New-home builders get high ratings

Customer satisfaction with new-home builders in Southern California exceeded the rating for the industry overall, according to findings released last week by J.D. Power and Associates.

The study, based on the responses of 64,502 buyers of newly built single-family homes -- 6,584 in Southern California -- found the region’s index score for overall customer satisfaction rose to 114 in 2004 from 107 in 2003. The increase was more than double the overall industry improvement of three points, based on the 25 markets surveyed nationwide.

The average purchase price for Southern California respondents was $404,000 -- up from $389,000 in the 2003 study. The 25-market average was $292,000. Respondents have lived in their newly built single-family homes from four to 18 months, on average.

Irvine-based California Pacific ranked the highest among Southern California builders, followed by Pulte Homes and Del Webb. The nine rating factors were, in order of importance: builder’s customer service, home readiness, builder’s sales staff, quality of workmanship and materials, price/value, physical design elements, design center, recreational facilities and location.