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maybe I got spoiled when I had my previous
home built. We built in Orlando, Florida, just on the
other side of the University of Central Florida on the
east side of town. We had heard many a horror story
about the grief involved with building a home. We had
every intention of buying an existing home but just never
walked into one that felt like us. Several folks at work
had built in University Estates through Engle Homes, and,
amazing as it seems, were quite happy! We took a chance
and visited their models, and found one that fit us to a
tee. At the time I had no way of judging how good this
builder was, but I came to appreciate their up-front
manner and high level of customer satisfaction. Nor did
I understand how much value they put into the homes
either free or as standard features...security system,
underground sprinkler systems, fireplace, three car
garage, cathedral ceilings and moving / modifying
features with a smile.
We recently returned to Northern
Virginia, and once again were determined not to build,
but only because we didn't want to wait 3 to 4 months
again. And once again, after walking through half the
homes for sale, we decided to build in order to live in a
nicer area since there were no resales available. We
decided on Quaker Homes based on what appeared to be a
little higher quality construction even though they
generally took 5 to 6 months to build. The nightmare
begins !!! While trying to decide on a lot, we asked to
see the plans for the lots we would back up to since they
were laid out but not yet being built. No such luck.
While negotiating on the home, it was explained to us
that many of the features that we considered as standard,
like a door in the basement, were all options. These
"options" seemed to be about 100% inflated in price.
$4000 sliding glass door in the basement, $500 for a
ceiling fan, $23000 for a small sun room, $19000 for a
wrap around porch. Ouch !!! Some items that made no
sense, like the three light switches for the three
kitchen lights were located on three different walls, one
down at the end of a hallway, could not be changed. I
think my biggest aggravation has actually been the lack
of insight into the build schedule. The basement slab
and walls went in over a month ago, but nothing else has
happened. SInce they say they take about 120 days from
foundation, I was getting concerned about a slip. When
questioned, I was flabbergasted to hear they had no idea
when they would be done because they had no idea as to
when they would begin framing !! No plan !! On top of
that, I have a sneaking suspicion that the 120 days won't
begin until they do start framing, and now that it is
getting closer to winter, they say they go to 150 days
!!
Check out my PERSONAL page under HOME
GROWN SELECTIONS to see photos of the site, and perhaps
one day, the house.
I can guarrentee with absolute certainty
that I will NEVER built again. I was fortunate enough to
find a great builder the first time, so I now appear to
be stuck with the bottom of the barrel this time. Not
worth the chance that I could end up with another builder
like Quaker Homes...life is not long enough to punish
myself that way !!!
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Let me hear from
you.
Find any bad links or
have ones you would like to share?
Everett
A.Goodwin III
chunt@oocities.com
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