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Rumple Stiltskin
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posted 23 September 2006 11:08 CET
SITTERLE HOMES CONCERNED ABOUT REPUTATION
Explain to me how Sitterle Home's reputation is going to be enhanced or vindicated when the story of their lawsuit against Colonel Hirata is picked-up by the news wires and main stream media. Colonel Hirata is no longer allowed to discuss his situation which is probably what Sitterle Homes intended. Hopefully, the law of unintended consquences and the court of public opinion will rule in Colonel Hirata's favor for the benefit of all American new house shoppers. |
Rumple Stiltskin
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posted 23 September 2006 09:52 CET
Are the complaints from new house buyers who feel cheated by the behavior of their new house builder with regard to the honoring of their new house warranty unjustified? Should new house buyers bear the burden of the financial and emotional costs which attach to a product which has been shoddily produced? Who should be responsible and accountable for shoddy work and obvious defects in a product? Does part of free enterprise encompass the mantra, "Lets produce a product as profitably as possible, within the limits of the law, then exploit that law to its limits, so the responsibility and accountability for that product following the point of sale, becomes the sole responsibility of the unsuspecting consumer"? Where does accountability and responsibility for a product produced begin and end for the manufacturer of that product? Naturally, if one is the producer, one would want accountability and responsibility to end at the point of sale. If one is the purchaser of a new product, one would have expectations regarding quality, performance, and longevity of that product. If these expectations are not met, within the parameters of the limits of the expectations of a particular product, it is reasonable to assume the consumer should have a reasonable avenue of recourse for assigning accountability and responsibility, rather than to be left-on-the-hook and suffer the consequences of a business plan and system which provided him with a shoddy or defective product from the get-go. Should consumers be expected to bear the burden of a faulty business plan? If this is the case, then it should be fully disclosed and become part of the public domain. This is a part of free enterprise, full disclosure, transparency, and a level playing field which benefits all except those who wish to profit from a system which shifts finanacial costs of doing business onto those who legitimately have no responsibility to share in those costs once the purchase has been made. If this is how the game is played, then all participants should be familiar with the rules and not have some of the rules disclosed after the fact. And when the reality of the rules is so onerous and fraught with risk, no less harmful to the emotional and financial well being of new house buyers than the health effects of smoking tobacco are to smokers, then perhaps consumer warnings should be prominently displayed and disclosed in all aspects relating to new house sales and construction. Bravo Colonel Hirata for falling on your sword and telling the truth concerning your new house buying experience for the benefit of the American people for whom you so proudly serve. Thank you. |
Rumple Stiltskin
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posted 22 September 2006 22:36 CET
And keeping the truth from being disclosed to "tens of thousands of people" who may be harmed by untoward business practices is perfectly acceptable in order to preserve a potentially undeserved false reputation? Is this the rationale? It's acceptable for corporations to cause harm to their customers but it is not acceptable for disgrunteled customers to disclose the truth about a corporation which harms them? Go figure. |
James & Tina Cook
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posted 19 September 2006 12:10 CET
MY letter to Ryland Homes
Mr. Benline,
I received your letter dated August 29, 2006 and I am sincerely dismayed at what I have read. Let me first state that Ryland homes has at the onset of the initial walk through of the home for closing, has tried to evade any responsibility for their product. The quality and workmanship that we were told of is nothing but a myth. Every occasion of trying to work with the Ryland warranty person, Joe Dwyer, was a consistent battle of dealing with his lies and stalling tactics to try and push the issue beyond the warranty time limitations.
Numerous issues have occurred with the building and purchasing of this home. Some of these issues I have since consoled myself to never being rectified due to the inability or desire by Ryland to stand behind their product. I will discuss the main issues in rest of this correspondence.
It took an entire year almost to resolve the drainage issue around my home and the only reason was that the manager at the time, Mitch Schwartz, asked to have a third party engineering company do an inspection. The company did the inspection and concluded that the drainage was inadequate and recommended sump pumps or at the very least French drains to alleviate the drainage problems. Of course Ryland took the least expensive means and went with French drains to correct their defect in the design of the drainage for the home. This is yet another example of Ryland’s poor commitment to quality.
The electrical problems that we have encountered with the home continue still to this day even after numerous attempts to have Ryland fix them. After complaining enough, you had a certified electrician come and look at the home. Even though he stated he could find nothing wrong the problems still exist. I do not believe a simple hour inspection was indicative of the truly finding the issues. What was truly revealing was his statement about the other workers Ryland sent onsite to diagnosis and repair these issues. His statement to me and I quote, “They should have never been sent onsite because they do not know what they are doing.” My question to you is this, IF they were not qualified to be onsite why were they sent to my home? Further, they came from other Ryland construction jobs and this then calls into being the quality of work that Ryland does. This is another of the many examples of poor quality and workmanship by Ryland.
