As a consumer, there are numerous ways you can help to ensure satisfaction with your new-home builder. The J.D. Power and Associates 2006 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study^SM measures customer satisfaction with new-home builders in 34 markets across the United States.

When researching new-home builders, it's important to do a sufficient amount of homework to ensure a satisfactory experience. The following are some recommended steps to finding the builder that best fits your needs.

• Check out the market-specific J.D. Power and Associates New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study^SM press release for the area you are considering


• Visit the Homes section of the Consumer Center to see market-specific Power Circle Ratings on the following key areas

• Quality of Workmanship and Materials


• Home Design


• Price and Value

After you have narrowed down your selection to a few key new-home builders, contact each builder and ask specific questions to determine which builder will best meet your needs. Some important overall questions include:

• When will the home be completed?


• What is included in the purchase of the home?


• What are the options I can add for an additional price?


• Can I make changes to my original order?


• What is the impact of making changes on the original cost and timing?

If you haven't chosen a specific market yet, following is a list of the most frequently reported problems new-home owners had in each of the five regions of the U.S. based on the 34 markets included in the study.

• Home exterior-landscaping (38%)


• Kitchen-cabinet quality and finish (32%)


• Electrical/appliances-heating and air conditioning issues (31%)