RISMEDIA, April 8, 2010—For many home buyers who use the government’s 203k program to renovate a home, the emphasis may be on flooring, kitchen/bath renovations or fencing. However, for one Florida home buyer, his concern was a bit more serious—ensuring a fix to the home’s electrical problems and purchasing a new air-conditioning/heating system to replace the system that had been stolen from the foreclosed home.
“They ripped it right out,” says Robert “Matt” Vanderbrink of Eustis, Florida. “It was a clean break.” If Vanderbrink wanted the home, he knew he would have no choice but to replace the system himself. Otherwise, his FHA loan would not have been approved.
After careful consideration, Vanderbrink decided to move ahead with the home purchase and decided to work with Lowe’s for all his heating/air conditioning needs.
“Lowe’s was fantastic. I worked with their Fern Park location,” says Vanderbrink. “The HVAC guys over there are true professionals. They called me and asked me to come in; they explained everything in great detail. I was really impressed.”
According to Vanderbrink, Lowe’s sent their installers over to the house before any work began so they could see what really needed—and didn’t need—to be done, ensuring that it was a custom job.
“I didn’t have to worry about anything, which was a huge relief,” he says. “The job was done so well—and quickly.”
Indeed, Vanderbrink says that once they got the go-ahead, the contractors Lowe’s brought in to handle the job took only one day to install the new system and build the new electrical lines needed for the fix.
“I couldn’t be happier,” he says. “Lowe’s took care of everything and now we have a great home that I’m very happy with.”
In fact, Vanderbrink says he’s already spreading the word on both the 203k loan and Lowe’s.
“It’s such a great program,” he says. “I know two people who are looking to buy, and I’ve already explained the program and how I worked with Lowe’s. Like me, they didn’t know anything about the loan and how Lowe’s works with 203k lenders. They were very excited.”
Adds Vanderbrink: “If I ever go this route again, I will definitely go through Lowe’s. You’re getting the people who take the time to understand your issues and needs. They’re so professional. Step-by-step, they took me through the entire process and explained how it would happen. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
For more information on the 203k loan program, visit www.hud.gov or www.re-buildusa.com.
Lowe’s contractors and installers are licensed where required. For more information, visit www.lowes.com.
