Why Rouse Chamberlin

Buyers sum up the reason for buying a Rouse Chamberlin Homes built home with one word: QUALITY

Comparing the value of new home construction between builders isn’t easy. It IS easy to compare the total number of square feet in a home the ammenities that come in one home versus another. But how do you compare and value different school districts?

More importantly, how do you factor in a builder’s financial stability? It might surprise you that many of the most important factors have to do with the builder as opposed to the home itself. After all, if you walk into an electronics or a jewelry story, you know some manufacturers are better than others. Much of your life will be based around your home. A better built house offers tremendous benefits including:

• Lower maintenance costs over your lifetime ownership
• Better retention of and potential increases in value

We’d like to offer you a process to make the home construction comparison easier. You can download a Builder Evaluation sheet here, or continue down this page to review the same content. Here is a summary of important qualities or measures for evaluating your new home purchase and comparing offerings.

BUILDER QUALITIES

MARKET REPUTATION

• Are people happy during the home building process?
• Are they happy after they move into their homes?
• And how do they feel seven years later?

Evaluation methods:
Search the internet

• Ask current home owners: most will be happy to tell you how great (or not-so-great) their home building experience was. You can ask the builder for references but you are better off canvassing a neighborhood in which the builder built homes.

FINANCIAL STABILITY
Can the builder actually afford to build your home? The last few years have placed many builders into bankruptsy. Others still exist but are stretched financially. Some actually take deposits knowing that they may not be able to hire the sub-contractors necessary to build your home. You may lose your deposit or  be prevented from building another home due to a signed contract.

• Ask for banking references. Really. You have the right to know that they are a viable business TODAY.
• Ask for current trade reference letters. Frequent changing of subcontractors is a sign that the builder isn’t paying their bills.
• Search the internet.
• Find recent contract buyers. Ask whether their home is on schedule or they have experienced unexplained delays.

HOME CONSTRUCTION QUALITY

FOUNDATION
It all starts with the quality of your home’s foundation.
Evaluation:

• Does home use steel reinforcing rods in concrete foundations to enhance structural support and reduce cracking?
• Does home foundation incorporate cement walls of at least 8” thick?

 

GARAGE CONSTRUCTION
Because of it’s exposure to the outside, sheathing and insulation in the garage makes a huge difference.
Evaluation methods:

• Are garage floors poured with steel reinforced concrete and supported with integral concrete beam to guard against shrinkage and settlement?
• Are walls sheathed an insulated to the same standards as internal walls to minimize heat/cold exchanges and moisture penetration.

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION

Evaluation methods:

• Are engineered floor joists used to provide quieter floors with less shrinkage and squeeking?

WALL CONSTRUCTION

Evaluation methods:

• Are walls screwed and glued on interior drywall positions then nailed along perimeter to reduce nail pops? Or do they merely nail the drywall?

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Evaluation methods:

• Does home use double pane windows with air or argon seal to ensure insulation.
• Does builder do air seal test to ensure insulation.

GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES
What efforts does the builder take to “build green”? Most builders use Energy Star appliances so that isn’t a real differentiation point.
Evaluation methods:

• Ask them how they meet NHA national standards and what (if any) rating system scores them.