Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Chuck Marunde, J.D., Broker/Owner 360-775-5424


iRealty Virtual Brokers


Broker/Consultant

Washington State

SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Search MLS
    • Sequim MLS
    • Sequim MLS Map Search
    • Port Angeles MLS
    • Port Townsend MLS
    • San Juan Islands MLS
    • All Islands MLS
    • How to Search the Sequim MLS
  • Videos
    • Sequim Videos Q&A
    • Buyer Videos Part 1
    • Buyer Videos Part 2
    • Buyer Videos Part 3
    • Buyer Videos Part 4
    • Living in Sequim Video Channel
  • Books
    The Coming Real Estate Crash

    The Coming Real Estate Crash

    The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

    The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

    Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

    Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

    Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

    Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

    Get Healthy

    Get Healthy: Increase Natural Immunities, Cellular Energy, Deep Sleep & Decrease Blood Pressure

    Manage Your Energy

    Manage Your Energy Not Your Time

    Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

    Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

    7 Myths of Selling Your Home

    7 Myths of Selling Your Home

    Buying Your Retirement Home

    Buying Your Retirement Home

    The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

    The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

    Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

    Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

    24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

    24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

    Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

    Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

    Living Off The Grid iin Alaska

    Living Off The Grid in Alaska

    Buying and Selling Real Estate

    Buying and Selling Real Estate

    Trending Tags

      • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
      • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
      • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
      • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
      • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
      • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
      • Buying Your Retirement Home
      • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
    • Agents
      Marunde Google

      Chuck Marunde on Google

      Flat Fee Listing Broker

      Flat Fee Listing Broker

      Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde

      Buyer’s Agent Chuck Marunde

      Trending Tags

        • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
        • Flat Fee Listing Broker
        • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
      Tetralogy
      No Result
      View All Result
      • Login
      • Register
      • Home
      • Search MLS
        • Sequim MLS
        • Sequim MLS Map Search
        • Port Angeles MLS
        • Port Townsend MLS
        • San Juan Islands MLS
        • All Islands MLS
        • How to Search the Sequim MLS
      • Videos
        • Sequim Videos Q&A
        • Buyer Videos Part 1
        • Buyer Videos Part 2
        • Buyer Videos Part 3
        • Buyer Videos Part 4
        • Living in Sequim Video Channel
      • Books
        The Coming Real Estate Crash

        The Coming Real Estate Crash

        The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

        The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

        Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

        Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

        Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

        Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

        Get Healthy

        Get Healthy: Increase Natural Immunities, Cellular Energy, Deep Sleep & Decrease Blood Pressure

        Manage Your Energy

        Manage Your Energy Not Your Time

        Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

        Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

        7 Myths of Selling Your Home

        7 Myths of Selling Your Home

        Buying Your Retirement Home

        Buying Your Retirement Home

        The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

        The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

        Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

        Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

        24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

        24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

        Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

        Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

        Living Off The Grid iin Alaska

        Living Off The Grid in Alaska

        Buying and Selling Real Estate

        Buying and Selling Real Estate

        Trending Tags

          • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
          • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
          • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
          • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
          • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
          • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
          • Buying Your Retirement Home
          • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
        • Agents
          Marunde Google

          Chuck Marunde on Google

          Flat Fee Listing Broker

          Flat Fee Listing Broker

          Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde

          Buyer’s Agent Chuck Marunde

          Trending Tags

            • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
            • Flat Fee Listing Broker
            • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
          No Result
          View All Result
          iRealty Virtual Brokers
          No Result
          View All Result
          Home Home Building Building a Home

          Sequim and Port Angeles Home Builders – Does Size Matter?

          Chuck Marunde by Chuck Marunde
          September 2, 2019
          Reading Time: 6 mins read
          0 0
          3

          Strongman Jesse MarundeBuilding a home in Sequim or Port Angeles?   Finding a home builder for your next home is one of the most important decisions you will make as you start this next phase of your life in retirement.   This is part two of a two part series that asks the question, “Does Size Matter?” when it comes to hiring a home builder.

