When it comes to finding your dream home, choosing the right builder is key. Two of the biggest names in home building are Lombardo Homes and Pulte Homes. Based in Michigan, these builders craft quality homes across the country. But which one is right for you?
This comprehensive guide examines the pros, cons, features, and reputations of Lombardo Homes and Pulte Homes. Read on to discover which builder best fits your needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Category | Lombardo Homes | Pulte Homes |
| Locations | Michigan | Nationwide |
| Home types | Single-family, condos, townhomes | Single-family, condos, townhomes |
| Price range | $250k – $1M+ | $200k – $1M+ |
| Customization | Very flexible | Flexible |
| Green building | No clear focus | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year workmanship, 2 year systems | 1 year workmanship, 2 year systems |
| Customer satisfaction | Very high | High |
Reputation of Lombardo Homes And Pulte Homes
Reputation is everything when it comes to home builders. You want to choose a builder known for high-quality construction and excellent customer service. Lombardo and Pulte both enjoy strong reputations, but there are some differences between the two.
- Lombardo Homes
With over 60 years of experience building homes across Michigan, Lombardo has earned a sterling reputation.
Homebuyers rave about the quality of Lombardo’s homes and their exceptional customer service.
Lombardo treats each customer like family.
They truly customize every home to match buyers’ visions and lifestyles.
Lombardo builds a relatively small number of homes each year, under 1,000 across Michigan. This allows them to meticulously oversee each home’s construction.
Their hands-on approach ensures every detail meets their strict standards. Lombardo’s sterling reputation means resale value stays strong for homeowners.
- Pulte Homes
As the nation’s largest home builder, Pulte Homes has delivered over 750,000 homes across America. Their size and experience bring economies of scale advantages. This allows Pulte to build quality homes packed with features at relatively affordable prices.
Satisfied Pulte homeowners praise their warranty service, professionalism, and quality finishes. While not as intimate and customizable as smaller builders, Pulte’s streamlined process delivers positive experiences for most buyers.
Their broad reach across the country makes Pulte Homes one of the most recognized and trusted national brands.
Home Types Comparison
Lombardo and Pulte can both deliver your ideal home, whether that’s a single-family house, townhome, or condominium. Let’s examine some of the specific home types each builder offers.
- Lombardo Homes
Single-family homes make up Lombardo’s primary offerings. Ranging from 2-4+ bedrooms, these homes let buyers fully customize their living spaces. Lombardo’s design team will tweak floorplans and finishes to match each family’s lifestyle.
In addition to traditional single-family homes, Lombardo crafts urban townhomes. These low-maintenance options still allow for customization while giving homeowners walkable community living.
Lombardo’s condominiums also provide carefree living with high-end finishes. Their top-tier Bella Vita condos offer luxury living with prices approaching $1 million. Lombardo condos range from 1-3 bedrooms to accommodate singles, couples, and small families.
- Pulte Homes
Like Lombardo, Pulte Homes offers a full spectrum of single-family homes to suit buyers.
Pulte’s Express Homes provide their fastest and most affordable options, with houses available in as little as 30 days.
Their Classic designs give buyers Pulte’s signature quality with flexible floorplans and hundreds of options to personalize.
Premier and Estate series homes are Pulte’s high-end offerings with luxury features and impressive footprints up to 10,000 square feet.
In urban areas, Pulte’s townhome communities combine low-maintenance living with upscale amenities. Many include shared green spaces and community pools.
For those seeking a truly carefree lifestyle, Pulte’s condominiums remove yardwork and exterior home maintenance. Pulte builds condos in both low-rise and high-rise format to fit various lifestyles.
Customization Comparison of Lombardo Homes And Pulte Homes
One of the best parts of buying a new home is customizing it to match your unique style and needs. Lombardo and Pulte both allow buyers to personalize their homes from top to bottom. But there are some differences in their customization process.
- Lombardo Homes
One of Lombardo’s signatures is their highly flexible customization. Buyers get one-on-one time with Lombardo’s design team. They can tweak existing plans or create their own floorplan from scratch.
Lombardo welcomes bold customization from unusual layouts to cutting-edge tech and AV integration.
Lombardo will modify homes’ exteriors too, adding stonework, custom garages, or even extra wings. Inside, their design team helps select everything from cabinets and tiles to lighting fixtures that fit families’ tastes.
Lombardo’s boutique size makes this intricate customization possible.
- Pulte Homes
As a large national builder, Pulte Homes employs an efficient customization system. Homebuyers can select from preset options and upgrades priced at set rates. So rather than fully customized features, Pulte offers modular add-ons any buyer can select.
Pulte allows adjustments like adding a bedroom wing or casita. But their streamlined process doesn’t permit fully bespoke home designs. On the plus side, Pulte’s upgrades are clearly priced, so buyers can customize without slowly inflating their budget.
For the best value, Pulte buyers should modify an existing floorplan versus designing fully from scratch.
Green Building
Eco-friendly home building minimizes environmental impact while maximizing energy efficiency. Lombardo and Pulte take slightly different approaches when it comes to green construction.
