What's In Your San Antonio Builder's Name

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So said Shakespeare’s Juliet.

That’s a nice thought, but, if you’re thinking about buying a new construction or resale San Antonio home, we strongly advise that you not do the Juliet thing and assume that a builder’s name doesn’t matter. Every home builder’s name equates to a reputation established over time and, when a builder’s reputation is bad, buying that builder’s product increases the risk of a bad outcome for you, the buyer.

So, are there some San Antonio home builders that are, right now, in the process of developing bad reputations. Frankly, in light of today’s sophisticated home building techniques and close monitoring of construction codes and standards, it’s really difficult, but not impossible, for a contemporary San Antonio builder to develop a really bad reputation. That’s especially true for the area’s high volume new home production builders who stake their national reputation on building quality homes in neighborhoods where standards are diligently maintained.

Just ask the experts. Home inspectors and other folks who monitor the building industry seem to agree that San Antonio’s new home builders are doing a good to excellent job. So, home buyers can take comfort in knowing that, although there’s an occasional exception, a poorly constructed new home is a rarity in San Antonio.

But, alas, despite currently concentrating on quality and customer service, at least one San Antonio home builder is still having a hard time living down a bad reputation. I need not name that builder, but, if you don’t know and want to know who it is, just ask a San Antonio native or a local Realtor(R). They’ll know.

Let’s just call the builder ”Blah Blah Home.”

Through transition and acquisition, Blah Blah Home’s San Antonio name has changed four times in the last 50 or so years. Although the latest name is a well known national brand, Blah Blah Home San Antonio remains linked to a tainted past characterized by bad construction, unreliable customer support, and poorly developed neighborhoods. So to use Juliet’s jargon, Blah Blah Home San Antonio by any other name would still smell as sour.

How sour? Consider this. When listing Blah Blah Home resales, San Antonio realty agents despair of having to divulge that they are Blah Blah Home products. Why? Because, it’s so well known that the odds are high that a Blah Blah Home product will resell for a price that’s significantly below the average sold price for neighboring non-Blah Blah Home properties.

So, here’s this blog’s take away message.

If you’re thinking of buying either a new construction or resale San Antonio area home, be sure to first seek a Realtor’s(R) advice or at least talk with a few long term residents. Ask about the builder with the worst name in town. They’ll know who you’re talking about and, if there are any other builders going the Blah Blah Home way, they’ll also tell you about those guys. San Antonians love to talk about builders with sour reputations!

That’s all for today.

Here’s wishing you you have a happy home buying or selling experience.

Please don’t hesitate to call upon us if you need the help of experienced Realtors(R). We are Stephanie and Randy Kelley, Realtors(R) at Keller Williams Legacy, telephone (210) 867-8743 or (210) 863-2661, or (800) 201-9145. We put the reality in realty. Visit us at SanAntonioHomeQuest.com or E-mail us at swkrealtor@aol.com or kelleybus@aol.com.