Arbor Homes review: Buyer beware

My experience with Arbor Homes has raised serious concerns about the quality of the home and the contractors used during construction.

Three years after moving in, the HVAC condensate system failed and caused water damage to my home. The emergency drain plug in the furnace pan was not properly installed or sealed, and the secondary condensate overflow safety switch failed to shut down the air-conditioning system when water accumulated in the pan. Because neither safeguard worked as intended, condensate continued collecting until water leaked beneath the furnace pan, damaging the subfloor and the drywall ceiling below.

This occurred approximately one year after Arbor’s HVAC warranty expired, and Arbor has classified the repair and resulting damage as my responsibility. While I understand that warranties have defined coverage periods, homeowners should reasonably expect critical HVAC drainage and overflow-protection components to be installed correctly and remain functional beyond three years.

This was also not my first HVAC issue. At move-in, the system had a refrigerant leak that required warranty repair. Taken together, these problems raise legitimate questions about whether the original HVAC installation was properly completed, inspected and tested before closing.

This is only the latest issue I have experienced with the overall construction quality of my Arbor home. Prospective buyers should inspect every room, wall, fixture and mechanical system carefully before closing. Document every defect in writing, photograph everything and do not assume problems will be resolved quickly after the paperwork is signed.

Based on my experience, buyers should approach an Arbor Homes purchase with caution and understand that obtaining timely corrective action can be extremely difficult once the applicable warranty period has expired.