- Lombardo Homes
Lombardo doesn’t actively market green building initiatives or certifications. However, their homes utilize many energy-efficient features. Lombardo installs superior insulation, efficient HVAC systems, and double-pane windows.
Their custom process lets buyers add options like solar power and smart home automation.
While Lombardo doesn’t have an official green program, they construct homes built to last rather than at the lowest possible cost. Their quality-focused approach has many green benefits baked in.
- Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes makes green building a clear priority across their communities. Their Pulte Building Science program adheres to the latest environmental standards. This includes using low VOC paints and sustainable materials while maximizing insulation and air sealing.
Many Pulte communities offer whole home air filtration systems for indoor health. Pulte homes can achieve certifications like ENERGY STAR, which verification energy efficiency and smart construction.
For buyers wanting an officially green-certified home, Pulte offers more focus in this area.
Warranty Coverage
The warranty backing a new home provides important peace of mind. Pulte and Lombardo both offer industry-standard warranties. However, Lombardo provides slightly stronger coverage.
- Lombardo Homes
Lombardo provides a 1-year warranty covering defects and workmanship. This ensures every detail of the home is structurally sound and built to their exacting standards.
Lombardo also provides a 2-year warranty on the home’s systems. This covers defects with plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other home systems. With their meticulous construction, most Lombardo homeowners report minimal warranty issues. But it’s nice having that coverage just in case.
- Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes matches Lombardo by offering a 1-year workmanship and 2-year systems warranty. This coverage helps protect homeowners from early repairs needing fixes from leaky roofs to faulty wiring.
While responsive, some Pulte owners report issues getting warranty claims approved and fixed. Smaller local builders like Lombardo seem to provide more hands-on warranty service. But Pulte’s coverage still offers helpful protection.
Customer Satisfaction Comparison
The home buying experience and final product should bring joy, not headaches. Lombardo and Pulte both strive for happy customers, but satisfaction levels differ.
- Lombardo Homes
Speaking to past clients and reading online reviews reveal uniform satisfaction with Lombardo Homes. Buyers rave about their personalized process, stunning final results, and responsive communication.
Many buyers return to Lombardo to build their second or third home. Others recommend them to friends or family. Lombardo’s boutique size and hands-on approach result in raving fans who feel like family, not just customers.
- Pulte Homes
As a large national builder, Pulte Homes garners mixed feedback on the customer experience.
Most new Pulte owners enjoy positive experiences overall.
But levels of satisfaction vary between different home communities.
Some Pulte buyers report communication gaps, pushy salespeople, and corners cut. But many others praise their streamlined process.
Pulte aims to make buying easy, though their size limits boutique treatment. There’s more variability than the consistently glowing praise Lombardo receives.
Pros and Cons of Lombardo Homes And Pulte Homes
Let’s summarize the main advantages and drawbacks of Lombardo Homes versus Pulte Homes:
Lombardo Homes
Pros:
- Totally customized homes
- Meticulous quality and construction
- White glove customer service
- Strong reputation and resale value
- Responsive local team
Cons:
- Limited to Michigan
- Higher prices than national builders
- Low volume means waiting lists
Pulte Homes
Pros:
- National footprint with thousands of homes
- Streamlined buying process
- High-end features for the price
- Eco-friendly building program
- Value driven approach
Cons:
- Cookie-cutter designs
- Quality and service varies community to community
- Communication gaps sometimes
- Less customization freedom
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Some of the home builders with the best reputations include Lombardo Homes, Pulte Homes, Toll Brothers, David Weekley Homes, and Habitat for Humanity. Smaller custom builders also often get excellent feedback. The highest-rated builders offer quality construction, great service, and stand behind their work.
Lombardo Homes is one of the largest builders focused specifically on Michigan. They construct thousands of homes across the state each year. Other major Michigan builders include MJC Companies, Dan Vos Construction, and Redwood Living. But Lombardo’s 60+ year legacy and focus on luxury make them one of Michigan’s elite home builders.
Pulte Homes has been in business for over 70 years. Founded in 1950 by William Pulte in Detroit, MI, the company rapidly expanded across America through the 20th century. Today Pulte builds in over 40 states and has delivered more than 750,000 homes since their founding.
Yes, Pulte Homes has a major presence throughout California. They offer communities with new homes in regions across the state from San Diego in Southern California to Sacramento in Northern California. In 2020, Pulte was the 3rd largest home builder in the entire state based on new home closings.
Wrapping Up
Lombardo Homes and Pulte Homes both offer stellar options for new home buyers. While based in Michigan, Lombardo’s true customization and quality-focused approach delight local buyers.
Pulte’s national presence and spectrum of value-packed homes attract buyers coast to coast.
Choosing between these two leading builders means weighing your priorities. Lombardo provides a bespoke home buying experience like no other. Pulte simplifies finding the right new construction home on a budget.
Whatever you prioritize most in a home builder, rest assured both Lombardo and Pulte will provide an excellent new home.