HOBB Community

read all about it (with photos):  http://peretired.blogspot.com/ (http://peretired.blogspot.com/)

The following is from “Homeowner Stucco Defects Power Point Presentation”, which can be found in the “Important Documents” folder at http://www.suncityblufftonhomedefectclaims.com/index.asp (http://www.suncityblufftonhomedefectclaims.com/index.asp)


QUOTE

Plaintiff’s Attorney
Q. …pursuant to South Carolina law, how long is the case going to be stayed?

Attorney for Pulte
A. Most likely indefinitely. These are all homeowners that have to be over 55 to live there. By the time all 4,000 comply, which they probably never will, half of them will already be dead.


Pulte has acknowledged, in sworn testimony, that:
• It did not employ the services of a design professional for the design of the stucco systems at issue.
• It has no knowledge of how to install a proper stucco control joint.
• There was no supervision of the stucco subcontractor with regard to proper stucco application.
• Following this lawsuit, Pulte began in July 2007 utilizing stucco control joints at the corners of windows and doors in its new construction across U.S. Hwy 278.


Sisnroy Engineering Report
Cracking in Stucco
“Eventually 100% of the homes will exhibit cracking due to excessive stress from improper stucco installation.”

Sometimes I sort of wonder what you're going for with the roof truss issue. I get the problem. It seems though, that most of the owners know, the HOA knows, the county knows, and there is nothing but apathy from all of them.

As I said before, that aspect is much like the Katrina New Orleans issue. Everyone knew a hurricane would hit and flood New Orleans someday, and no one cared until about 48 hours before the hurricane hit.  All you may have is a very loud I told you so here, or do you really hope Pulte will come in a fix all those houses for the mostly apathetic owners?

I'm looking to give folks the warning that we didn't get. "I told you so." maybe. If you want to look at it that way.

Are HOBB and HADD and Poorly Built By Pulte and other gripsites about warning folks, about "I told you so", or about drawing attention to the problems in the hopes that SOMETHING will be DONE about them some day?

It's obvious that Pulte isn't going to fix the problem the way that it should be fixed--with HURRICANE CLIPS, just like they were doing BEFORE 2004 and AFTER mid 2007. It's clear that they're NOT going to put on hurricane clips; so, I'm going to tell as many people as I can. About hurricane clips, about stucco, about roof leaks, about the lagoons, about cracks, etc. It's a LONG list.

Pulte should pay for their shoddy construction; and, they are paying--maybe not to the victims--but Pulte IS paying.

True, somebody has to make builders pay for reckless behavior, and acting in general bad faith. I closely empathize with that goal. But I must add, my pursuit to that end from years of trying is not totally fulfilling. Not to say you should stop, nor will I ever stop.

Last year at this time it was thought I could be terminal from the health problems our home nightmare experience created. At least one doctor and nurse speculated I might not walk out of the hospital, after going in to ER in critical condition. And worse, I didn't much care either way at that point, as I am/was so tired of dealing with the endless aftermath a defective home brought.

As for loss, some think maybe we lost some money in making repairs, and then it was over. Not so. First we lost all our savings. Then cashed out all our retirement. We lost health insurance, then our health. We maxed out debt after all else was stripped. We couldn't live in the defective home for over 3 and 1/2 years. The losses that chained are too great to post here.

Our current course is becoming too clear. Bankruptcy, home foreclosure, a near total wipe of assets not otherwise destroyed by the homes defects, we closed our home business, and we will be forced to start a new career likely not of our choosing with impaired health the home defect caused. The life we knew will be completely dead, stolen away so the builder keeps all their profits.

When I stepped into this house thing, I was optimistic and determined, full of energy. The experience has made me feel much older, doubtful, and I lost a lot of faith in the American dream. Builder defects aren't always simply about financial losses.

I'm not saying I'm the only one, or competing for who has the worst builder. Everybody should be able to tell their story. 

Ron,

I'm sorry. Your story epitomizes the tragedy that bad builders can inflict on other peoples' lives. It's a wonder to me that more people don't speak out. Quite frankly it's the dishonesty, the recklessness, and the arrogance of some builders, and stories like yours, that distress me, and cause me to speak out. For anyone to get away with the pain and suffering that they've caused you, and others, just isn't right.

You're right--speaking out isn't fulfilling, because the dishonesty, the recklessness, and the arrogance continue unchecked from some builders. It's discouraging.

