Haggling?

[CarrieC]

I am considering a Homes of Merit Bay Manor. The salesman called yesterday with a price "from the factory" of $61,900 - it's 1280 square foot. The Bay Manor comes w/Moen faucets, crown molding, etc. My question is, since the price supposedly came straight from the factory, is there still room to negotiate that price? I am not changing anything in the design - the only thing I'd like to consider at this point (and haven't mentioned to the salesman yet) is upgrading the appliances and the R-factors.

Oh - and this has probably been asked before - but is the hardie siding as good as or better than vinyl?? (I got burned with the masonite, so the hardie makes me nervous).

[Eugene]

there is always room to hagle. even if he were to show the invoice, there are discounts and rebates like crazy.
The hardie board makes me nervous too, but I have no proof that it is inferior to vinyl. just a gut feeling.

[rmurray]

The Bay Manor is a good home built in Lake City, FL....The plant does NOT set the selling price..that is done by the dealer...It will be up to them how much they will accept...The plant would be happy if the dealer sold the home for $10,000...It would be more sales for them...at least till the dealer went out of business...Check the dealer out locally...It is very important that the home be set exactly correct...

I am very impressed with the HardiPlank siding....It is nothing like Masonite and has been around for over 100 years...

Hardi is painted and does require repainting someday..of course this is one of its appeals...The ability to change the look of the home....

Order your home soon..before the next round of price increases...My guess is that Homes of Merit is like Palm Harbor in Florida and about 6 months out on delivery....

[Ribee]

Hardie Panel is made up of 90% cement. You can take a blow torch to it and it will not burn, this will usually lower your insurance. It has a 50 year warranty. Termite resistant, Hail resistant, Insect resistant and the list goes on and on. What I was told was that the Hardie Panel will hold the paint as long as the warranty of the paint, for example lifetime warranty paint it is suppose to hold it for a lifetime

[Mac]

I like the Hardie plank and panel. Here in the Northwest we had L-P Inner-Seal siding that grew mushrooms - my guess is that 75% of the replacements were Hardie, the balance cedar and vinyl. Hardie do say not to make long-term ground contact with it, as it does have some wood fiber. So far, in three moldy Northwest winters, it's been great!

[CarrieC]

I found out it is vinyl on the outside.

I have already bought the book online. I did ask for the upgrades (appliances & the R-factors and I got some optional glass doors for one room)- it raised the price less than $1K. I'm not real sure about how to go about haggling - they sound so firm in their quote.

I have checked the BBB and the salesman has offered some phone numbers of customers if I want to call. Actually, he mentioned that he just put in a home in the park I'm living in now - (i am going to be financing land/home this time in a different area) - I stopped and asked the people the other day on a whim what they thought. The only complaint they had was the amount of time it took for them to put in the septic. Actually, it's not the home center's responsibility to do the septic in this park - it's the park owner's since they only rent the lots out - I didn't have anything to do with the septic being put down for mine 13 yrs ago - so that's a null issue to me.

6 months to deliver???? Geez - don't say that!

How would I find out about the rebates, etc?

[Cameron]

There is no real way for you as a customer to find out what if any rebate the Dealer is receiving. You could always ask your dealer or salesman but I'm sure they would be reluctant to disclose that information. Keep in mind some Dealers work on a best net pricing with the factory and receive a slightly lower price than Dealers who receive rebates. It's the dealers choice of what type of pricing or rebate program they receive from the choices given to them by the Factory. As far as the Hardi Panel or Hardi Board they are both great products and puts Vinyl to shame, just make sure if you want to hang or attach something to the Hardi Panel you drill the holes first. If you try to put a nail or screw into it without drilling a whole first you will likely crack the whole panel.

[Pat Monegan]

My place has been totalled by the hurricane and I'm about to order another from either Fleetwood or Homes of Merit. You say delivery is about six months out. The Fleetwood guy tells me it's much shorter (I haven't asked for a date on the Homes of Merit yet). Is he not telling me the truth? I need to make living arrangements and hadn't planned on six months.

[rmurray]

If you are worried maybe you need another dealer you can trust....To verify delivery time..call the sales manager of the Fleetwood plant you are buying from..Almost all the plants I hear about in Florida are months out on delivery...If the Fleetwood is from GA...Take another look at the quality..compare the warranty with HOM.....Best yet..go to the bookstore and buy John Grissom's..e-book..you can download it here and have benefit of the info in seconds....

[susan]

Hey,
The hardie is good but yes you do have room to play with those numbers most dealers like to start anywhere from 20k over the invoice.But it doesnt sound like much in this case HOM is a very exspensive home I know this because I sell manufactured homes.