Anyone familiar with relux homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great houses, they do finishes and extra trim work that are usually found in houses at much higher price points.

Their websites have plans as well as all the projects they are doing in the area. You can see they do a lot in DC in many price ranges from lower to higher where as in Virginia they do mostly high.

http://www.reluxhomes.com

http://www.district-properties.com/

I don't really see any special finishes or "extra trim work" in any of the models there. They look par for the course for the most part. The homes tend to be smaller, intended for small lots. There are some really odd design/build choices: built-in fridge that isn't flush with the cabinet, an exterior door with glass for the garage threshold, ultra-modern cabinets in an otherwise traditional home with coffered ceilings and decorative iron railing. In any case, all these lower priced custom builders have their issues, it's up to the buyer to figure out what works for them and what doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great houses, they do finishes and extra trim work that are usually found in houses at much higher price points.

Their websites have plans as well as all the projects they are doing in the area. You can see they do a lot in DC in many price ranges from lower to higher where as in Virginia they do mostly high.

http://www.reluxhomes.com

http://www.district-properties.com/

I don't really see any special finishes or "extra trim work" in any of the models there. They look par for the course for the most part. The homes tend to be smaller, intended for small lots. There are some really odd design/build choices: built-in fridge that isn't flush with the cabinet, an exterior door with glass for the garage threshold, ultra-modern cabinets in an otherwise traditional home with coffered ceilings and decorative iron railing. In any case, all these lower priced custom builders have their issues, it's up to the buyer to figure out what works for them and what doesn't.

Their pricing is very good and they definitely have extras over your standard semi-custom tract builders like anv, ndi, etc... not that any of them are bad. Maybe you are used to a very high price point where everything is done to the 9s but I am comparing it to your standard McMansion tract homes a la ashburn, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great houses, they do finishes and extra trim work that are usually found in houses at much higher price points.

Their websites have plans as well as all the projects they are doing in the area. You can see they do a lot in DC in many price ranges from lower to higher where as in Virginia they do mostly high.

http://www.reluxhomes.com

http://www.district-properties.com/

I don't really see any special finishes or "extra trim work" in any of the models there. They look par for the course for the most part. The homes tend to be smaller, intended for small lots. There are some really odd design/build choices: built-in fridge that isn't flush with the cabinet, an exterior door with glass for the garage threshold, ultra-modern cabinets in an otherwise traditional home with coffered ceilings and decorative iron railing. In any case, all these lower priced custom builders have their issues, it's up to the buyer to figure out what works for them and what doesn't.

Their pricing is very good and they definitely have extras over your standard semi-custom tract builders like anv, ndi, etc... not that any of them are bad. Maybe you are used to a very high price point where everything is done to the 9s but I am comparing it to your standard McMansion tract homes a la ashburn, etc...

Sorry, no, I don't believe this is on par with ANV, which while having their own set of problems, does build homes at higher price points and quality than what's shown from Relux. Perhaps NDI, I agree. I also agree that it's better than a tract home from a mass builder, though you do give up things like a congruent design. The designs I see from Relux borders on "eclectic" or even "strange". Lots of things look tacked on. Tract homes are more conservative in appearance but at least tend to be devoid of questionable design elements. Of course none of this compares to high end builders that work on projects above $150-$200/sqft, but that's not my frame of reference. My point is that Relux appears to build a home using methods and materials that is in line with the price and market segment they are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great houses, they do finishes and extra trim work that are usually found in houses at much higher price points.

Their websites have plans as well as all the projects they are doing in the area. You can see they do a lot in DC in many price ranges from lower to higher where as in Virginia they do mostly high.

http://www.reluxhomes.com

http://www.district-properties.com/

I don't really see any special finishes or "extra trim work" in any of the models there. They look par for the course for the most part. The homes tend to be smaller, intended for small lots. There are some really odd design/build choices: built-in fridge that isn't flush with the cabinet, an exterior door with glass for the garage threshold, ultra-modern cabinets in an otherwise traditional home with coffered ceilings and decorative iron railing. In any case, all these lower priced custom builders have their issues, it's up to the buyer to figure out what works for them and what doesn't.

