Purchasing a new home is one of the biggest investments most people will ever make. With so many options to consider, it can feel overwhelming trying to decide which home builder is right for you.
Two popular national home builders, Wayne Homes and Schumacher Homes, both offer high-quality construction and desirable features. But there are some key differences between these builders that homebuyers should understand before making a decision.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Factor | Wayne Homes | Schumacher Homes |
| Pricing | Higher base prices, averages 10-20% more than Schumacher | Lower base prices, focused on affordability |
| Home Types | Wide range of models and styles, up to 4500+ sq ft | Narrower range of smaller models, up to 3400 sq ft |
| Customization | Extensive options for personalization, premium materials available | More limited but can still tailor layout, finishes & features |
| Quality & Durability | Excellent, backed by 10-year warranty | Very good for the price point, 10-year warranty |
| Green Options | Large EcoSelect program with many energy efficient upgrades | Smaller EcoChoice program with fewer green options |
| Process | Smoother online customization platform | Configuring can be more complex, less user friendly |
| Timeline | 5-7 months on average | 4 months on average from start to finish |
| Warranties | 10-year structural, 2-year systems, 1-year limited | Same warranties |
Key Takeaways: Choosing Wayne or Schumacher
- With greater customization and higher-end finishes, Wayne Homes appeal more to buyers who value personalized style with flexible budgets.
- For entry-level buyers prioritizing affordability and efficiency, Schumacher Homes are likely the better fit.
- Both builders construct quality homes backed by similar robust warranties around 10 years.
- Wayne offers significantly more green building options for energy efficiency and sustainability.
- Construction timelines average a bit faster with Schumacher at 4 months versus 5-7 months with Wayne.
- There is no definitive best national builder. Carefully compare available local builders to find your perfect match.
Overview of Wayne Homes
Founded in 1976, Wayne Homes operates in over 55 markets across 18 states. They offer a wide selection of floor plans ranging from 1,500 to over 4,500 square feet.
Wayne Homes construct single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes across a variety of popular architectural styles. Their model options include two-story and one-story homes, first-floor owner’s suites, open concept layouts, and more.
Some benefits of building with Wayne Homes include:
- Customization: Wayne offers hundreds of structural and design options allowing buyers to fully personalize their new construction home. Popular custom upgrades include gourmet kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, and luxury outdoor living spaces.
- Quality materials: Wayne Homes use brand name, durable building materials and fixtures. This includes things like James Hardie fiber cement siding, Kohler plumbing fixtures, and Wayne Dalton garage doors.
- Efficiency: With their Simple Process approach, Wayne aims to make building a home straightforward for buyers. Their online design studio and Building Journey tools allow buyers to easily configure and monitor the construction process.
- Warranties: Wayne provides a 10-year structural warranty, 2-year mechanical systems warranty, and a 1-year limited warranty on defects.
- Green building: EcoSelect is Wayne’s program offering energy efficient and environmentally friendly options. This allows buyers interested in sustainability to build a greener home.
Overview of Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes has constructed over 22,000 homes across 15 states since their founding in 1992. They focus on building quality homes priced affordably for the first-time and move-up homebuyer.
Schumacher offers 36 flexible floor plans ranging from 1,500 to 3,400+ square feet. Available home styles include two-story, ranch, reverse 1.5 story, and cottage models.
Benefits of Schumacher Homes include:
- Affordability: With a focus on value, Schumacher constructs quality homes with smaller footprints and fewer frills to keep base pricing low. This makes them appealing to budget-focused buyers.
- Efficiency: Schumacher aims to simplify the home building process with streamlined selections and a building timeline averaging just 120 days from start to finish.
- Quality and durability: Even at lower price points, Schumacher utilizes trusted national brands like Trane HVAC systems and Mohawk flooring to enhance durability.
- Customization: Schumacher allows buyers to tailor their new home with available structural and design options with minimal upcharges.
- Warranties: Schumacher provides a 10-year structural warranty, 2-year systems warranty, and a 1-year limited warranty.
- Green building: EcoChoice is Schumacher’s green building program offering energy efficient features and products.
How They Compare On Key Factors?
Now that we’ve covered a general overview of Wayne Homes and Schumacher Homes, let’s compare them across some of the most important factors for homebuyers.
- Price and Affordability
On average, Schumacher Homes are more affordably priced than Wayne Homes. Since Schumacher focuses on providing quality entry-level homes, their base pricing tends to run 10-20% lower than Wayne.
Of course, exact pricing varies significantly based on location, model, customizations, and more. But generally speaking, Schumacher caters to buyers with tighter budgets while Wayne offers homes a step up in price.
- Home Personalization
Both Wayne and Schumacher enable buyers to fully customize their new home’s layout, finishes, and features. However, Wayne offers more upgrade options and higher-end selections to create a truly personalized living space.
For example, Wayne buyers can select premium brands like Viking appliances and quartz countertops. Schumacher focuses more on essential upgrades only with cost-conscious pricing.
- Quality and Durability
These builders are fairly on par when it comes to structural integrity and durability. They both back their homes with 10-year structural warranties, use quality brand name materials, and follow robust construction practices.
