Articles from consumer guide HomeBuilding Pitfalls, written by industry insiders and experts who have seen the best and the worst in the homebuilding industry. The articles appear courtesy of www.homebuildingpitfalls.com.

Study Pitfalls to Avoid Experiencing Your Own We have sought out the best content for RateYourBuilder to educate new home buyers. We are confident in saying that HomeBuilding Pitfalls is arguably the best single resource for any buyer of a new home from a production homebuilder. Written by industry veteran, Lawrence Thomas, the book is a veritable “insiders guide” to key events and processes in the home buying and home building process. Read More   The Pitfall Chronicles When I headed the warranty department for a large national production builder, I dealt with the angriest of customers across the country. Although I didn’t directly have a hand in the cause of their complaint (I didn’t build their home and the customer was often calling from a different part of the country), I represented the company that caused whatever problem they were facing. In this position, literally hundreds of letters from disgruntled homeowners would come across my desk. I remember one in particular that chronicled the last twelve months of a customer’s life while building what was to be her “dream home.” I thought I had seen and heard every complaint a customer could have had, but this letter was different. In ten pages, this woman chronicled almost every bad experience she had throughout the sale, construction, and service phases of the homebuilding process. To help provide a summary for HomeBuilding Pitfalls, I think it is important to list chronologically some of the more common problems that can arise throughout the building process and some suggested solutions. Read More   Walk-Through and Punch-Out The walk-through, also known as a new home presentation or orientation, is your chance to review the final product delivered to you. You will be given the opportunity to document any problems (creating what is called a “Punch List”) you have with the home and have them corrected before you close. If you have taken HomeBuilding Pitfalls’ recommendations throughout your building process, your walk-through should be a breeze. If not, major items that may be difficult to repair at this stage could appear and make your last step in the process a difficult one. Read More   What to Look For in the Model Home You have heard it a thousand times: your home will probably be the single largest investment you ever make. It stands to reason that your new home purchase will involve one of the biggest sales pitches you ever get. Understanding the sales process before you step into the model home will put the ball in your court and help you keep control of the process. Good salespeople are savvy enough to judge your experience and knowledge related to buying a new home and look for weaknesses to exploit. Contrary to their pitch, they are not there to be your friend or advocate. Read More