<p>Customer satisfaction levels in the housebuilding industry have surged in the past year despite the challenges of the recession according to the latest HBF annual survey.</p> <p> </p><p> </p> <p></p> <p>The proportion of customers fairly or very satisfied with their new home leapt by 11 points to 88% while 88% also said they would recommend their builder to a friend – seen as the acid test in customer satisfaction surveys and up from 76% last year.</p> <p> </p><p> </p> <p></p> <p>The survey – carried out by NHBC - seeks the views of customers of 15 of the largest housebuilders, those building more than 500 homes a year, and covers the 12 months to September 2009. In all 16,741 questionnaires were returned, a 50.9% response rate.</p> <p> </p><p> </p> <p></p> <p>The results are translated into a star rating system for the housebuilders, rated on quality of the home and recommendation to a friend. Every participant improved their star rating on home quality – except McCarthy and Stone which was already a five star housebuilder from last year and maintained that standard. The firm is joined as a five star builder by Barratt, Cala, Crest Nicholson, Galliford Try, Lovell and Morris.</p> <p> …