There are a few things that I would advise people to look for in a home builder. One is their financial capacity to stand by the warranty. Another is their sales service. These are important for any homeowner to consider before making their decision.
Homes in my neighborhood
Lennar is a big name in homebuilding. They have been around since 1954 and have been building homes for many years. In 2016, they delivered 26,563 homes. These homes are professionally installed and are designed to meet building codes.
Lennar builds in 21 states. They are the second largest homebuilder in the US, behind D.R. Horton. Currently, they are making 104 communities in the Tampa Bay area.
They commit to Value and Quality. As a result, their models will feature floor plans that vary. Also, their homes will be outfitted with a Connected Home package. This is a package of technology that can be purchased and allows you to monitor your home from the comfort of your living room. The boxes may include cameras, smart home devices, and thermostats.
Lennar also sells homeowners insurance. Their services include a mortgage. As a result, Lennar has invested in publicly traded companies.
Another benefit is their Opendoor program. Home sellers can list their homes for sale online and have them closed within nine months or less. This can be beneficial for both buyers and sellers. It can avoid the need to pay in-person home assessments and double-mortgage costs.
Sales service was poor.
When Lennar, a stalwart in the construction industry, first began building homes in our neighborhood, I was excited. After all, we live in the same city as the big names in a home buildings like DR Horton and Pulte Group, and Lennar’s name was attached to a lot of positive publicity. But, unfortunately, our experience with the company was less than favorable.
Lennar’s sales service was abysmal. They were stingy with payments to contractors when a problem occurred during the construction phase. And when the issue was resolved, it was done at a sub-standard level.
The company has been accused of deceptive marketing. For example, they claim that their new home has some amenities that will only cost them hundreds of dollars per month when they do not have them. In addition, their advertising claims about Quality, care, and the like are more hype than substance. Their website also fails to mention the most critical metric.
Financial capacity to stand by their warranty
If you bought a Lennar home, chances are you had no idea about their warranty. As one of the largest home builders in the United States, they offer a home warranty that protects homeowners from material defects. But it doesn’t go far enough, and it doesn’t include many of the things you expect to find when you buy a new home. For example, its one-year Fit and Finish warranty doesn’t cover structural defects, only for systems and materials.
Many people skip over this section of the home’s warranty when they’re buying a new house. This is because they believe the most important things are covered and assume most rest will be protected. While it’s true that most new homes are covered under warranty, Lennar doesn’t give homeowners nearly enough protection. Their one-year Fit and Finish warranty doesn’t even include installing the HVAC system.
In addition, the company requires customers to go to arbitration if they want to pursue a warranty claim. This is a confidential process designed to settle disputes outside the court system. However, there’s a problem: Lennar won’t tell you if they’re going to arbitration and will require you to pay for legal costs.
