We shopped around, started with simplicity, didn’t get a response, went to other company’s and kept coming back to simplicity as we loved the house plan we choose. Our sales experience was extremely poor. Josh was our sales associate, it started off well, but then the hiccups started. 1. Josh read our cc&r’s and determined we needed a fire sprinkler system, mentioned to us that it was our responsibility. We were blindsided with a contract and quote that we were stuck paying a $2500 estimate fee that we never approved. 2. We met him on our property to place stakes for our house location. He then drew up our site plan to submit permits. The setbacks didnt match the septic site map, so the county requested an updated copy. We personally called the county to find this out and then tried to contact Josh, who didn’t respond to us for over 3 weeks as he said I don’t work for simplicity anymore, but I thought I would turn my phone on. At this time we had already contacted simplicity directly as we had heard nothing from him. Lynn in your permitting department was amazingly kind and helpful doing all she could to help us. Josh told us we needed a culvert, we said yes add it to the contract, he took it out and the. We had to add that as an additional cost later. We closed on our construction loan end of may and didn’t break ground until September, we made payments on our construction and rent during this time, and were extremely frustrated with all the mistakes Josh caused and failed to communicate with us. Then we met our awesome PM, Anthony, who made our process seamless. His attention to detail and his communication is top notch. He is skilled in his trade and a true gem of a human. He knows how to work with the subs as well as the homeowners. He understands how to communicate to both effectively so all understand. I would recommend simplicity over and over if I could guarantee someone work with Anthony. If it wasn’t for him, we might have walked away. I’d be happy to discuss via phone to explain our experience further. Thank you so much!
Respondent had no comments.
Everyone was only concerned about simplicity making money, not providing a quality product or quality experience
Very impressed with Jamin and all subs that were used. Would absolutely use Simplicity again for a future build.
All the 5 star ratings are attributable to our experiences with our Project Manager, Anthony. Anthony was the quintessential professional from day one and all the way through our home building process. Simplicity should be very thankful that Anthony is part of their staff as he displays the highest level of professionalism, responsiveness and customer service!
Responsive and fun loving sales and field staff made for a fun and productive experience. Home was built properly, on budget, and ahead of schedule. Both Mike and Ryan were pleasures to work with!
Great overall experience from start to finish! Kept apprised of each process and updated each step of the way! Completed on time and to satisfaction! Would definitely recommend to those looking to build!
Simplicity has been great to work with as a builder! I would highly recommend. The sales communication however could be better.
Our experience with Simplicity Homes was awful, marked by consistent incompetence and disregard for quality. The sales process was hindered by a month-long delay on Simplicity's part. By the end of the process sales was apologetic and I do believe they will try to improve their processes. The permitting representative refused direct communication, resulting in significant delays and confusion, despite our "turn-key" package. In hindsight, the turn-key package was vastly overpriced, and delivered a very low quality of service. Substandard workmanship and project management were pervasive, with contractors consistently cutting corners and violating building codes or manufacturer instructions. Violating manufacturer instructions voids the warranty of the product. Critical errors were only identified by us, the homeowners. They included: • Foundation forms installed 4’ too short. • Roof truss installed I the wrong location causing errors later on in the building process. • Stone veneer installed directly over OSB plywood and torn house wrap. • Stone installed in a manner that would cause water buildup and rot surrounding trim. • Improperly installed siding that will cause future warping. • Improper flashing that will cause water intrusion. • Caulking used on horizontal seams instead of code-required flashing. • Insufficient or improperly applied exterior paint that was cracking and peeling immediately. • Wavy interior wall surfaces. • A door frame crooked by an inch. • Multiple doors hitting their frames and bending hinges. • Poorly fitted trim installation. • Bathroom fans venting into the attic space. • Improperly installed dryer vent causing excessive back pressure. • Errors within the blueprints were discovered and likely contributed to the construction errors. Upon discovering errors, Simplicity consistently denied responsibility, prioritizing subcontractor protection and dismissing our concerns. We were forced to provide detailed reports, including building codes and manufacturer specifications, to validate our claims. Simplicity wastes significant resources and customer time by failing to perform tasks correctly the first time. The stonework, for instance, has already been replaced once, but the house wrap and water barrier were not properly repaired, and the finished caulking was poorly executed. Once I noticed the errors in my home, I inspected a nearby Simplicity/Hayden development. A homeowner there allowed me to inspect their residence, and I found the same errors. A walk around the other construction sites revealed numerous identical issues. The corporate office provided no support, directing us back to the project manager, whose performance was the core of our complaints. If my issues are with the project manager and his supervisor, do you really think they are going to unchain large scale issues they should have noticed to the corporate office? Despite receiving a certificate of occupancy, the house requires extensive repairs, including repainting, siding replacement, and stonework correction. We strongly advise against using Simplicity or Hayden Homes. If you proceed, rigorous documentation is essential: photograph every stage of construction, meticulously review blueprints, inform yourself of proper material installation and construction practices, and maintain a written record of all communications by emailing Simplicity to create a paper trail. Call the city or county inspector and inform them of your findings. Visit other Simplicity communities and inspect the homes under construction. Be prepared to push back if Simplicity dismisses your valid concerns. Consider hiring a third-party inspector. Ask for information on the sub-contractors. Check with the BBB and review other online reviews. Without the extensive photographs we took, proving these errors would have been impossible. Additionally, these photos will be invaluable for future repairs and renovations, providing detailed information on framing, plumbing, and electrical systems. Simplicity should implement a comprehensive photo-documentation process for every home they build, to protect both their interests and the customer's.
Everyone I’ve ever known to build a home says it’s incredibly stressful. With Simplicity, I had no stress, only excitement.