The issue with the carpet pad was another example of Ryland’s inability to execute on quality and trust. The fact the basic carpet pad was installed and we had purchased the upgrade pad brings in to question Ryland’s honesty. If we had not had an issue where the carpet had to be pulled up we would have never known and there by been cheated out of the money paid.
The AC/Heating system is beyond any normal warranty issues that any home owner should have to endure. My electrical bills have been beyond the normal range since I moved into the home due to the inefficiency of the AC unit and design. Numerous home owners on my street are having the same issues and all of the systems were installed by River City mechanical. The AC system was installed by River City Mechanical and has had issues from the beginning. I am going to bullet the issues below:
• AC ducts and vents not properly cleaned up after installation – still exists and has been noted to Ryland on many occasions
• RCM stated there should have been a red tag on thermostat to have owner call for initial service upon move in – Ryland knows nothing about this
• Incorrect jet installed during initial installation
• Improper installation of ducting and Covering around cooling coil
• RCM came out numerous times to readjust dampers due to mis-adjustment during initial implementation
• Heating owner’s manual found inside unit during third part Inspection Company –could have started a fire.
• Fresh air vent improperly working
• Told by independent company worst installation ever seen
• Electrical company – Stafford Electrical – that did the installation came out and did a review and stated the only thing that could cause the high electrical bills is the AC running inefficiently – supervisor at the company.
Ryland has dragged their feet and made every effort to keep from having to replace the entire ac system. The AC Company that I had come and do an inspection – Strand Brother’s – stated that the whole system was sloppily put in and needs numerous things fixed and actually the system needed to be ripped out and redone. Ryland had Stan’s AC come out and the initial gentleman that was doing the inspection – Roland – Stated that the entire system needed to be redone as well as fixing the insulation in the attic. Apparently, Ryland did not like this and went the cheap route of patching the problems. Ryland also went straight to the owner of the company and had Roland removed from the project. The AC supervisor that came out was forthcoming in the first in stating that he knew the patching would not fix the issue and that it was going to end up in court. He also advised that I take pictures. Since then, Ryland has dangled a carrot to owner and stated that they may start using them again for installations. From what I was told by the supervisor Ryland had used Stan’s for AC installation in their new homes and River City Mechanical under bid them and Stan’s was no longer the prime subcontractor. Now the owner is singing Ryland’s tune and stating anything Ryland wants to hear. I state this now because Roland ordered a test of the AC system which was why the supervisor was onsite and know the owner is stating that the test is not a good test. If this is the truth why was it ordered and why was it conducted. The test in itself shows numerous issues and recommended levels that my home does not meet. Ryland conducted a test with data loggers in my home which I recently received an Ryland states that the test shows conclusively that the AC unit is functioning properly. I have to object to the whole test due to the inability of the personnel to follow your EFL specialist, Jeff Schneider, instructions. Jeff ahs presented himself as an EFL specialist and I would like to call into question his credentials. Is he in-fact a registered EFL specialist? The reports I was sent also do not have all of the pages for each logger attached.
This is just another example of Ryland’s deceitful business practices as well as their inability to uphold their commitments. Ryland’s comfort and energy guarantee is managed by EFL or Environments for Living. I have filed a claim over three years ago and yet to receive a response from them. I have been in contact with them and have numerous times asked to speak to a manager and the manager refuses to contact me. Ryland has just recently stated that I have been denied by EFL. Where is the paperwork to back up this statement? Ryland consistently pushes their responsibility of their subcontractors off on the customer. I did not buy my home from subcontractors but from Ryland.
Since Ryland has seen fit to ignore their obligations, I will be submitting this letter to the Better Business Bureau, The Texas Attorney General, as well as the TRCC. |
L Z
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posted 14 September 2006 22:15 CET
My builder is Spirit Custom Homes in College Station, TX. We just bought this new home about 2 months ago and are having trouble with getting the builder to complete the punch list, mainly all the paint flaws. These are obvious flaws, such as cracking paint around trim work (I suspect it's because the overspray from the trim onto the wall, which the builder admitted, is oil-based and the wall paint is water-based).
The flat paint in the wet areas is staining from inadvertent water drops, and the builder will not put an eggshell finish to make it right. So now I have walls that will remain stained as a new house feature. The paintwork is SLOPPY in some areas and the paint on some of the trimwork has trash in it (painted-on dirt and dust).
