| Maik |
My wife and I are considering buying a new home in a subdivision being built by Toll Brothers. The homes seem very well appointed with lots of options. I have researched as much as we can on the internet, but I would love to hear from any homeowners here who currently own a Toll Brothers home. I understand that the construction is done by local contractors, but they are supervised by Toll Brothers employees and the homes are built to their specs.
Thanks,
MBT |
|
|
| dipersp |
| I don't have any first-hand experience, but friends I know that had them or looked at them were not happy. I hear they have MANY lawsuits pending against them right now and they have teams of lawyers working for them. Again, all hearsay, but I hear it alot. |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
Quite a few out there but varied types of cases. Here's one in MA
PLAINTIFF: Kozikowski, Stanley;
Kozikowski, Eunice K
DEFENDANT: Toll Bros, Inc AKA Toll Brothers, Inc
DOCKET CASE NUMBER: 1:01cv12296
FILING DATE: 12/20/2001
JURISDICTION: Diversity
JUDGE: Chief Judge Young, William G
NATURE OF SUIT: 190 Other Contract
FILING TYPE: Civil
CAUSE: Diversity-Contract Dispute 28 USC 1332
JURY DEMAND: Defendant
DEMAND: $ 800,000
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY(S):
Harrington, Robert K [COR LD NTC]
Law Offices of Robert K Harrington
56 North Main Street Suite 303
Fall River, MA, USA 02720
508-676-8621 Fax : 508-672-1330 Email: Rharri6050@aol.com
DEFENDANT ATTORNEY(S):
Asiaf, Lisa M [COR LD NTC]
Kelly, Libby & Hoopes, PC
175 Federal Street
Boston, MA, USA 02110
617-338-9300 Fax : 617-338-9911 Email: Lasiaf@klhboston.com
Kelly, Paul V [COR LD NTC]
Kelly, Libby & Hoopes, PC
175 Federal Street
Boston, MA, USA 02110
617-338-9300 Fax : 617-338-9911 Email: Pkelly@klhboston.com |
|
|
| laborlitigator |
Maik,
After looking through the list, that was the only K claim in MA. |
|
|
| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Maik,
After looking through the list, that was the only K claim in MA.
I had found another one from 1999 that was settled for $700.
As far as there being many lawsuits, I have not been able to substantiate this claim (I also had heard that). With annual revenues in excess of 4 billion, a few claims would be expected. Some of the homes they are building in Mass are in excess of 1.5 million $$. We plan to visit one or two of their developments that is several years old and knock on a few doors. |
|
|
| vlam |
I think all builders will run into some sort of lawsuit one time or another. Toll Brothers are big builder so I am not surprise that there are lawsuits out their. I've even seen a lawsuit judgement against them in my area for poor planning in a new development.
I personally don't have experience with them but I don't see them as the type of builder that would dissapear on you after building your house.
Is the sub division that you want to move in relatively new? Are their existing new homes that were built recently? It's always a good idea to knock on their door one weekend afternoon and see what the home owner has to say about their experiences with the home. This will give you an idea with how to deal with the builder. |
|
|
| JL_SS |
In 2001, the Boston Globe had a 4 or 5 part article on the Toll brothers construction problems in MA. The problems were extensive. Here is a link to one article:
Article |
|
|
| Lacostacal |
| I live in northern San Diego County (La Costa) where track homes start at around 850K. Although I have no evidence other than viewing various builders models, Toll is viewed here as a high end quality builder. If I were to buy a track home, I would not hesitate to buy from Toll. Good luck. |
|
|
| renov8r |
tract = noun, # A parcel of land, generally held for subdividing.
;^)
Actually good article on "tract homes" http://www.internest.com/xyz/newsle...on.asp?Print=on
I guy I went to high school with is like a regional VP for a home builder in WI that got bought out by Toll Brothers. He lives in an old house in a traditional pre-WWII section of Waukesha Wisconsin, don't know if that means anything... |
|
|
| dbuono |
I don't have any experience with Toll Brothers, but we built two houses in Texas over the years. One experience was okay and the other was great. The difference appeared to be in the construction foreman. The first house had a lot of turnover in this area, resulting in many missed items and other problems. The second house had a solid construction foreman that had been with the company for eight years. He knew his stuff and was great at resolving problems that either he noticed or that we noticed.
