New-Home Buyers More Satisfied, 1993 Survey Shows

IRVINE — Southern California’s new-home buyers are increasingly satisfied with their purchases, and their builder of choice is John Laing Homes of Laguna Hills, according to the results of a 1993 survey released Monday.

Overall, last year’s buyers were more satisfied with their homes than those five years earlier, according to National Survey Systems, an Irvine-based research firm that compiles data for the Home Buyers Choice Awards. The survey of more than 9,000 buyers found that 88% were satisfied with their purchases last year, compared to 1988, when only 81% were happy with their dwellings.

Also, more buyers were pleased with the construction quality of their homes--95%, up from 81% in 1988.

Twenty-five builders participated in the annual survey, which began in 1988. The results are from a post-move-in questionnaire asking buyers to evaluate the process used by the builder to sell, close and service the new home.

For the second year in a row, John Laing Homes was the No. 1 builder for overall customer satisfaction, the survey found.

“In 1990, John Laing was rated extremely low, and they were very concerned about it. In the last three years they have turned that company around,” said Robert Mirman, president of National Survey Systems.

For the third time in the past four years, Akins Homes of Newport Beach won for construction quality. California Pacific Homes’ Orange County division was cited as having the best record for customer service response speed last year, the survey found.