Ryland homes?

Question

Anyone with + or - comments on Ryland homes?

Answer 1

Ryland Homes was created when two Cincinnati brothers merged their respective home building companies in 1980 (approx.). Ryan Homes and Crest Communities became Ryland Homes. They quickly became major players by expanding into other markets and are now one of the largest builders in the USA. Although they now build "upscale" homes compared to the homes they built in the 1960's and 1070's, they have stuck to the idea of building a home for the cheapest price possible. This can translate into quality and longevity issues for a prospective homebuyer.

For instance, you are likely to find 15 year asphalt shingles on a Ryland Home rather than the 20 or 25 year shingles that are far more common. Their philosophy is if they can save $30.00 on each house they build by using the cheapest shingles, that will translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars of bottom line profit based on the total number of homes they build per year. They are absolutely fanatical about these types of things. Oddly enough, these decisions do not affect the appraised value of the house since shingles are shingles are shingles. You get the picture.

My best advice is to cruise through the Ryland neighborhood you are considering, and stop and talk to some of the homeowners. They will usually be very candid with their opinions regarding quality and service after the sale. If you hear a lot of negative comments, I would look for another builder.

Good luck with your new home.