If possible, ask the sales person to talk to the construction foreman before signing on the dotted line. Interview him/her and see what you like.
As a final note, building a house is always a difficult task. There will be times when nothing gets done and you will find lots of little issues that need to be fixed along the way. Don't be discouraged, just be forceful and make the builder fix the problems.
Good luck. |
|
|
| Ceenit |
Toll Brothers does a lot of building in the Charlotte, NC area. We looked at several of their models in the past few years. They are regarded as a very good home builder for their price range. Be sure to ask about their warranty, it will come in very handy.
We recently built (3 years ago) with John Wieland, and for comparisons, they offered an absolutely complete warranty on anything in the house for two years, all major appliances and HVAC for 5 years, and overall structural warranty for 20 years...I think they were one of the better warranty providers when we did some comparisons.
We have built three homes, and the biggest difference between all three is the quality and attitude of your construction manager. This person will make or break your building experience.
I would suggest speaking to others who are building or have built in the neighborhood. Since they will be your new neighbors, they should be more than happy to give you some insight to the quality and experiences they have had.
One other note however, building a home will inherenty cause lots of headaches....even with the best builders. If you or your wife have difficulty with making lots of decisions, or are extreme perfectionists....buying an existing home can take a lot of hassles out of the process as what you see is what you get.
Good luck and enjoy the process. |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
| Pulte Homes are good also ! |
|
|
| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
Pulte Homes are good also !
Still ranked #1...:4: |
|
|
| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
Pulte Homes are good also !
Checked out their website, homes in Mass look to be much lower priced than Toll Bros...perhaps we will take a ride out to one of their developments this weekend and check it out.
Thanks for the suggestion. |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
| I've been living in a Pulte home for 6 years, not ONE issue ! I believe they have been building homes for 40 plus years ...... |
|
|
| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
I've been living in a Pulte home for 6 years, not ONE issue ! I believe they have been building homes for 40 plus years ......
I've been living in a Pulte townhome for over a year. I like the quality materials. A bit pricey in this area, but they can't seem to build the units fast enough. Waiting lists are long, which seem to drive prices up further. |
|
|
| zafer |
| TB had to buy back a few homes dues to mold here. One was an old co-workers. He opt'ed not move to another one of their homes and bought a Centex home. Around here Pulte homes are literally considered junk, I agree with that observation. |
|
|
| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by zafer
TB had to buy back a few homes dues to mold here. One was an old co-workers. He opt'ed not move to another one of their homes and bought a Centex home. Around here Pulte homes are literally considered junk, I agree with that observation.
Hmmm, seems like an apparent anomaly in your neck of the woods...
http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower....asp?ID=2004104
But to each their own. Some consider the X 'junk'. I also disagree... |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
| I also disagree 100% ! Read that report ! |
|
|
| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
I also disagree 100% ! Read that report !
We looked at a Pulte development in Mass, and while the construction looked quite good, they attempted to keep the price point down by putting the homes on postage size lots (1/4 to 1/2 acre).
Was not what we were looking for.
We are still considering Toll Brothers. |
|
|
| Fabvsix |
| That can be a drawback....However there are some Plute homes at 5000 square feet on a half to one acre lot in Brentwood California next to Antioch. Perhaps you should as them where in your interest area will they have some like these. I didn't buy that because I don't need all that. Mine's a one level. Master is in the rear of the house, where as the other 4 bedrooms are all together in the front of the house. Rare layout these days, so we jumped on it. Who wants to be next to the children ??????????????? Who wants two story homes ????????????????? Know how much NRG it takes to AC two story homes compared to rare one levels in our area ? Ouch....it reaches 100+ during the summer here.... |
|
|
| zafer |
quote:
Originally posted by xfactor
Hmmm, seems like an apparent anomaly in your neck of the woods...
http://www.jdpa.com/studies_jdpower....asp?ID=2004104
But to each their own. Some consider the X 'junk'. I also disagree...
