Saturday, February 4, 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 Sequim Home Builders

          Sequim Custom Home Builders: The Best Sequim Contractor

          Chuck Marunde by Chuck Marunde
          September 2, 2019
          Reading Time: 3 mins read
          0 0
          1

          If you plan to build your Sequim home soon, you have some serious work to do, not the least of which is finding the best builder.   I hope building your retirement home is a great experience, but it normally is stressful.   One thing for sure, building your retirement home should not be a nightmare scenario, and at the least it should not require that you constantly supervise the project managers and the carpenters on site. That’s the contractor’s job, isn’t it?

          Apparently not in most cases. The following is a true story. The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

          Joe and Betty hired a home builder who said the right things, had a nice smile, and didn’t smell bad. But most importantly, he was the lowest bidder. Joe and Betty decided he was the right man for the job.

          The first sign of trouble was during the dirt work and excavation of the lot to prepare for the foundation of the house. Joe had not even signed the contract, and the equipment was on his lot tearing it up. Once the contract was signed Joe figured it would be fine from that point, but he found out he had to constantly, almost daily be on the job site, because the carpenters kept taking short cuts and not doing things that were part of the house plan.

          One day Joe pointed out to the carpenter in charge that he was not building the front porch right. The carpenter said, “You’re always changing things.” To that Joe replied, “I haven’t changed a single thing. You are the one who is not building according to the house plans and my contract requires you build the house according to the architectural plan.”

          I later met with the owner when his home was completed, and frankly it was beautiful. I asked him who his builder was and how it went, and he told me his general contractor was never around, and that the general had hired a project manager who had little skill in communicating with people, but more importantly the manager didn’t pay much attention to the house plan. “The only reason this house was finished the way it should be is because I was here every day.”

          That’s not a homeowner’s responsibility to supervise construction, but I have heard this from so many people now, I can’t emphasize how much the majority of builders conduct their businesses in this way. Take every short cut possible so long as the homeowner doesn’t catch them. Not a good business model, but it is very common.

          A tactic that is used by many home builders who have a model home is to walk the clients through the model home as though that is just what their home will be like. The builder does not explain that the model home has the highest quality materials and workmanship, the best hardwood floors, the more expensive cathedral ceilings, the finest fireplace brick work, custom made kitchen cabinets, marble countertops, custom work throughout the house, the best hardware and the best appliances. And the builder just happens to NOT mention that the client’s home design will have none of this. It’s very much like the old bait and switch tactic that we all dislike. But clients agree to sign a contract based on how beautiful the model home looks. It’s unfortunate because their home will not be anywhere close the model home, but they assume it will be, or should I say the builder leads them to believe it will be.

          Where is integrity among home builders? As as matter of fact, there are other home builders with integrity, but it gets interesting, because integrity alone does not determine the best builder.

          Among the home builders who do have integrity in every sense of the word, from the representations made in the first meeting and all the way through construction to completion, their business models vary dramatically. What does that mean? It means for the same house plan, one bids $975,000, another bids $850,000, and a third bids $745,000. That’s a huge difference in price for the exact same house. The difference is found in the business models. There’s nothing wrong with a business model that charges more. This is America. But it does point out the need for clients to be discerning.

          I endorse Rick Anderson as a custom home builder not because he and I have a relationship, but because in fact he is the best home builder in Sequim and Port Angeles. Hands down. It’s because of his integrity that I strongly endorse him as a homebuilder.   You never have to worry about his project manager taking short cuts on materials or workmanship. Never. You also do not find Rick Anderson at the highest end of bids for the exact same house.

          Choose your home builder carefully. You’ll be glad you did.

          Last Updated on September 2, 2019 by Chuck Marunde

          Tags: sequim contractorsSequim Custom Homessequim homebuilder
          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

          Sequim Home Builders

          Home Sales and Building Pick Up

          September 2, 2019
          0
          Sequim Home Builders

          Sequim Home Builder Does It Again

          September 4, 2011
          0
          Sequim Home Builders

          Sequim Home Builder Guarantees Contract Price

          September 2, 2019
          0
          Sequim Home Builders

          Who is the Best Sequim Home Builder and Port Angeles Home Builder?

          September 1, 2019
          2
          Sequim Home Builders

          New Home Construction in Sequim

          September 2, 2019
          0
          Sequim Home Builders

          Sequim Custom Home Builder

          July 27, 2012
          0
          Next Post

          Sequim Homes for Sale

          Sequim and Port Angeles Broker Recognized for Outstanding Performance

          Comments 1

          1. Timons @ Perfectly Good Money says:
            12 years ago

            I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I have searched a lot of Sequim homes for sale on the Internet, and what we love about your real estate blog is that you have so many articles that are truly helpful to buyers like us. We will be coming soon, and you are definitely our buyer’s agent. We’ve looked at the competition, at other realtors in your area, but your experience is incredible, and we like that you were a real estate attorney, too. We like the idea of being protected and having an exclusive buyer’s agent. Looking forward to your future articles and videos. Thanks so much.

            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 market

          Sequim Real Estate Market: Annual Review for 2022

          February 2, 2023
          Seattle Real Estate Market in Decline

          Seattle Real Estate Market in Dramatic Decline

          December 22, 2022
          Buying a home

          Buyers Must Be More Cautious Than Ever

          December 7, 2022
          Flat Fee Listing Service

          Sellers Chase the Market Down Once Again

          December 10, 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
          • Why is Sequim One Of The 10 Best Places To Retire?

            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.