From: kucera@convex.com (Julie Kucera)
Subject: Re: Homebuilders in the DFW area
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 20:08:58 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

hurley@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Brian Hurley) writes:

>Also, I've heard of problems from Fox & Jacobs.  Several people here have F&J
>homes and complain about them but I havn't had any experience with them
>myself.

Well, I just thought I'd throw out a few comments myself, since I *do*
have (very recent, in fact current) experience with Fox&Jacobs. 

I know that many years ago (maybe even as recent as 5-8 years ago), F&J
very much had a generic tract-home reputation, and a litle bit of "this
is the way we make it, so take it (as is) or leave it" attitude.

I posted a note to this newsgroup very similar to the 2 we've seen recently
asking for home-builder advice about 8 months ago, and there was little to
*no* feedback on the net, though I got a few responses through email.  I
wished I had seen the one that listed all the things to watch out for (like
pressure-treated lumber, etc), because now that we are supposed to close on
our house in a couple weeks, it's probably too late to check that out. :-)

But, on to my comments on Fox&Jacobs.  My husband and I searched around a
*lot* for a house in the North Dallas area (Richardson, *maybe* Plano,
Allen, maybe north Garland) about a year ago, when the interest rates first
started dropping off.  Having a nice-sized backyard was a very important
factor for us, so that knocked out Plano pretty well.  We settled on the
F&J neighborhood out in northeast Richardson (the panhandle of Richardson :-)
called Wyndsor Estates.  We have a third of an acre lot, plus a 500-acre
City of Richardson park (Breckinridge) going in (well, about 200 acres are
already developed, the rest is getting underway) less than half a mile away.

We found the value (price per sqaure foot) to be exceptional, and we have
been *very* pleased with our supervisor's responsiveness to us.   In the
"New Generation" homes F&J is now building in their more up-scale subdivisions,
they have really come a *long way* from their "tract-home" days, we think.
They allow changes to be made to the plans (of course, this will cost you
something :-), some even quite substantial.  Several of my neighbors moved
walls, divided rooms, and other fairly major things.  We just added a window
box and a few more "decorative" type changes.

Definitely get out to your house a lot if you can.  What we did was make
periodic lists to give them to have something to check things off on.  The
super has been wonderful about fixing things, and even gave us a free upgrade
(from plain ol' ceramic tile to marbelized tile) on our fireplace "hearth"
when he had to rip it out and move it over half an inch to center it in the
room (some people said you'd never notice it being off-center, but he fixed
it anyway).  The subcontractors may not be the most conscientious workers
(though some seem great, like our framing crew), but your super should be on
your side and take good care of you.

It may depend on your subdivision and/or superintendents, but I wouldn't
sell all of F&J short based only on horror stories of the past.  They have
treated us well, and built a very nice house, in our opinion.  We haven't
moved in yet, but I know we get a 60-day walk-through and a 1-year walk-through
in which to "fix" even more things, if we find them (and we're even being
pretty picky now).

One word of caution if anyone decides to visit Wyndsor Estates (way east on
Renner Rd at Murphy Rd, almost to Sachse), the one person we've been less-than-
thrilled with in our dealings with them is our saleslady, Paula.  You may
consider speaking with someone else...

Good luck, and enjoy!  It's really a lot of fun to watch a house go up! :-)

==============================================================================
** Julie Kucera :-)	   CONVEX Computer Corporation	     kucera@convex.com
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Newsgroups: dfw.general