WOW, thats truly amazing news to me. Haven't checked out any of their latest homes since 99, but have never heard anybody talk highly of them. http://home.att.net/~pulte/ncpicket.html http://www.jdpa.com/pdf/2004121.pdf Don't they build on a slab? Looking at TB on JDPA's web, their rated one of the worst everywhere, yet around here all except the one person I know that have TB homes are very satisfied with them. Pulte is even rated better than TB here which is obviously bs. |
|
|
| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
That can be a drawback....However there are some Plute homes at 5000 square feet on a half to one acre lot in Brentwood California next to Antioch. Perhaps you should as them where in your interest area will they have some like these. I didn't buy that because I don't need all that. Mine's a one level. Master is in the rear of the house, where as the other 4 bedrooms are all together in the front of the house. Rare layout these days, so we jumped on it. Who wants to be next to the children ??????????????? Who wants two story homes ????????????????? Know how much NRG it takes to AC two story homes compared to rare one levels in our area ? Ouch....it reaches 100+ during the summer here....
I would not want less than 1 acre. My current home is on 1.5 acres, and we would like to be on 2+. |
|
|
| xfactor |
quote:
Originally posted by zafer
WOW, thats truly amazing news to me. Haven't checked out any of their latest homes since 99, but have never heard anybody talk highly of them. ... Don't they build on a slab? Looking at TB on JDPA's web, their rated one of the worst everywhere, yet around here all except the one person I know that have TB homes are very satisfied with them. Pulte is even rated better than TB here which is obviously bs.
I haven't checked out Pulte homes prior to '03, so I can't address their older homes.
I'd guess that more than half the builders (Seeno, Centex, KB, Legacy, Signature, Shapell, TB, ect) out here build on 'post tension' slabs, addressing seismic concerns. I think it depends on location. For instance, my Pulte townhouse construction/design is commercial grade (Steel, granite, concrete, ect), where as another Pulte townhouse project in Hayward has a more residential design. The design/construction is predicated on geography. |
|
|
| alphaforcex |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
Pulte Homes are good also !
I currently owned a Pulte home and I heard good things before
I bought one. However, I think it all depends on the "people". My house was built with errors. We ordered extra playroom and turned out it was not built. Walls were painted wrong and the counter top color was not right. Test ball left in plumbing which caused water overflow everywhere...etc. I'm not talking about the cheapest Pulte home here. Turned out that the head of construction was just having a baby and he hardly had enough sleep so things slipped a little bit here and there. So I think it all depends on the people who are building the house for you and "luck" in many cases. |
|
|
| YATAGON |
I live in a TB home. Bought in 1990. I have a friend in home construction, he was very impressed with the overall construction. I would not hesitate to recommend Toll Brothers.
ps My house has a perfectly dry basement from day one. Next door neighbor had a flooding basement from day one. This happenned because of the lots we chose. When it rained all the water from the surrounding lots would gather on his property. His sump pump couldn't keep up. |
|
|
| A2MDXer |
| I live in a TB house, built in 2001. Overall, for the money it's not too bad but they did cut a few corners and missed a few things. Part of that was in 2001 things were really busy with housing so they were strapped. If it was built in 2005, I would expect better. The value is pretty good but IMO it's not the best customer support out there (not the worst either and at least you know they will be around - they are still involved in a totally different development within a mile of me). |
|
|
| Maik |
After many months of bull$h!t from Toll Brothers, I finally have decided to move on. To many lies by the local staff regarding timing, pricing and the Companies overall very bad track record in Massachusetts were all contributing factors. Also, we found a 2/12 acre lot (very rare these days) in our town and signed up yesterday with a builder to build us a custom home.
Seems that Toll certainly gives a lot of space for the money, but at a heavy cost. I will say that I am amazed at the number of people willing to blindly throw $800,000+ at their developments given their very poor track record. |
|
|
|