We may not be able to get others to speak out, but at least we can speak out ourselves. It's not for me that I continue to speak out against the dishonesty, the recklessness, and the arrogance of some builders, but for people like you. God blessed me with the brains and the determination to get an engineering degree and to use it for 40 years. I'm retired now, but, my brain hasn't completely retired. With my background I'm able to see the dishonesty, the recklessness, and the arrogance in a way that others can't. That's why I keep speaking out.

God bless you, Ron.

Ray

To others who are interested, my story of builder dishonesty, recklessness, and arrogance can be found at http://peretired.blogspot.com/ (http://peretired.blogspot.com/).

Ray.  Some people are ignorant and some are wearing blinders. The people across the street from me had three or more cracks in their basement. Every time it rained, they leaked.  They called this builder. the builder told them that because they had not been replacing the dirt around the house when it settled, it caused the basement walls to crack. They, this builder told the homeowner it was homeowner neglect AND the homeowners believed them!!!  However, the builder said they would be nice and would put silicone in the cracks. These homeowners know what is going on with my house and what has happened, yet swallowed what the builder said, hook, line and sinker.  This homeowner, like myself, was told that once they fixed the cracks with silicone they didn't need to disclose it when they sold the house.  In fact every homeowner I have spoken to that has issues with their house has been told the same thing about disclosure.  Of course, we all know that it is against the law to not disclose known defects.   Now to make this long story longer, the homeowners will do nothing because they told me they want to sell the house. They don't want anyone to know they have defects, so they keep quiet.

There is also a large majority of Asian Indians living in my subdivision.  I have been told by the younger people that they are told when they come to the United States not to make waves and to stay quiet.  Therefore, these people are perfect candidates to buy this builders houses.  There are quite a few that have issues with their foundation because they visit me at my house, but won't do anything about it.

Now after saying all of that, there are very few who have the fortitude to stand up.  Those that do stand up, for the most part are on this forum, but unfortunately it is a small group.  It takes a lot to stand up to a big builder. It takes time, money, and intestinal fortitude.  It does take a toll on your mental and physical health, along with your families well being but those that believe there builders that bit the hand that feeds them should be accountable strive on.

Susan, an incredible story!!!! 

almost as incredible as the builder's dishonesty, recklessness, and arrogance is someone who would believe that a material that you use to caulk around your bathtub could restore structural integrity to a cracked foundation wall!!! and, to believe that the failed wall was THE HOMEOWNER'S FAULT!!!!! who's fooling who?!? Full seller disclosure (or NOT!)--dishonesty, recklessness, and arrogance aren't always confined to builders!

You're right--people who are honest and strong and have the fortitude to expose dishonesty, recklessness, and arrogance are few and far between!

On September 3, 2008, Pulte, Del Webb Communities, and South Carolina State Plastering, LLC, were named in 87 separate law suits filed in Beaufort County, SC by attorneys representing homeowners in Sun City Hilton Head. This is the first round of individual law suits brought against the developer and builder of Sun City Hilton Head after the Court ruled that the stucco case against the Developer cannot be handled as a class action lawsuit. It is expected that more individual lawsuits will be filed.

Estimates for removing and reapplying the stucco average $40,000 per house. For more information see http://www.suncityblufftonhomedefectclaims.com/index.asp

to find out about the "rice paddy" visit http://myschh.com/  (http://myschh.com/) or http://peretired.blogspot.com/ (http://peretired.blogspot.com/)

the lagoon noose is tightening around Pulte's neck. After THREE YEARS of denial and deception, through the persistent efforts of a relatively small group of homeowners, Pulte is about to find that they have no choice other than to fix their shoddy lagoon construction.

Homeowners first tried to get Pulte to address the problems, then Beaufort County, SC, then DHEC (SC's environmental agency), then the Army Corps of Engineers.  nothing.  then they launched a "call to action" email campaign to County, State, and Federal representatives.

In the end it's photographs and as-built survey data that proved that Pulte failed to construct the lagoons properly. Pulte, along with all the other co-conspirators, have to accept what the photographs and the survey data show--that there are MAJOR construction problems with the lagoons.

However, despite "the handwriting being on the wall", Pulte continues to deny and deceive. Pulte's construction manager recently said that "aquatic vegetation can grow in 4 feet of water". The next thing that Pulte will be telling us is that the birds in these photographs have 4 ft. long legs! Pulte treats us (ALL senior citizens) like we were all born at night--LAST night! Sorry, Pulte, NOT this time!

for more on the lagoons, and other Pulte shoddy construction, see http://peretired.blogspot.com/ (http://peretired.blogspot.com/)