If you could change one thing about your builder, or builders in general, what would that be?

The builders contract needs to be changed to protect both the builder and new homeowner.

To impress upon them that building homes right, and honoring the warranty is the only real way to prevent most disputes and restore respect and trust to the industry.

The builder needs to remember who pays their salary and why they are employed today-the purchaser. The builder should hire qualified professional customer service reps who actually know what customer service means. This is a warranty program that should be honoured by the builder. The homeowner should not have to beg for what is rightfully theirs. Many disputes could be resolved if the builder had professional people employed by them.

Builders and Buyers should have an arbitration clause set up by the state to handle any issues quickly that occur in the building of the home. Lawsuits take to long and buyers at some point need to move into their home finished or not.

Arbitration panels should be set up to take money off the selling price if the contractor dosn't fulfill his obligations.

Builders should also be required to pay penalties for not performing in a timely manner and to an established quality.

Builders should have to put money in a state bond fund to guranntee their work and compensate buyers when they don't perform.

I disagree re: arbitration and moving into a home that may not be finished! Arbitration is one of the most damaging clauses in a consumer contract because it's a private "court" system where the industry does repeat biz with the "judge." Many state agencies are run by industry people. Moving into a house that's not done is a very bad idea. We've recieved SO many complaints about these issues at HADD.com Once home buyers have accepted these things they have virtually no recourse if there are problems.

I do agree that builders should have to pay into a state bond fund for work they fail to complete or fail to do correctly but are you aware these funds usually require a court award in the homeowner's favor for them to collect on the bond? Arbitration prohibits suing, and many arbitration "awards" don't even cover legal fees, assuming the homeowner is awarded anything at all.



cthome wrote:
Builders and Buyers should have an arbitration clause set up by the state to handle any issues quickly that occur in the building of the home. Lawsuits take to long and buyers at some point need to move into their home finished or not.

Arbitration panels should be set up to take money off the selling price if the contractor dosn't fulfill his obligations.

Builders should also be required to pay penalties for not performing in a timely manner and to an established quality.

Builders should have to put money in a state bond fund to guranntee their work and compensate buyers when they don't perform.