Their pricing is very good and they definitely have extras over your standard semi-custom tract builders like anv, ndi, etc... not that any of them are bad. Maybe you are used to a very high price point where everything is done to the 9s but I am comparing it to your standard McMansion tract homes a la ashburn, etc...

Sorry, no, I don't believe this is on par with ANV, which while having their own set of problems, does build homes at higher price points and quality than what's shown from Relux. Perhaps NDI, I agree. I also agree that it's better than a tract home from a mass builder, though you do give up things like a congruent design. The designs I see from Relux borders on "eclectic" or even "strange". Lots of things look tacked on. Tract homes are more conservative in appearance but at least tend to be devoid of questionable design elements. Of course none of this compares to high end builders that work on projects above $150-$200/sqft, but that's not my frame of reference. My point is that Relux appears to build a home using methods and materials that is in line with the price and market segment they are in.

I consider ANV on par with NDI, Foxhall, Classic Homes etc... I hope you aren't the ANV guy that comes on here and bashes every other builder.

Questionable design elements is subjective and at least you have some design elements to question vs your typical neutral tract builder

[Anonymous]

If you believe ANV is on par with NDI/Foxhall, you haven't actually shopped the two. ANV has some product overlap with NDI/Foxhall, but it's not much. The low end of ANV is where the high end of NDI/Foxhall comes in. Different companies serving different market segments, nothing wrong with that. I don't know who the "ANV guy" is, nor do I think ANV is particularly good. They also have design related issues and are obviously drawing from a pool of limited talent in that regard. It's true that design is subjective, but humans largely agree on the basic rules of what is attractive and what isn't. For example, symmetry, sense of scale, compatibility between colors, patterns, and textures, and etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bought a house from Relux or District properties as they call themselves (or have a joint venture with) in DC. The house is ok, but the response from the company is terrible. As any new construction, houses have deficiencies that need to be solved within the warranty. It has been impossible to get them to come and fixed the issues, and when they do should up they fix things the cheaper they can, instead of replacing something that is broken. They are very cheap in everything they do and the nickel and dime everything. Also, I have included in the contract that they needed to install additional features. Three months later I am still waiting for them to do that (or give me the money for it). They never contact me back.
Do not deal with these people, they are not ethical

Hmmm maybe you could give specific examples?

I am still dealing with them and I am trying to get them to do things in my house, that is why I don't give specifics, so they don't realize who I am and make things worse. You are probably from the company anyway, same as those writing good reviews. I have talked to a lot of their subcontractors (that came to fix issues) and they said they have issues in every single house and that buyers are really upset at them. At the end is your call, I am just giving a fair warning to whomever is out there considering buying from them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bought a house from Relux or District properties as they call themselves (or have a joint venture with) in DC. The house is ok, but the response from the company is terrible. As any new construction, houses have deficiencies that need to be solved within the warranty. It has been impossible to get them to come and fixed the issues, and when they do should up they fix things the cheaper they can, instead of replacing something that is broken. They are very cheap in everything they do and the nickel and dime everything. Also, I have included in the contract that they needed to install additional features. Three months later I am still waiting for them to do that (or give me the money for it). They never contact me back.
Do not deal with these people, they are not ethical

Hmmm maybe you could give specific examples?

I am still dealing with them and I am trying to get them to do things in my house, that is why I don't give specifics, so they don't realize who I am and make things worse. You are probably from the company anyway, same as those writing good reviews. I have talked to a lot of their subcontractors (that came to fix issues) and they said they have issues in every single house and that buyers are really upset at them. At the end is your call, I am just giving a fair warning to whomever is out there considering buying from them

Have they contacted with you yet by now?

