We had an interesting experience this weekend in El Dorado Hills. First a little background on us; we will move to the sacramento area this summer after 14+ years in san diego. We have spent at least one weekend a month in the sacramento area since Thanksgiving. So far, we have only been looking at new homes (mainly due to the lead times to get one).

Our experience until this weekend has been some what of a give an take on the actual facts of what has been selling and what has not. (we have been to the same developments every weekend and we track new sales on the web.) On this point, many sales reps have blatently misrepresented that they are selling homes in quanity. One this weekend even told me that they had record sales in December, even though they wanted me to look at the same lots that they had in December.

We have narrowed down our search to folsom, El dorado hills and West Plaser County (read Roseville). Our first choice was El Dorado Hills in the Sorrento area.

This weekend we found what we thought would be an acceptable home from Pulte. The house was bigger than what I would like but the price range was good. When we sat down with the “sales represenative” to ask about options, that person flat out told us that that they have limited options and its its take what they have to offer and thats it. Oh yea, and its at thier price.

Now, I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but 3/4 of a million is a lot of money. I would like to have some confidance that what I’m buying is going to make the home stand out in some way. This is true for the resale market, the home you buy is about some feature that stood out for you. Not so with Pulte, its thier way, at thier price and too bad if you don’t like it.

Now thats not how I would like to start a long term relation ship with a home builder. They say they have the best customer service, but this first meeting did not show it.

(Also, what is it with LOT Premiums in that area?)

Hi Eric,

Thanks for your comments. I’m not sure I can be much help with Pulte, as I don’t think they’re one of our co-operative brokers. (It sounds like you don’t feel they’re co-operating with you either!)

All I can say is that you’re the buyer, so you can vote with your wallet.

Do you have listings on lots? I’m not finding Sorrento as a subdivision. Did you perhaps mean Seranno? (I’m seeing a Sorrento in the east bay). Your agent could run comps for you on the lots. When you talk about the premiums, what are you comparing them to?

If you want to look at resale homes, let me know — 530-672-9160. There are plenty to see, even if we narrow it down to newer homes. For example, I’m showing forty-one listings between $600,000 and $1,000,000, all built in 2004 or later.

Meantime, thanks for the comment! Best of luck in your search.