Art Barker

We cannot in good conscience recommend this builder. We were hopeful in the start as EG was highly praised but it appears their standards have fallen, especially in the Lititz communities. The sales and building process did not go smoothly. We had several issues with miscommunication regarding the basement finishing and fireplace. These issues were ultimately resolved but involved extra work on the part of our realtor. In one instance, we understood our fireplace to be framed and held outside of our home and be flush to the wall in the interior. It was initially built this way only to be torn off without so much as a phone call to clarify with us about what we had wanted. The only way we were able to come to a resolution was through a phone call with a VP in which we learned the correct term on the design contract would have been “dogbox” and despite it being shown on the Authorization that was signed and referred to in the agreement of sale as a binding part of the contract, held no legal bearing because of being labeled as “artistic purposes only.” There was no language in the contract indicating which document would take precedence if there was a conflict and that essentially anything on the authorization didn’t hold any bearing on the way the home was built despite the subcontractors also building the home according to our understanding of the “dogbox” initially. After an extensive conversation with the VP we were told it would be corrected as a “gesture of goodwill.” We have since had several issues with our home that have been more than what would be expected with a new home. It was discovered when a crack was being repaired on our rear patio that a supportive beam that helped to support our master bedroom up above, was balanced on a crack and hollow block. We needed to consult and pay for the services of a structural engineer to make recommendations for the repair as we did not feel comfortable having it repaired without doing so considering the state of the work that was initially performed. We also had water infiltration in our unfinished portion of the basement that took months of a subcontractor coming and going to repair. It eventually took excavating our newly landscaped yard to discover our superior wall had been cracked. Only when it was repaired from the exterior and interior did the water finally stop. Initially, once the excavation was performed, our popup drain was buried and not able to connect to the gutter spout. Our neighbor’s yard was torn up by the tires of the vehicles, and the dirt that was returned was insufficient to return the grading to the initial state. Additionally, we had water damage in our finished basement that was discovered less than 3 months after the end of our warranty period. The restoration company discovered water damage due to the basement not being properly waterproofed that has being going on for an extended period of time that has only now begun to show in our finished area. We have take a hit with an increased insurance premium because of our claim as we do not believe the insurance will be considering subrogation at this time. We will also need to pay out of pocket for waterproofing and ensure more disruption to our day to day life as the area is corrected and restored. We’ve encountered other issues along the way that have made it difficult to settle into our home. We have tried desperately to enjoy our life here and make it our own but the constant repairs and persisting anxiety of what is left to be discovered has made it extremely stressful. I would not recommend this builder to anyone.

Luckily my wife and I did a very thorough walk-through on our own the day before the final walk-through. We found a handful of discrepancies and most of them were minor. One major discrepancy was the extremely low water pressure. It was so low that water wouldn't even come out of the master bath shower head. We had paid a lot of money for upgrades to the master bath so we were disappointed. During the walk-through the next day the builder representative wasn't even turning on the water at any of the fixtures. When we got to the master bath I turned on the water to the shower and asked him if this was normal. It was not. They had a plumber come in and adjust it to 30 psi which is still not a very good pressure but it is the lowest allowable so it passed. When I took my first shower I found myself standing in 2" of water. It turned out that the contractor that did the tile left a rag in the drain and then glued the drain grate into the floor. Ugh. When I talked to their customer service representative he told me, "Yeah, we should have caught that". EGStoltzfus has an excellent reputation. We had high expectations and they were not met. I feel like we paid first-class prices and got coach seats. I brought in my own plumber and he replaced the main water pressure valve and now we have 55 psi. I really feel like a quality builder would have addressed this issue.

unknown

unknown

Very well. I acquired 3 quotes and selected EG Stoltzfus based on price, reputation and quality. This is the builder of our 10 year old home as well. They are customer focused, provide a detailed timeline for completion and do what they say. The process from quote explanation to completion was very smooth and professional. Contractors (electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring and cabinets) were all setup in advance and customization was easy.

Did not go well

From the consultation to the finished product, this was a great experience. The initial visit from Adam was professional. He made great suggestions. The plans were detailed, and questions were asked and answered every step of the way. While the project was a bit over what we wanted to spend, we are very happy with the end product. The project manager, Andy, was very present the entire project. He was helpful, friendly, and a pleasure to work with. We would definitely use them again for our remodeling needs.

We have not made a decision yet between EGS and two other contractors. We loved the professionalism of EGS and they definitely know what they are doing. Additionally, we used them to build our home 10 years ago and we were very happy with the results. The main roadblock for the basement is the cost right now.

The building process went smoothly for about 1 1/2 months then all stopped for a month. The roof only had tar paper on it and we got heavy rain and wind and the tar paper blew off in some areas exposing the wood to the elements.. The framers are excellent. My floors were fixed three times for creaking and the carpets are fraying at the seams. My house was open to the elements before the roof was put on. Be prepared to get a lawn service for the yard. Dover ground is rated a C on a scale of A-D. It is all clay and you don't get a lot of good topsoil. I had to supplement and eventually re-seed. The biggest problem with the whole process is that I did not feel they were honest and very knowledgeable in some areas. Read the warranties very carefully, they are written to protect the builder only.

They are considered to be a good builder, I found their sub contractors to be disrespectful of our property. They do build a nice home, but they are not very flexible with changes to the plans. When they made fixes from damages they did patch work and not replacement work as requested. The house was completed on the date is was to be finished.

They are a quality builder. The house is rock solid. I would use them again to build another home.