I also heard they are very slow to finish those small uncompleted issues on other houses at final stage or after, which really upset the buyers. People should be aware of these, even they are small issues.

They are suppose to value their reputation in such a small market. And pay attention to their contractors performance as well.

[Anonymous]

avoid this company by all means.

[Anonymous]

I agree, avoid these people. They are extremely slow to finish or even replying to complaints from home owners (during the 1 year warranty), their products are bad quality, period. I have already been ripped off by them, try not to get fooled

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, avoid these people. They are extremely slow to finish or even replying to complaints from home owners (during the 1 year warranty), their products are bad quality, period. I have already been ripped off by them, try not to get fooled

Can you give some examples of the bad products and quality? What did they rip you off on?

I am concerned because my 1 year warranty has expired a while a go.

[Anonymous]

You want examples, here there are:

All pipes make noise in the house (hot water for every bathroom)
Floors are making noise and sinking after only a few months
Doors are not closing, door hardware doesn't lock correctly
they install heat pumps (that can't weather lower temperatures than 32 degrees) in areas where you need furnaces
caulking all over the house is breaking, same with wood trims
shower doors break up all the time

these are only a few......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want examples, here there are:

All pipes make noise in the house (hot water for every bathroom)
Floors are making noise and sinking after only a few months
Doors are not closing, door hardware doesn't lock correctly
they install heat pumps (that can't weather lower temperatures than 32 degrees) in areas where you need furnaces
caulking all over the house is breaking, same with wood trims
shower doors break up all the time

these are only a few......

Here is what they did for me

All pipes make noise in the house (hot water for every bathroom)
I don't understand this one I don't have this issue

Doors are not closing, door hardware doesn't lock correctly
Every new home will have settling after the wood shrinks. This is an easy adjustment you can make or have them come out to fix. They adjusted some frames and fixed this for us, DH went around to adjust the strike plates.

they install heat pumps (that can't weather lower temperatures than 32 degrees) in areas where you need furnaces
We have a heat pump on the second level and a gas furnace on the first. The heat pump upstairs will activate the electric heat strips if the temperature drops more than 2 degrees below the thermostat setting. DH wanted more control and installed a special thermostat which senses the outdoor temperature and if it is below 32 shuts off the condenser and only runs the heat strips.
This is a common thing with heat pumps not specific to this builder.

caulking all over the house is breaking, same with wood trims
Again, with new homes wood shrinks as is dries out. They came back and reacaulked twice and also patched / repainted areas of hairline drywall cracks

As for the shower door, frame-less can have issues and they had replaced one of ours when it broke.

All of the above issues are not anything unique with that builder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want examples, here there are:

All pipes make noise in the house (hot water for every bathroom)
Floors are making noise and sinking after only a few months
Doors are not closing, door hardware doesn't lock correctly all houses settle
they install heat pumps (that can't weather lower temperatures than 32 degrees) in areas where you need furnaces not true
caulking all over the house is breaking, same with wood trims
shower doors break up all the time

these are only a few......

[Anonymous]

you are faster replying to comments on this board than when I call you to fix something in my house. Every time I posted here, 3 minutes later you are back defending the builder, we all know you are the builder or work for them. It's ok, I would just hope you were as fast and responsive when I call with issues

and by the way, the noise in not real hardwood (as you claim) is not common to all builders, the Chinese fixtures you put all over the house are not common to all builders, the cheap windows are not common to all builders, putting heat pumps is not common to all builders in this area......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you are faster replying to comments on this board than when I call you to fix something in my house. Every time I posted here, 3 minutes later you are back defending the builder, we all know you are the builder or work for them. It's ok, I would just hope you were as fast and responsive when I call with issues

and by the way, the noise in not real hardwood (as you claim) is not common to all builders, the Chinese fixtures you put all over the house are not common to all builders, the cheap windows are not common to all builders, putting heat pumps is not common to all builders in this area......

I AM NOT THE BUILDER moron