Time waster: Review of America’s Home Place Custom Builder is no place for custom homes

Picture of America's Home Place road sign

We’ve had a home in the mountains for nearly 5 years.  A few years ago, we purchased an extra parcel to build a garage with apartment above, since we have no garage and little storage space.  The apartment will work great for our parents to stay here, too.

We had site surveyed, custom home plans drawn up, got started excavating… a gravel driveway has been installed, as well as the full permitted septic system.  And then we began our hunt for a builder…

This is the first of my ‘Time waster’ series of blog posts.  (And let me give you a hint: there’s lots to write about, this isn’t the only one!)  This will be devoted to businesses who waste consumers time, getting them in the door, just to weed through to find the few prospects that would fit their program.  Inconvenience many to profit from the few seems to be the mantra, rather than being up front from the beginning.

Our very short interaction with America’s Home Place, 462 Weaverville Hwy, Asheville, NC 28804, was disappointing, to say the least.  It all began with a seemingly innocuous yard sign on Hoopers Creek Rd. in Fletcher. “America’s Home Place, Custom Homes Built On Your Land, 828-658-0402”.  I called, then exchanged a few emails…

In our telephone conversation, I asked if they build from custom plans.  I mean, as a consumer, if I see “Custom Homes” advertised, I would think they could build from custom plans.  I was happy… the representative enthusiastically said yes, they do… and I proceeded to email over CAD files for our custom plans, survey, to verify and confirm.  The representative acknowledged receipt of my plans by email, then scheduled us for an appointment.

Upon arrival, and a very cursory review of our printed plans by America’s Home Place, they told us we’d have to pay ~$2,000 non-refundable deposit to get an estimate of what our build cost would be.  The in-person rep was actually a little condescending, telling us if we wanted their home office expend what seemed like unsurmountable resources to give us a price quote to build our project. The bottom line was they didn’t seem to do custom homes from custom plans, but they just didn’t tell us that.  The only thing they seemed to be interested in selling were their model homes, or their many dozens of plans.  But nothing to do with custom.

This wasn’t a horrible experience – but it was a time waster.  The telephone rep, the response time, facility, follow up, it was all great.  The website, outstanding. Model homes, super.  These folks seem to have their sales down pat.

But, in the end, America’s Home Place was a TIME WASTER. They wasted our afternoon by misleading us about what they build, and having us drive about an hour and a half to come see them.  All they needed to say when I emailed our plans was they didn’t do custom homes.

America’s Home Place does NOT seem to build custom homes from customer supplied plans at all.  If that’s what you’re looking for, don’t trust their reps and misleading advertising, all of which just ropes you in to visit.   ….the misleading and time wasting is offensive and disrespectful to your prospects!  If you want a cookie cutter house from one of the (many) cookie cutter plans they have available, maybe, but then again…

If they mislead you walking in the door… seems like a moral compass issue… who’d ever want to build with them?  No thanks.

Where to find America’s Home Place Custom Builders

America’s Home Place – Custom Home Builder
462 Weaverville Hwy
Asheville, NC 28804
https://www.americashomeplace.com

Phil

Grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, USA., previously lived in Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida areas, and recently co-located to Asheville, North Carolina area. Trained as an Army MP, but bit of a renegade career wise. Phil has owned successful businesses in insurance, private investigations, surety bail bond industries, and has experience in computer network engineering, hospitality advertising, asset recovery and repossession, and even a few years traveling most of the lower 48 states, Ontario and Northern Mexico as a commercial over the road truck driver. Career long entrepreneur, property investor and rental manager. Phil loves sharing his experiences of great food, travel, experiences and products.