          [This photo was taken by me at the St. Louis National Strongman Contest a number of years ago.   My son, Jesse Marunde, is the entertainer in the center.   Jesse died of a heart attack last year in his Sequim gym.   He was big at 6’5″ and 320 pounds.]

          In part one, we looked at common misconceptions when hiring a builder, and we looked at the pros and cons of hiring a small builder.   Today, we look at hiring a larger home builder.

          A large builder in Pierce or King County would build hundreds of houses each year, but in small towns like ours, a large builder would be someone building perhaps 8 to 30 houses per year.

          I would categorize large builders based on criteria like their business model, their customer service, the quality of materials used, the quality of workmanship (i.e. the quality of their subs), the process by which they quote estimates and final bid prices, their contracts, their warranties, and their integrity.

          Volumes could be written just on these criteria, but this is a blog post, which means it gets down and dirty quick.   The question, the answer.   Let’s get to it.

          Business Model. Large home builders around the country have learned to create a business model that is a money machine.   Now this is America, home of the free and the brave, and we boast about our free enterprise system.   That’s all good.   And there’s nothing wrong, and everything right, about having a corporate goal of making money.   But many builders have taken this to levels unheard of 30 years ago.   Slick advertisements that often border on fraudulent advertising, bait and switch, and lopsided contracts are very common among many large builders.   From the beginning of the first meeting to the walk-through, there are a thousand ways to maximize every dollar of profit to the detriment of the unwary homeowner.

          Large home builders with what I would call a “money machine” business model, have one overriding goal, to make lots of money.   You, the client, are not the focus of their business.   They will tell you that you are, but in many cases, that is smoke and mirrors.   More about money under “Price Quotes.”

          Good builders fully intend to make money.   That’s good.   But they also have a business model that does not put them at the center of the Universe.   This is a huge distinction, and it will impact every aspect of how and when your home is built.

          Customer Service. For some large builders customer service is all important.   It is everything.   But for the money machine builders, customer service is a tedious obligation.   You won’t find this out until after the honey moon is over, because up front everyone is all smiley and super friendly.   Then once the contract is signed, and construction has been underway for a period of months, you will feel like an alien when you try to communicate with your builder.   For the good builders, you will feel important, and you will get attention, even if it is a little slow in happening.   How your builder treats you personally is a huge sign.   Read the signs.

          Quality of Materials. There is a vast difference in the quality of materials used, and here is something you may not know.   I learned that it takes a trained eye to recognize the difference between a home with high quality materials and workmanship, and a home without.   In fact, it takes years to develop the “eye” to see these things.   I’ve seen inexperienced and good, honest, folks walk through a house with cheap materials, and even poor workmanship, and they are saying things like, “Oh, this is nice,” or “I like this floor plan,” or “This is beautiful.”   They just can’t see the differences.   If you spent a couple of hours pointing them out, they could.   But without the help, they don’t.     Money machine builders know this, so they can get away with murder by using cheap materials and hiring cheap labor.   Good quality builders know that you won’t know the difference at first, but they have a commitment to integrity, and they have a commitment to building homes with quality that will last for years to come.

          Quality of Workmanship. Some large builders will either hire the cheapest subcontractors, or they beat up the subs so bad that the subs have to find creative ways to cut corners.   Happens all the time.   I’m not making this stuff up.   Good builders have long term relationships with the best subs they can trust to do consistent good work.

          Price Quotes – Price Per Square Foot. Here is where the money machine builders will suck people in.   Low low low low estimates advertised, but no reality.   The low ball quotes in advertisements will   get people to come in.   Once they are in, a very smooth salesman shows them the basic plans, but of course, the clients always want more than is in the basic plan, and so the price per square foot creeps upward.   Still, the builder is lower than most builders, so a contract is signed.   Then the gamesmanship of the money machine continues.   There are extras, there are change orders, there are surprises (are they really surprises for the builder, or did they know perfectly well such a “surprise” would come along), all of which add to the final project price per square foot.   Hmm.   That price per square foot was about the same as the other builder who gave an honest quote to begin with.   Unfortunately for many homeowners, this is the school of hard knocks, and more money from your wallet.

