When buying a new home, the builder you choose can greatly impact your overall experience and satisfaction.
Pulte and Taylor Morrison are two of the nation’s largest home construction companies building tens of thousands of homes each year across dozens of states.
But which builder offers the best combination of home quality, customization, and customer service? Here is an in-depth comparison of Pulte and Taylor Morrison.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | Pulte Homes | Taylor Morrison |
| Home Sizes | 1,300 – 3,000+ sq ft | 1,200 – 3,500+ sq ft |
| Home Styles | Traditional, suburban, some modern | Traditional, contemporary, craftsman |
| Customization | Limited finishes with Momento® program | Extensive finishes & layout with Style Studios |
| Included Features | Builder-grade floors, counters, fixtures | Builder-grade floors, counters, fixtures |
| Prices | $200k – $700k, some higher | $180k – $650k, some higher |
| Customer Service | Mixed reviews, inconsistent | Mixed reviews, inconsistent |
| Pros | Varied floorplans, some responsive service | Great personalization options |
| Cons | Minimal customization, defect issues | Construction quality issues |
Company Overviews
First, let’s look at quick profiles of each home builder.
Pulte Homes
Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Atlanta, Pulte builds homes under the Pulte Homes, Del Webb, Centex, and DiVosta brands. They construct homes across 27 states ranging from entry-level to luxury. Pulte sold over 25,000 new homes in 2021.
Taylor Morrison
Taylor Morrison builds homes aimed at first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and 55+ active adult communities. Founded in 1981, Taylor Morrison operates in over 16 states under the Taylor Morrison, Darling Homes, and William Lyon Signature brands. They closed over 19,000 home sales last year.
Key Differences Between Pulte Homes And Taylor Morrison
Now let’s compare Pulte and Taylor Morrison across several important categories.
1. Home Design and Quality
A new home’s layout, finishes, and construction flaws can make or break your experience as a buyer.
Pulte Homes
Pulte constructs homes spanning from approximately 1,300 to over 3,000 square feet. Across their brands, Pulte offers a range of architectural designs from traditional suburban colonials to more modern or craftsman styles. Their homes feature details like open floor plans, granite countertops, hardwood floors, and stainless steel appliances.
Some buyers report issues like drywall cracks, flooring gaps, sloppy paint and trim work, and leaks appearing shortly after move-in. But most rate Pulte’s home construction as average to above average quality.
Taylor Morrison
Taylor Morrison builds homes from around 1,200 to 3,500 square feet. Floor plans range from cozy starter homes to spacious luxury dwellings with options like media rooms and home offices. Their Style Studios program allows buyer customization of cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures.
Homebuyers praise the open layouts but some experience problems like significant drywall cracking around windows or doors, unfinished trim details, and issues tracking warranty requests. Overall construction quality earns mixed reviews.
Winner: Draw. Both Pulte and Taylor Morrison offer comparable features and receive mixed feedback on their quality standards and defect repairs.
Also Read: Comparison Between M/I Homes And Pulte
2. Customer Service
The home buying experience extends far beyond just the physical construction. How builders support and interact with customers also matters.
Pulte Homes
Reviews of Pulte’s customer service are very mixed. Some buyers rave about responsive construction managers who quickly handle warranty issues.
Others report terrible communication, unreturned calls, and slow or no fixes for significant defects. Experiences appear highly variable between different regional Pulte divisions.
Taylor Morrison
Like Pulte, Taylor Morrison earns very polarized feedback on their customer service. Some homebuyers praise thoughtful support during the design process and proactive defect repairs.
Others complain about sloppy punch list completion, poor communication, and unwillingness to address major warranty issues. The builder averages just 2 out of 5 stars for customer satisfaction.
Winner: Draw. Neither Pulte nor Taylor Morrison demonstrate consistently great customer service, based on buyer reviews. Experiences dealing with local teams vary widely in either case.
3. Customization
Do these builders allow you to make the home your own with custom features and finishes?
Pulte Homes
Pulte offers their Momento® program for buyer customization of features like cabinetry, countertops, flooring, paint colors, and fixtures. But the level of flexibility depends on the neighborhood, market, and phase of construction. Later buyers may get zero customization. Choices for structural layout changes are very limited.
Taylor Morrison
Taylor Morrison’s Style Studios provide more extensive customization of cabinets, countertops, lighting fixtures, flooring, and hardware finishes.
