Satisfaction with home builders on the rise

New home builder customer satisfaction increased for the second year in a row, according to a new study from J.D. Power and Associates. Customer satisfaction increased 32 points to 811 on a 1,000 point range. Homeowner satisfaction increased in other marked ways, as well — the frequency of customer-reported home problems dropped to 9.55 problems per home, down from 11.51 problems the previous year. Paula Sonkin, vice president of the real estate and construction industries practice at J.D. Power, said that she attributes these improvements to the down market, in which home builders have to work harder to draw customers. “Fierce competition among home builders has led to a market where only the strongest companies have survived,” Sonkin said.