Wanted: service, service, service

What do buyers of new homes care about? This year’s survey by J.D. Power & Associates asked consumers to rank nine factors that drive overall satisfaction. Twenty-three percent of those surveyed said the quality of customer service was most important, followed by on-time delivery of the home.

Other factors, in order of importance, included the builder’s sales staff, quality of workmanship and materials, price relative to value, the physical design elements of the home, the builder’s design center, the recreational facilities or amenities of the property, and location.

While “location, location, location” continues to be the mantra of real estate agents, just 3% of those surveyed said the location of the home drives satisfaction with the builder.