          Contracts. I’ve had to litigate contracts, and many large builders use air tight contracts their own laywers drafted, so that your hands will be tied if you ever have a dispute with the builder.   It should be no surprise that judges end up ruling in favor of the large contractors most of the time.   A good builder uses a solid contract, but it is not one-sided.   More importantly, you won’t end up in a legal dispute with a truly good builder.

          Warranties. A one year warranty is typical, but here is something very interesting, and which seems to escape most of the public when they are shopping for a home builder.   Some builders boast about their warranty team, and how they send their warranty team out to fix anything and everything that goes wrong.   Okay.   I have one question.   If the home is built so well, why is a warranty team needed to run around fixing things so much in the weeks after a homeowner moves in?   I know a builder who does such good work, a “warranty team” would be like the Maytag repairman.

          Integrity. Intergity is something most people cannot see or define in a person in the first meeting.   But integrity goes deep to address all of the issues we’ve mentioned and a lot more.   The money machine builders are not focused on integrity.   They are focused on making money.   Of course, they will use all the right words in terms of honesty, quality, and they’ll even give you some glowing past client testimonies.   Every builder has someone who is happy.   What is the best way to figure out if your prospective builder has integrity?   Talk to past clients, and to people who know this builder.   Dig and do your due diligence.   But be wise.   The thing is, when your dream home is built, you want to be the one who is happy, because you hired the best builder, not the one who quoted the lowest price per square foot.

          Read Part 1 of this 2 Part Series on Selecting a Custom Home Builder in Sequim or Port Angeles.

          Last Updated on September 2, 2019 by Chuck Marunde

          Tags: sequim custom home builders
          ShareTweet
          Chuck Marunde

          Chuck Marunde

          Chuck grew up in remote Alaska, graduated from the University of Alaska with a degree in Economics and Teacher Certification, and after teaching high school for two years, went to law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He served four years as a Captain and JAG in the USAF at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. After practicing real estate law for 20 years in Washington, Chuck founded iRealty Virtual Brokers covering Sequim and the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. He is the author of 2,200 real estate articles and a dozen real estate books, and he produced over 100 real estate videos. Chuck combined his love for real estate and technology to create a massive Internet presence, and his articles and videos and books have been viewed by millions. Chuck is a well recognized real estate expert and his counsel is sought by other brokers and practicing attorneys around the country. Buyers from New York to Hawaii and from Florida to Alaska seek him out to retain him as their buyer's agent, and home owners around the State of Washington seek him out because of his new Flat Fee Listing Service. 

          Related Posts

          Home Defects
          Building a Home

          Home Defects Haunt Buyers

          May 6, 2016
          10
          New Home
          Building a Home

          Should I Buy a Brand New Home or a Used Home?

          January 4, 2015
          5
          Home Sales
          Building a Home

          Compare Buying an Existing Home to Building a Home

          October 30, 2020
          2
          Building a Home

          Clallam County Septic Regulations

          June 17, 2019
          44
          Building a Home

          Is Theft Insurance Necessary When Building a Home?

          July 27, 2012
          0
          Building a Home

          How Much Will My House Cost?

          April 8, 2013
          0
          Next Post

          Foreclosures Port Angeles and Sequim - I Have Buyers

          Sequim Lots for Sale in a Planned Community

          Comments 3

          1. conroe custom home builder says:
            14 years ago

            This was a really interesting informational post about building.

            Reply
          2. Marten Davis says:
            14 years ago

            Hey! While searching for Blogs on property tax disputes on appraisal fees I found your site and your article Port Angeles Home Builders – Does Size Matter. Good points.

            Reply
          3. custom home builder montgomery texas says:
            14 years ago

            This is a great model for figuring out what you need in a custom home.