The paint contractor and the builder have only done "band-aid" type "fixes" which are sub-par. Both professed to be Christians, which I am, but proceeded to "gang up" on me in my own home because in our list we used the words "sloppy" and "unprofessional" only after getting the run-around and being talked down to.
The builder told me that I was expecting a perfect repair and that I was being too picky. Gee, wanting uncracked paint and paint without the "dirt texture" is expecting perfection? C'mon!
I know this isn't as severe as some of the problems everyone else is having, but the rotten attitude I got was uncalled for and they basically don't want to fix the paint problems correctly.
I told the builder as nicely as possible that I wasn't trying to be a butt-hole about it and he said I was close. Nice doesn't work with these people, no matter how hard I try. I don't understand why THEY are mad at US for wanting to have something done correctly. There is other stuff, but I take offense when a business touts "I'm a Christian" and doesn't live it. I'm not perfect, but there is a standard here. |
Christine Blum
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posted 13 September 2006 16:05 CET
My husband, AJ, and I purchased a brand new DR Horton home located in the Spring area, on June 25, 2004. We have had a water intrusion issue (originally thought to be a simple roof repair) for over 2 YEARS now! We have repeatedly give them opporutnity after opportunity (I think we are up to 9 attempted repairs now) to locate and repair the issue. We have had to retain legal counsel (as of Feb '06), and have been very amicable in attempting to find a resonable resolution (hello, fix it buy it back, or trade for another...they are building a lot of cimmunities in our area). As of today, their lawyer told our lawyer that they would not pay for an additnional, more specialized inspector to assist in locating the problem. Further, they have come to the conclusion the WE are be UNREASONABLE!!!!! We are sending out paperwork (and $250 fee) to the Texas Residential Construction Commission, as we cannot pursue further litigation until we have complied with that requirement - IF they even say we qualify. Our lawyer is behind us 110%, but we will only be able to afford his service for so long, as we are just the 'average joe' couple. If anyone can, PLEASE HELP!!!!
Thank you, Christine Blum |
steven recupero
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posted 2 September 2006 15:24 CET
WE BOUGHT OUR GEMCRAFT HOME IN HUNTER CREEK SUBDIVISION IN YORK, PA IN DEC-05. SINCE THEN, WE HAD CLOGGED TOILETS; WATER LEAKING FROM UPSTAIRS MASTER BATH TUB INTO THE DOWNSTAIRS LIVING ROOM; SEVERE CEILING DRYWALL WATER DAMAGE FROM LEAKING WATER COMING FROM THE ROOF.
EVERY TIME WE CALL THE BUILDER FOR REPAIRS WE ALWAYS GET VOICEMAILS AND WHEN THEY DECIDE TO CALL US BACK IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE THEY THINK WE ARE LYING OR SOMETHING. SO FAR THEY HAVE FIXED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS EXCEPT THE DRYWALL REPAIRS. THEY SAID THEY ONLY FIX DRYWALLS ONCE A YEAR.
MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT WHEN OUR WARRANTY EXPIRES, WE WILL STILL BE FACED WITH THE SAME OR MORE PROBLEMS. |
Janet Ahmad
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posted 2 September 2006 14:38 CET
Michaelynn Huber:
You should contact the following:
MY ROTTLUND HOME.COM -
http://www.myrottlundhome.com
Cracks begin appearing where walls meet ceiling in garage - chunks of plaster begin falling out...Horizontal cracks begin appearing on back porch steps, cracks appear in garage floor...
Janet Ahmad |
Michaelynn Huber
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posted 23 August 2006 10:27 CET
My home was built by Rottlund Homes-David Bernard in Hugo MN. I've lived in my town home for almost two years. I've had many issues since I've moved in. The most serious of them invloves my roof.. It's leaking! I'm extremely unhappy with the quality of my home, the Rottlund staff and the sublet contractors. Is there anyone else on here who has a home built by Rottlund? Have you had issues? Please let me know. Thanks in advance for your help. |
bbudd1023@hotmail.com
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posted 20 August 2006 08:00 CET
I live in a fox and jacobs home we have lived here 2 years and our fence is already falling dowm. I contacted fox and jacobs and they will do nothing about it. My neighbors in the entire neighborhoods fences are the same way, several in our alley have already been replaced. I refuse to pay 3000 to replace my fence when they should of put up a better quality fence. A fence contractor said they have done many short cuts on our fence one being instead of taking a two by four and cutting it in half to be used for the picekets they divided intp thirds. they only used one screw per fence picket to attch to the main posts and also used lawn timbers instead of using real fence posts. Not only do we have to pay to replace the fence we also have to pay to have the new fence restained. I will never buy a fox and jacobs home again.
Brandy Adams
2926 Sheridan lane
wylie, tx 75098
972-575-8863 |
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