If I could give 'em a big fat ZERO, that's definitely what they'd get. Of course, like any other builder they tell you whatever you want to hear with a sickly-sweet smile UNTIL you sign at closing.
Our home was done in early 2006. That is, everything was done except for the lawn. During our final walk through, (middle of March) they ASSURED us the lawn would be installed "just in time for the spring rains", so, we closed and moved in. We were extremely easy-going about the whole ordeal, never complained nor made any major changes to their blueprints -- all in all, we were the ideal customers.
I have 2 kids and at that time, 2 dogs. Spring Rainy season came and went as I observed MANY other new homeowners who closed AFTER us get their lawn BEFORE us. You see, we were way at the back of the subdivision so they didn't care about us - most prospective buyers didn't travel that far back to check things out. Without our lawn, I couldn't open my windows on nice days unless I wanted everything in my home covered with dirt dust. I had to deal with MUD on a regular basis (2 kids/2 dogs). When calling SHARP about our promised lawn I received nothing but a runaround, "oh, you are on the list", "you are on the list" over and over. We did not get our lawn until SEPTEMBER! Along with that, a $400. water bill (New sod needs DAILY watering) that SHARP refused to pay!
As if that weren't bad enough, we were promised two trees on our front easement. They planted ONE tree in September, a Green Ash. However, it turns out that Green Ash Trees are on our village's "DO NOT PLANT" list due to Emerald Ash Borer bugs. We notified Sharp of the Village's list and they ignored us (as usual) until the tree was attacked by said bugs and died. I had to get the Village officials involved in order to get SHARP to do anything about it. Finally, they replaced the tree, one year after they planted it. Did I ever get my second tree as promised? NOPE. It's been over three years!
Of course, their home warranty is only good for ONE year. Guess what happens after that one year? Everything starts to fall apart and unravel! Roof shingles fall off regularly (not just on our home, but you'll see fallen shingles on lawns all over their subdivisions), outdoor hose spigots don't work and/or leak into your basement. Many neighbors have had cracks in their foundations a year or two after moving in. At LEAST seven homeowners that I know of have had to deal with flooding in their basements and have had to REPLACE their SHARP-Installed sump-pumps at the homeowners own cost.
If you plan on having a home built, don't fall for SHARP's sickly-sweet-syrup-dripping-smile while they LIE through their teeth! I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy. If you DO happen to choose SHARP as your home builder, DO NOT CLOSE until EVERYTHING is absolutely to your satisfaction. If you don't, be prepared to wait until hell freezes over for them to make anything right! Also, MAKE SURE you have an outside/non-affiliated inspector check out your sump-pump and foundation BEFORE signing or be prepared to deal with constant flooding in your basement, usually AFTER that one year warranty!
If you don't believe me, come talk to some of the homeowners in SHARP's subdivisions yourself. Also, take note of how many almost EMPTY subdivisions they've started in 2006 & 2007, there's a good reason no one is purchasing any more homes from them and it has NOTHING to do with the economy issues going on as other builders/subdivisions are moving along just fine! read more