Schumacher makes use of fewer premium finishes, meaning some surfaces and fixtures may not wear quite as well long-term. But overall, buyers can expect solid, livable homes from both builders.
- Green Building Options
For environmentally-conscious buyers, Wayne Homes has a clear advantage. Their EcoSelect program offers far more green options compared to Schumacher’s EcoChoice program.
Wayne buyers can select from various energy efficient HVAC systems, water saving fixtures, non-toxic interior finishes, solar panels, and more. Schumacher’s green options are much more limited.
- Customization Process
Wayne Homes’ online customization platform provides buyers with a more seamless, user-friendly experience. Their design studio neatly organizes all of the various structural changes, finishes, features, and more that buyers can tailor.
Schumacher has a decent online portal as well, but it can be a bit clunkier to navigate. Overall, Wayne just offers buyers a smoother path to creating their perfect home.
- Construction Timeline
Schumacher generally delivers homes faster, with build times averaging 4 months compared to 5-7 months with Wayne. But Wayne allows buyers to track construction progress closely online and even watch live site cameras.
So buyers have excellent visibility into the timeline even with the slightly longer build. With both builders, timelines can vary based on factors like permitting, weather, selections, etc.
- Warranties
The included warranties are nearly equal between the two builders. They both provide excellent protection on your investment with 10-year structural coverage, 2-year systems coverage, and 1-year limited coverage.
Wayne does offer the option to purchase a builder extended warranty for additional peace of mind. But for most buyers, the included warranties should sufficiently cover defects and issues.
Who Is The Best National Home Builder?
With hundreds of national, regional, and local home builders operating in the U.S., there is no definitive “best” home builder.
The right builder for you depends entirely on your budget, lifestyle needs, preferred home style, customization priorities, and more.
For buyers wanting maximum personalization with flexible budget, Wayne Homes provides an unbeatable custom home experience with unique structural options, premium finishes, and high-end details.
Those focused on affordability and simpler decision-making may prefer Schumacher Homes and their streamlined process using value-priced selections.
Beyond these two builders, buyers can also consider top-ranked national brands like DR Horton, Lennar, Pulte Homes, and more. Do your research to find the perfect home builder for your specific wants and needs.
Which Home Builders Have The Best Reputation?
While there is no consensus on the single “best” national home builder, some brands stand out for their excellent reputations. Here are a few of the home builders buyers praise for quality, service, and overall experience:
- David Weekley Homes – One of the most awarded builders nationally, David Weekley is revered for beautiful design detail and outstanding customer service.
- Clayton Home Building Group – With an efficient construction process, Clayton builds surprisingly high-quality manufactured homes at affordable prices.
- Highland Homes – Operating in Texas, Highland has sky-high homeowner satisfaction ratings and builder awards to back their sterling reputation.
- Southern Tradition Homes – Providing custom homes across the Southeast, Southern Tradition is lauded for gorgeous traditional Southern designs built with extreme care and precision.
- Veridian Homes – Winning top honors like JD Power’s Customer Service Champion, Iowa’s Veridian builds homes locally praised for quality and energy efficiency.
The bottom line is quality brands making homeowners happy tend to get the best reputations. Do local research to find the builders in your area living up to that standard.
Who Is The #1 Home Builder In The USA?
Based on number of homes built each year, the #1 home builder in the U.S. is DR Horton. This Texas-based builder constructs over 65,000 homes annually across 31 states. They focus on affordable, entry-level homes but also offer larger move-up models and 55+ active adult communities.
Other top national home builders by volume include:
- Lennar (around 50,000 homes per year)
- PulteGroup (around 25,000 homes per year)
- KB Home (around 12,500 homes per year)
- M/I Homes (around 7,500 homes per year)
- Toll Brothers (around 7,000 homes per year)
However, bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to home builders. Large operations like DR Horton focus mainly on building as efficiently as possible. Customization is limited and quality can suffer. Smaller regional builders often deliver a much better overall home buying experience.
Who Are The Top 10 Home Builders?
While stats on number of homes built provide one measure of the top home builders, quality and performance metrics also matter. Here are 10 of the best national home builders based on reputation, customer satisfaction, and industry awards:
- David Weekley Homes
- Clayton Home Building Group
- Highland Homes
- Southern Tradition Homes
- Veridian Homes
- Danze & Reardon Custom Homes
- Scott Felder Homes
- Shugart Homes
- Churchill Classic Homes
- Tommy Williams Homes
Key Takeaway: The biggest national builders may not be the best. Carefully vet builders operating locally to find those consistently delivering outstanding homes customers love.
Final Thoughts
Both Wayne Homes and Schumacher Homes are reputable national home builders, but they cater to different types of buyers. Wayne offers greater personalization and luxury finishes for move-up buyers at higher prices.
Schumacher focuses more on first-time homebuyers who prioritize affordability and efficiency in their new construction process.
Ultimately, there is no definitive “best” home builder – the right choice depends on your budget, design taste, and what factors matter most in your home buying journey. Carefully compare the offerings of builders in your local market to find the ideal fit for your lifestyle needs and preferences.
Both Wayne and Schumacher deliver quality-constructed homes, so choosing between them means weighing your priorities to determine the optimal builder for your new dream home.