            Reply

          Leave a Reply Cancel reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

          This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

          "I wish I read this before selling my
          home. I could have saved $50,000." Andy 

          Search 2,200 Articles by Category

          • Trending
          • Comments
          • Latest
          Buyer and Seller

          What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

          August 5, 2022
          Prorate Propane

          How to Prorate Propane at Closing

          August 15, 2015
          Terminate a real estate contract

          How to Terminate a Real Estate Contract

          December 31, 2020

          The Sequim Blue Hole – A Map of Rainfall

          September 1, 2019
          print newspapers

          Print Newspapers Losing Readers to the Internet

          42
          Buyer and Seller

          What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

          32
          FNMA Killing Transactions by Requiring Private Road Maintenance Agreements

          FNMA Killing Transactions by Requiring Private Road Maintenance Agreements

          31

          What Documents Does a Buyer Need to Buy Real Estate?

          24
          Sequim Real Estate Maps and Docs

          Sequim Real Estate Maps and Documents

          February 6, 2023
          Flat Fee Listing Service

          Sellers Chase the Market Down Once Again (UPDATED)

          March 9, 2023
          Sequim real estate market

          Sequim Real Estate Market: Annual Review for 2022

          February 3, 2023
          Seattle Real Estate Market in Decline

          Seattle Real Estate Market in Dramatic Decline

          December 22, 2022

          Subscribe to Chuck 
          Marunde's Newsletter

          Popular Stories

          • Buyer and Seller

            What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • How to Prorate Propane at Closing

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • How to Terminate a Real Estate Contract

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • The Sequim Blue Hole – A Map of Rainfall

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • Dangers of Buying a Fannie Mae Foreclosure Through Homepath

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0

          Leaving Comments   I hope you’ll join our community and leave comments from time to time. Please realize that comments, if approved, will be public, so do not use any personal information you don’t want broadcast to the world, and definitely don’t leave a phone number. Comments are not the place to ask Chuck Marunde for help in finding a home. To do that, call or text Chuck.

          Neither Chuck Marunde nor iRealty Virtual Brokers offers legal advice on this site. Please Read Our Legal Disclaimer

          If you’d like to view how we protect your privacy, see our Privacy Policy.

          iRealty Virtual Brokers

          iRealty Virtual Brokers reaches out to buyers around the United States with thousands of online articles, MLS sites, apps, real estate books, videos, and much more specifically to help buyers find all the answers to their questions. We also now offer a flat fee commission listing service that saves sellers tens of thousands of dollars.

          iRealty Virtual Brokers
          125 Olympic Ranch Ln
          Sequim, Washington 98382
          360-775-5424

          Search the entire NWMLS in Washington State:

          Sequim-Homes.com

          The largest independent real estate blog in the State of Washington with over 2,200 articles totally focused on our client’s best interest, their needs and their curiosity. All free and 100% reliable. I’m here if you need me, 

          © 2006-2022 iRealty Virtual Brokers and Chuck Marunde

          No Result
          View All Result
          • Home
          • Search MLS
            • Sequim MLS
            • Sequim MLS Map Search
            • Port Angeles MLS
            • Port Townsend MLS
            • San Juan Islands MLS
            • All Islands MLS
            • How to Search the Sequim MLS
          • Videos
            • Sequim Videos Q&A
            • Buyer Videos Part 1
            • Buyer Videos Part 2
            • Buyer Videos Part 3
            • Buyer Videos Part 4
            • Living in Sequim Video Channel
          • Books
            • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
            • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
            • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
            • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
            • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
            • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
            • Buying Your Retirement Home
            • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
          • Agents
            • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
            • Flat Fee Listing Broker
            • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
          • Login
          • Sign Up

          © 2006-2022 iRealty Virtual Brokers and Chuck Marunde

          Welcome Back!

          Login to your account below

          Forgotten Password? Sign Up

          Create New Account!

          Fill the forms bellow to register

          *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
          All fields are required. Log In

          Retrieve your password

          Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

          Log In
          This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.