I am compelled to write a review of Blu since only ONE of the reviews shown was someone who actually bought and completed a house from Blu. I did, and have been living in my Balance model home for 2 months. I will not go into every detail, but there definitely were a few issues that had to be fixed, namely my tub had to be replaced as it was terribly scratched and the surrounding glass tile was installed with a grout color I was not asked to choose. Luckily they redid the whole thing and it is now beautiful, though it was challenging to get them to agree to do it. But they did. Up until the tub situation we had great working relationship and all contracts, costs, surface choices, engineering, etc was as explained and expected. Yes there is alot of paperwork, but you have to remember these people are very corporate. Yes you do have to wait for decisions since it has to go through levels of management. The benefit to this is that their word is in stone. Very corporate.
Our foundation was designed as a complete lower level with many sliding doors going out, the Blu Balance model would be placed on top. Our property is sloped and previously undeveloped, meaning we had to get EVERYTHING done...septic, power, major water mitigation, etc. (this is not for the faint of heart!) SInce we lived 8 hrs away by car we were not sure HOW we would manage it until Blu came up with their BluServe program, which is were you can hire them to essentially manage the whole project. We had already found an awesome contractor for all the ground work grading, digging, septic, driveway, so Blu let us work with that contractor directly and they hired everyone else for the foundation, etc. Blu also did the engineering plans, etc for our lower level and the costs were not great. Understand I am a normal working professional, not wealthy, and I looked at all the costs carefully as I put my life savings into this thing! The benefit again of the corporate style is that once they got quotes for all the various line items, and They signed it, and We signed, we knew EXACTLY how much it was going to be... no surprises, no monkey business, not their style. There was one or two additional costs along the way from changes, and these were also clear and signed off on.
Also I should say I am a designer and artist so I have a sensitive eye, and I feel the quality of this home is excellent. It is impossible to build any home and not have a scratch on a cabinet door or something, but they replaced whatever was not perfect from their own punch list. I felt our project manger was very particular and had our back (esp. with tub issue).
If not for the tub thing, I would give them five stars, and that issue was due to poor management/workmanship in the factory by people that have all been replaced by now. Call it growing pains, call it corporate cats learning to be contractors, but Ultimately they built an amazing house for less than would have been stick build method. Everyone who has seen our house is blown away. read more