Product Description
Few things in life can put you on the emotional roller coaster like buying a home, from the highs of finding the perfect one and seeing it completed to the lows of construction delays and mortgage red tape. “You mean the hardwood flooring we saw in the model isn’t included?” “Why won’t our builder return our calls?” “Where did these extra costs come from?” Before you buy your next home, let one of America’s most successful home builders show you how to avoid the “land mines” that spoil the fun for so many unsuspecting buyers. After 25 years and 30,000 homes, David Weekley has seen it all. And in this enlightening homebuyer’s guide he tells it all. You’ll learn how to look past the extras of a furnish… More >>
How to Buy a Home Without Getting Hammered
7:14 pm
November 20th, 2009
As a prior David Weekley homeowner, I was amused to discover this title among the construction offerings. Based on Mr Weekley’s reputation as one of the country’s largest privately-owned builders, I purchased an almost-new Weekley home in Florida. Within a year of moving in, the roof was buckling, structural and design errors, water intrusion and toxic mold forced us to evacuate the home. The only hammering I heard from Weekley representatives, was the hammering of contractors working on leaks and other structural defects.
Rating: 1 / 5
9:47 pm
November 20th, 2009
There are no “secrets” in this book. If you are someone who uses common sense, then there is nothing to be learnt in this book. Admonitions like researching your builder before you buy, and not moving in before all the work is completed, is something that I certainly did not need a book to tell me. That is simply common sense!
I can’t imagine that anyone who mannaged to graduate from high school would profit from this book.
Rating: 1 / 5
12:24 am
November 21st, 2009
David Weekley’s “How to Buy a Home Without Getting Hammered” is a book among books. With a classic cover illustration and a mastermind behind the insight, this New York Times Bestseller brings tears to my eyes. When I think about buying homes, I think WEEKLEY. David Weekley. He’s the 007 of buying homes, and now — writing great books.
Anyone who doesn’t buy this book is just an idiot. And Patrick Byers, you truly are “with” King Weekley. Great book guys!
Rating: 4 / 5
1:22 am
November 21st, 2009
First, the positive feedback is that the book is an easy read, containing lots of pertinent information for a home buyer. It was even a bit fun which made it enjoyable to read.
Secondly, as a David Weekley homeowner, I found many of the remarks he was making about builders to be highly applicable to him. For example, he used the words reputable and home warranty over and over. For the sake of the reader, if you are considering buying a David Weekley home, they do not honor their warranties as stated by Mr. Weekley in their book, much less, “Not only will you be taken care of after closing, you’ll also continue to get help well outside of the warranty period.”
My home is defective due to builder defect. While I am the second owner, I called the builder within months of moving in with concerns about the defect issues. They told me that my house was too old (not even 5 yrs. at that time and their warranty is for ten years) and refused to aid me. After many attemps in late 1998 and early 1999 to get Mr. Weekley’s firm to honor their warranty, I had to go to my insurance company.
The defects in my home were primarily plumbling leaks, and have found that Weekley Homes, in the State of Texas are referred to as Leaky Weekleys, as the prevailing customer complaints are consistently with the plumbing. I abandoned my Leaky Weekley over 18 months ago due to toxic mold caused by the builder defects, and lack of proper inspection which Mr. Weekley urges in his book.
In May of 2002, after writing Weekley Homes again, and “hammering” them, I did get response. They met with me, they saw the toxic mold test results, they saw the remediation recommendation results, which all clearly stated due to builder defects, and have now told me that they don’t feel that it is their problem.
If a man who writes a book to give advice to others on how to make the most important purchase of our lifetimes, not to mention the biggest investment, then how credible is he? He eludes to his credibility throughout the book however from what I, and many others I have met, they do not adhere to his statement of, “You probably will not have any problem getting your builder to repond because you’ve selected a reputable builder who knows his continued success is directly tied to his customer’s statisfaction.”
My advice, check references on all builders thoroughly before hiring one, as you could wind up making the biggest mistake of your life by believing their reputation means something!
Rating: 1 / 5
2:39 am
November 21st, 2009
This book is a great guide for people who are both new to this process (such as myself) and those who may not want to make the same mistakes twice. It is well-written and informative. It made me feel more comfortable with the whole process, which at times, could have been frustrating and confusing.
Rating: 5 / 5