Their Design Your Home program can incorporate structural changes like room additions or reconfigured layouts, for an added fee. Overall, Taylor Morrison enables greater home personalization.
Winner: Taylor Morrison. Their Style Studios and Design Your Home programs give buyers much more opportunity to tailor the home’s finishes and layout compared to Pulte.
Also Read: Comparison BetweenK. Hovnanian Homes And Ryan Homes
4. Quality of Included Features
Builders use allowances to cover standard included fixtures and finishes. How generous are Pulte’s and Taylor Morrison’s allowances for items like flooring, cabinets, and lighting?
Pulte Homes
Reviews suggest Pulte’s included features are generally builder-grade quality. Their flooring and counter allowances may only cover inexpensive laminate and basic tile.
Upgrades are often needed to get quality hardwood, granite, or premium carpeting. Fixtures like lighting are also budget-grade items.
Taylor Morrison
Like Pulte, the included features from Taylor Morrison tend toward lower-end contractor products. Buyers say the standard flooring is bottom-grade laminate or carpet.
Counter allowances may only permit mid-grade granite. Multiple upgrades are encouraged to obtain higher quality finishes.
Winner: Draw. Neither Pulte nor Taylor Morrison appear to offer generous allowances for finishes and fixtures. Upgrades are common with both builders to achieve higher-end interiors.
Watch this review video:
5. Home Prices and Value
Of course, the bottom line matters when buying a major investment like a home. How do Pulte and Taylor Morrison compare for prices and overall value?
Pulte Homes
Pulte offers homes spanning affordable entry-level to luxury. Their prices range widely:
- Entry-level Pulte homes: $200,000 – $400,000
- Move-up Pulte homes: $350,000 – $700,000
- Active adult Del Webb homes: $300,000 – $600,000
Homebuyers report average to above average perceived value for the prices paid. But lots of upgrades can add significantly to the final cost.
Taylor Morrison
Taylor Morrison targets a similar spectrum of price points:
- Entry-level Taylor Morrison homes: $180,000 – $350,000
- Move-up Taylor Morrison homes: $400,000 – $650,000
- Active adult homes: $250,000 – $500,000
Reviews suggest Taylor Morrison homes are priced competitively within their markets. But buyers caution that getting quality features often requires expensive upgrades pushing the total budget well beyond base pricing.
Winner: Draw. Pulte and Taylor Morrison have comparable home pricing targeting the same market tiers. Neither appears to offer exceptional value out of the box, with upgrades frequently needed.
Pros And Cons Of Pulte Homes
Pros
- Wide variety of home sizes and floor plan designs
- Competitive quality for price points
- Some very responsive customer service experiences
Cons
- Inconsistent construction defect repair
- Minimal customization of features or layouts
- Builder-grade finishes and fixtures
Pros And Cons Of Taylor Morrison
Pros
- Opportunities for extensive home personalization
- Style Studio customization options
- Contemporary exterior styles available
Cons
- Numerous reports of post-move-in construction issues
- Poor communication and follow-through
- Budget allowances for included features
Pulte and Taylor Morrison each offer strengths in certain areas but neither emerges as clearly superior based on buyer experiences. Focus on your highest priorities to pick the best fit. Strongly consider inspecting current homes under construction to evaluate true quality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
According to rankings and surveys, the most trusted national homebuilders based on customer satisfaction, quality, and value are David Weekley Homes and Burgess Homes. Other top rated builders include Meritage Homes, Keystone Custom Homes, and Highland Homes.
Taylor Morrison typically includes budget to mid-grade appliance packages featuring brands like Whirlpool, Frigidaire, or GE. Higher end appliances from brands like Viking, Bosch, and Sub-Zero can be purchased as upgrades through Taylor Morrison’s Style Studio customization program.
Also Read: Comparison Between Taylor Morrison And Lennar
The Bottom Line
Choosing between Pulte and Taylor Morrison comes down to setting clear priorities and looking past brand names. Key steps for picking the right home builder include:
- Review homeowner comments on true construction quality
- Confirm which choices can be customized on finishes, fixtures, and layout
- Clarify what is actually included for allowances and base pricing
- Ask current homeowners about warranty responsiveness
- Inspect homes actively under construction
Buying a newly constructed home is a major investment. Take time to research builders thoroughly and evaluate specific neighborhoods, not just overall brands. Focus on finding the best combination of quality, customization, and service to suit your home needs. Ask the right questions to make a homebuilder choice you’ll be happy with long-term.