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Monday, September 18, 2006
New-home buyers rate builders
DiVosta scored highest in customer satisfaction among home builders in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, according to a J.D. Power and Associates survey.
Minto Builders and G.L. Homes ranked second and third.
The study, released Wednesday, ranked home builders who sold at least 150 homes last year in 34 of the largest markets in the country.
Despite the good scores of some builders, buyers in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast — which made up one market in the survey — experienced an average of 15 problems with their new homes, one more problem than the national average.
The most frequent problems faced by local home buyers involved landscaping, the quality of kitchen cabinets, and cracks in sidewalks, driveways and foundations.
More than 90 percent of all local buyers surveyed reported at least one construction problem.
“New-home builders today are facing challenges unlike any they’ve experienced in recent years,” said Paula Sonkin, executive director of the real estate industries practice at J.D. Power and Associates.
The 2006 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Survey is based on 831 replies from buyers of new single-family homes in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. The buyers gave feedback on their new homes after living in their them for between four and 18 months.
The local average customer satisfaction index score was 102, which is 10 points below the 34-market average — and five points lower than last year’s local satisfaction index score of 107.
Local builders’ index scores ranged from DiVosta’s high of 140 to Ansca’s low of 53.
No. 2 Minto Builders scored 124 and No. 3 G.L. Homes scored 118.
Next, in order, were: No. 4 Centex, 109; No. 5 Kenco Communities, 97; No. 6 Renar Fine Homes, 86; No. 7 Levitt, 82; No. 8 Kolter, 81; and No. 9 D.R. Horton, 75.
The survey ranks builders on (in order of importance) warranty and customer service; home readiness; sales staff; construction manager; quality of work and materials; and price and value.
Also, physical design elements; design center; recreational facilities; and location.
DiVosta scored superlative marks in all categories except recreational facilities. DiVosta’s projects include The Lakes at Tradition in Port St. Lucie and Pinewood Lake in Greenacres.
Nationwide, home buyers in Austin, Texas, were the most satisfied with their builders, reporting an average satisfaction index score of 124.
Philadelphia buyers were the least satisfied, with an index satisfaction score of 95.
The national average was 112.
The top builders nationwide were Pulte Homes and Centex Homes. Pulte, including its DiVosta and Del Webb brands, ranked highest in 14 of 34 markets in the survey. Centex ranked highest in 13 markets.
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