Homes by WestBay Reviews in Sarasota Bradenton, FL

Overall experience with construction was poor. Because, on many occasions he was incompetent and misguiding . He did not install towel bars, tissue holder in toilets And many items… when asked at preclosing appointment. And he insisted that it wasn’t included in the design and I should install myself. Later communicated through designer and convinced him. He forbidden to bring my 5 year old girl during preclosing appointment, that caused us a lot of stress to find a babysitter.

We were so excited to be able to build this home. We waited for at least a year for the lots to be released so we can make our selections. We were so happy to see there are many standardized options that would have been custom upgrades with any other builder. So when we signed the contract we were confident and impressed by the value we were getting. Then the pandemic hit! The quality of the structural standards remained in place and I am very happy about that. Even now I am confident that we have a structurally sound home. The foundations, framing electrical and plumbing are not items that concern me. That being said, the finishes leave alot to be desired. We were given a house with a missing tub, uneven tile, cracked tile, uneven carpet, scratched cabinets, stained cabinets (overspray from paint), flawed mirrors, horrible paint job, and holes in the drywall to mention just a few of the problems. All these issues come down to pride of workmanship. I know that the staff and supply shortages created some unusual challenges. However, it is sad that there wasn't better oversight on the part of the builder to ensure the subcontracted work was correct and well done. I think you started too many homes all at once and the staffing shortages created a perfect environment for mistakes and flawed workmanship. I am not happy that five months later we still haven't had all the problems corrected. That being said, I love the floorplan and the lot we selected. We have great light coming in the rooms, and great storage space. I am thrilled with the laundry room (Swann III) and my kitchen is my dream come true. The freestanding tub is too big but its beautiful and makes our bathroom look amazing. Thank you for allowing us the time and space to give feedback. ... More

Disappointed in the amount of items needing fixed/repaired. Delay in construction understandable. Almost 3 months out & still having things replaced or repaired from closing.

Read the fine print in the contract.

We have built new homes with other builders, and our experience with WestBay was the worst. They are far from a luxury builder. The building process was awful. Several items were missed and our construction manager would argue with us that it was right. We had to show him our design plans multiple times to "prove" to him that he was wrong. Not one of our requests were ever acknowledged. We would have to point out craftsmanship issues because our construction manager never looked for them. When issues were identified, there is rarely any follow through. I would rather enjoy spending time in our new home and with our family instead of having to micromanage whether items that should have been corrected are completed. Honestly, we would have been better off building with a different builder for half the price. It is very obvious that the construction manager's best interest is their subcontractors, Subcontractors have no respect for homeowners, We frequently have subcontractors come to our home to plug in a saw or wash their hands in our outdoor water hose (even though it is obvious that someone lives in the home with yard decorations, etc). Additionally, we see subcontractors drinking alcohol while on the job. They often leave beer cans on site and in trash cans. We feel like we are in prison in our own neighborhood because it makes us sick to our stomach to even see the construction managers as we go to work each day. The design process is rigid and I was left feeling like I was unable to really get the home that I like. The sales process was fantastic, therefore, we are giving 2 stars. It is clear that the staff at WestBay are encouraged to manage expectations of customers, but it comes off as rude. I contemplated leaving my name in this review, but there are so many items that we need fixed that I am worried that there will be retaliation from WestBay. ... More

Overall my home by WestBay has been outstanding. Frequently receive compliments on how beautiful it is. There were some minor fit and finish issues that were found upon moving in but they were quick to resolve them. Only concern was how many there were. Overall, I would say they definitely are one of the best homebuilders in Florida.

Everyone was helpful even after signing the closing paperwork. I felt like I was important to your team members. I thought to myself, man this is the type of team I would to be apart of.

Have them explain everything to you, don’t take their word, and have them put it in writing, watch what you sign, as they will tell you , “you signed it.”

Make sure you get a Realtor. You need that middle man to go to bat for you when needed. This can be a great experience or a horrible experience.