in these homes, folks, and EVERYTHING is the cheapest, lowest quality available.

I had to re-do a lot of the drywall mudding and taping in mine, and I had to strap the plumbing down - it knocked all over the house when I shut the water off - a common condition called "Water Hammer" that is symptomatic of pipes not being secured properly inside the walls.

I won't let them in to correct anything, either, because they fix everything with caulk.

Bottom line - BEWARE OF MAPLE STREET HOMES!!!!

(I wish Divosta/Pulte/Del Webb was up here!!!)

[firefightermom]

My aunt purchased a new home from Ryan in the Singing Ridge development in Butler Township outside of Vandalia, Ohio. She had a lot of problems during the actual planning of the house, such as them upping the price thousands of dollars with no warning. Since moving in 3 years ago, Ryan has pulled out, the development was left unfinished, a supporting wall across the street actually collapsed, luckily on an emply lot, and she has had some serious electrical problems--half the house has power, other half doesn't...plus a lot of the finished houses are still unsold. This is all hearsay of course, but please do some research.