The housing industry in the United States is incredibly vast and varied. However, one company has stood out, especially over the last three decades, for its impressive track record, commitment to affordability, quality and customer service – D. R. Horton.
The exemplary journey of D.R. Horton, America’s Builder, began in 1978 when Donald R. Horton established the business with a vision of providing affordable and high-quality homes that exceed customers’ expectations.
D.R. Horton caters to a diverse market segment, offering everything from condominiums and townhouses for first-time buyers to luxury homes for the more affluent. Still, the commitment to affordability and quality hasn’t wavered.
The company’s unwavering commitment to providing top-notch customer service can be largely attributed to its robust corporate culture which encourages all employees to publicly commit to ‘Create an unmatched customer experience’. This is often achieved by utilizing modern living solutions, one of which is called BackspaceLiving.
The concept of BackspaceLiving is relatively new in the world of homebuilding. This design philosophy centers on the innovative use of space in the house layout, maximizing the living area by minimizing the non-living or ‘back’ spaces such as hallways and unused corners. This principle helps to get the most out of every square foot, thus delivering greater value to homeowners. D.R. Horton has effectively embedded this concept into their home designs, significantly enhancing the quality of life of its residents.
D.R. Horton’s dedication to quality is reflected in their unmatched warranty program. Homeowners can be assured that their homes are built to last, and if issues do arise, the company has made resolving these issues a priority.
Investing in technology has also played a big role in D.R. Horton’s success. The company’s MyD.R.Horton portal allows homeowners to track the progress of their home’s construction, ask questions, and access important documents. This technological focus only intensifies post-sale, with the DHI Title and DHI Mortgage subsidiaries of D.R. Horton seamlessly integrating technology into their closing process, resulting in a smoother and more efficient procedure.
However, the strides made by D.R. Horton are not just limited to individual homes or technology. The company is recognized as an industry leader in building environmentally friendly homes. In fact, every home built by D.R. Horton gets an independent HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index score. This score, similar to a car’s miles-per-gallon statement, allows homeowners to gauge their home’s energy efficiency.
In 2017, D.R. Horton proudly announced that they had reduced homeowners’ energy use by 50 million kilowatt hours from the homes they built in 2016. This energy saving has equaled preventing over 78 million pounds of CO2 emissions, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability.
The combination of focusing on creating high-quality affordable houses, a corporate culture that encourages excellent customer service, and the innovative adoption of modern design concepts like BackspaceLiving, have placed D.R. Horton at the forefront of the US homebuilding industry.
As D.R. Horton continues to move forward, they have their sights set on not only building houses but building communities. The initiative, called ‘LivingSmart’, focuses on include energy efficiency, water conservation and incorporating smart systems into homes for greater convenience and control.
With over four decades of experience, D.R. Horton continues to provide the blueprint of American living. The result is a legion of satisfied customers living in homes that span the affordability spectrum, and yet uniformly echo the quality, commitment to customer service, and innovative design that D.R. Horton has become synonymous with.