DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, buy a Tropicana Home. You will spend half your life dealing with the warranty department over all the defects that were overlooked by their "quality" control person, whom I met in person and with whom I was not impressed. Below is a list of problems that arose before and after the closing date:
1. did not follow color schemes on request form
2. wrong colors on interior and exterior railings
3. fans in wrong rooms
4. wrong trim color
5. 6 inch scratch on kitchen counter top
6. water leaks from hose between kitchen sink and dishwasher.
7. wrong pumps (temporary) in both A/C units
8. A/C unit water leak due to improper water levels initially adjusted by builder and never tested.
9. Leak from A/C unit penetrated unsealed joint of furnace flue located directly underneath the A/C unit.
10. Furnace had to be completely replaced after first year due to extensive rust from water A/C unit leak and rainwater that penetrated unsealed joint of furnace flue.
11. Rainwater leaked into garage 6 month and one year after closing date due to cracks in stucco wall on 2nd story above garage. Builder could not figure out water entry point. I had to go to roof to inspect area. I cauled and painted the wall myself with high quality sealer and paint.
12. Chipping paint around garage trip when house six months old. Contractor never primed before painting trip. I primed and painted trim myself over a year ago and it is not chipping yet.
13. Damaged circuit breaker due to rain water seeping through gap in housing of circuit breaker box.
14. Whirlpool microwave died about 18 months after closing date. Motor had to be replaced.
15. Water meter too low and covered with a plastic cover that does not fit. Builder told me to contact water company. Water company told me to contact builder.
16. Scratches on dining room window after move-in. Had to replace window completed.
17. All flues on roof well below code requirements. Had to be extended to meet code.
18. Textured walls had untextured spots that had to be textured.
19. One floor tile in one bathroom not flush and could cause tripping.
20. Upper tile around fireplace is uneven. Told by tile installer that contractor had built the wall "unevenly" but wall measured out just fine.
21. Security alarm rep told me it would cost $100 per window to connect contacts. Later said $10 or no cost if I signed a long-term monitoring service agreement. After signing a monitorying service agreement, Tropicana sales rep tells me that connection of contacts is included with home purchase.
Too late!
22. Side gate handle too "tight". Requires two hands to pull back to open gate. Rock wall would need to be demolished to replace gate.
23. Lots and lots of broken beer bottle glass all over the yard and embedded into the soil, along with other debris.
24. Construction debri on other side of rear yard rock wall never cleaned up.
25. one-inch holes in rear porch cement.
26. wrong finish on door knob and hinges
27. dining room light fixture 18 inches off center
28. closing delayed by one week due to incorrect property line on survey.
29. not told by sales rep that property next door constructed after mine allowed to extend 30 feet back further than mine and thus block my view of northwest.