M/I Homes Vs. Pulte: How To Pick The Right Home Builder

When buying a newly constructed home, the builder you choose can greatly impact your satisfaction and experience.

M/I Homes and Pulte are two of the nation’s largest homebuilders, constructing thousands of homes annually across multiple states.

This detailed comparison highlights key factors to help you determine whether M/I Homes or Pulte is the best choice for your new dream home.

A Brief Comparison Table

Aspects	M/I Homes	Pulte Homes
Home Sizes	1,500 – 4,500+ sq ft	1,300 – 5,000+ sq ft
Home Styles	Traditional, contemporary, cottages	Traditional, suburban, modern
Construction Quality	Excellent per reviews	Mixed reviews
Customization	Mainly finishes	Mainly finishes
Warranty	10 years structural	1 year coverage
Customer Service	Excellent per reviews	Polarized reviews
Pricing	$200k – $750k	$225k – $800k
Pros	Quality materials, service, value	Varied styles, national footprint
Cons	Limited locations	Inconsistent quality

Company Overviews

First, let’s look at quick profiles of M/I Homes and Pulte.

M/I Homes

Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Ohio, M/I Homes builds homes primarily focused on first-time and move-up buyers. They operate in about a dozen states under the M/I Homes and Showcase Collection brands. In 2021, M/I Homes delivered over 5,700 new homes.

Pulte Homes

Pulte Homes, founded in 1950 and based in Atlanta, constructs homes across 27 states under the Pulte Homes, Centex, Del Webb, and DiVosta brands. Pulte builds homes ranging from entry-level to luxury and sold over 25,000 new homes last year.

Also Read: Comparison Between K. Hovnanian Homes And Ryan Homes

Key Differences Between M/I Homes And Pulte

Now let’s compare M/I Homes and Pulte across several key homebuyer considerations.

1. Home Quality and Construction

Problematic construction defects like leaks or cracking walls can quickly lead to headaches for new homeowners. How do M/I Homes and Pulte compare for build quality and materials?

M/I Homes

Homebuyers give positive reviews of M/I Homes’ construction quality. Many praise the attention to detail like alignment of finishes and thorough quality checks. Complaints about significant defects are limited relative to other large builders. M/I provides a 10-year structural warranty for added peace of mind.

Pulte Homes

Reviews of Pulte’s construction quality are more mixed. Some buyers report quality materials and few issues besides minor cosmetic defects. But other homeowners experienced extensive problems with things like poorly installed flooring or leaking roofs. The quality appears inconsistent between communities.

Winner: M/I Homes. Homeowners consistently rate M/I’s workmanship and materials noticeably higher than Pulte’s mixed construction quality. M/I’s 10-year structural warranty also outpaces Pulte’s 1-year coverage.

2. Choice of Home Designs

Does the builder offer a variety of appealing home styles and floor plans?

M/I Homes

M/I constructs homes ranging from around 1,500 up to 4,500 square feet. Their floor plans include single and two-story designs, first floor owner’s suites, and options like lofts. Home styles range from cozy cottages to spacious homes with contemporary open layouts. Excellent variety exists within their model portfolio.

Pulte Homes

Pulte also provides homes spanning from approximately 1,300 up to 5,000 square feet. Their model lineups incorporate traditional suburban colonials, craftsman exteriors, and some more modern designs catering to varied buyer tastes. Overall, good style and layout options are available.

Winner: Draw. Both M/I and Pulte offer extensive collections of floor plans and architectural styles appealing to all types of buyers from first timers to move-up luxury buyers.

3. Customization Options

Does the builder allow personalization so you can tailor the home’s finishes and features to your preferences?

M/I Homes

M/I Homes offers their “Home Innovations” program to customize lighting, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, paint colors and more. But structural layout changes are generally not possible within their streamlined construction process. Overall customization is mainly limited to finishes.

Pulte Homes

Pulte provides their “Memonto®” program for buyers to make moderate changes to finishes like cabinets, fixtures, and flooring. But reviews suggest choices for countertops and other items may be limited. Opportunities for structural customization are minimal.

Winner: Draw. Both M/I and Pulte enable some degree of finish customization for buyers but neither offers open-ended structural customization or design flexibility.

Also Read: Comparison Between Pulte And Ryan Homes

4. Customer Service and Support

The home buying experience involves much more than just the physical product. How do these builders support customers throughout the process?

M/I Homes

According to reviews, M/I Homes provides excellent customer service experience for homebuyers. Their sales team earns praise for clear communication, responsiveness, and guiding buyers through the process. After move-in, M/I’s warranties and Punch list corrections receive positive marks.

Pulte Homes

Feedback on Pulte’s customer support is mixed. Some buyers describe fantastic construction managers who quickly handle issues. But others are frustrated with terrible communication, unreturned calls, and slow warranty repairs. Service seems to vary greatly between regional divisions.

Winner: M/I Homes. Homeowners consistently describe significantly better responsiveness, communication, and service from M/I Homes compared to Pulte’s polarized reviews.

5. Home Pricing and Value

Of course, pricing plays a major role when selecting a homebuilder. How do M/I Homes and Pulte compare for affordability and overall value?

M/I Homes

M/I constructs the following typical price ranges:

• Entry-level homes: $200,000 – $400,000
• Move-up Homes: $350,000 – $750,000

Reviews suggest their homes offer good value with thoughtful details and quality features even in base models. Overall price-to-quality satisfaction is high.

Pulte Homes

Pulte’s pricing ranges from:

• Entry-level homes: $225,000 – $450,000
• Move-up homes: $400,000 – $800,000

Buyers describe average to good perceived value for the prices paid. But lots of upgrades can add significantly to Pulte’s final costs.

Winner: M/I Homes. Homeowners indicate M/I provides better overall value and quality relative to the pricing. Pulte buyers report needing more upgrades.

Watch this review video:

Pros and Cons

To summarize the key advantages and disadvantages:

M/I Homes

Pros

• Excellent construction quality and warranty
• Thoughtful details and value even in base models
• Great customer service reputation

Cons

• Mostly limited to finish customization
• Smaller national footprint than Pulte

Pulte Homes

Pros

• Diverse array of community types and home styles
• Competitive pricing in most markets
• Large national builder with extensive resources

Cons

• Polarized reviews on construction quality
• Minimal structural customization
• Inconsistent customer service

M/I shines for home quality, service, and overall value while Pulte offers more options nationwide but mixed owner satisfaction.

Also Read: Comparison Between Pulte Homes And Taylor Morrison

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bottom Line

When choosing a home builder between M/I Homes and Pulte, keep these tips in mind:

• Compare real homeowner feedback on construction quality
• Review the builders’ structural warranty coverage
• Clarify what can be customized during the design process
• Ask about each company’s community amenities
• Research local market reputation and ratings

Picking the right construction partner for your new home matters. Look past brand names and marketing claims. Evaluate builders thoroughly on quality, service, and overall value delivery to find the ideal match for your home ownership needs and priorities.