A Very Disappointing Experience with the D.R. Horton Home-Buying Process…read moreI would like to share my experience with the process of purchasing my new home from D.R. Horton, not with the intention of attacking any individual, but so that future buyers can have a better understanding of what we experienced. Unfortunately, our experience with the construction department and the communication throughout the process was extremely disappointing.
We signed our contract on February 15, 2026. From that very day, we clearly explained to Star Guillory that our rental agreement ended in July and that we needed a realistic timeline for the delivery of our home. We were told that there would be no problem because the home was expected to be completed by the end of May or, at the latest, in June.
On June 12, without receiving any prior notification about a significant change in the schedule, we were informed that our closing would be on July 9. We again explained that July was our final month of rent and that after that date we would have nowhere to live. Once again, we were assured that there would be no problem and that everything would be resolved by July 9.
On July 8, with almost all of our belongings packed, we had to contact our realtor, Lisa Marrero, ourselves to confirm whether the closing was still scheduled for the following day. It was then that we were informed that the home would not be ready and that the closing would be moved to August 4.
This happened only one day before the closing date we had been given, despite the fact that we had repeatedly explained our housing situation. The only alternative presented to us was that they would try to have the home ready by July 28.
At that point, we were told that one of the reasons for the delay was that FPL was taking too long to connect the power to the property. Because our situation was becoming extremely serious, I decided to contact FPL myself in an attempt to help resolve the issue.
On July 20, I was able to speak with an engineer and a manager named Ernesto. They were very professional, helpful, and empathetic. However, they explained to me that FPL had received the request from D.R. Horton on July 13.
This was very concerning because it contradicted what we had previously been told about the delay being caused by FPL. We were trying to find solutions ourselves while dealing with the possibility of having nowhere to live.
On July 23, I sent an email requesting a meeting with the people directly responsible for the construction of our home, Superintendent John Giordano and Construction Manager Clay Patton. We received no response from the construction department.
The July 27 call from Mr. Giordano was the first time he personally contacted us. I explained our situation and the impact these delays were having on us. Unfortunately, I did not feel any real empathy or concern for our circumstances. The response focused primarily on the fact that the documents stated that the closing date was only an estimated date and that delays could occur.
At that point, I stopped insisting because it became clear to me that the person responsible for overseeing the construction of our home did not seem to understand or prioritize the situation we were experiencing as customers.
On July 30, we again requested an in-person meeting because we needed a realistic closing date, especially since that was the last day we could remain in our rental home. Once again, we received no response from the construction department.
I want to make an important distinction here: our experience with the Loan Department and the Closing Team in Melbourne was completely different. In particular, Renee Baxter and the Closing Team consistently demonstrated concern, professionalism, patience, and empathy. They were the people we genuinely felt were trying to help us.
Meanwhile, the situation continued without a clear explanation. Finally, on August 14, Mr. Giordano met with us at the house and explained that the remaining issue involved a permit related to the well water and septic system.
Another week passed without a meaningful resolution. Communication remained extremely poor, and the closing information we were receiving did not seem to reflect the actual status of the home.
On August 24, we received notification that we needed to provide the remaining funds for our down payment. We made the payment that same day.
Because I had lost confidence in the information we were receiving, I contacted the city directly on the morning of August 25 to verify the status of the Certificate of Occupancy (CO). The information provided by the city did not match what we had been told. We were informed that the city was still waiting for two certifications before it could issue the CO.
Once again, we contacted Renee and the Closing Team. They spoke with John and other people involved in the process in an effort to resolve the situation.
Finally, on the morning of August 27, we were notified that our closing would take
