By Andy Pierrotti
Lennar Division President Michael Bottoms knows construction problems exist in some homes built by its company in Wescott plantation, but he says some homeowners are not giving Lennar an opportunity to fix the problems.
âWe got everybody together, we wanted to correct that mistake,â Bottoms said about a meeting he had with homeowners.
John Hull says his Lennar home is falling apart. He hired a home inspector who found dangerous roof construction, code violations, like incorrect hallway width, and high levels of combustible fumes.
âMy explanation to those things is we need to fix them. I mean, occasionally when construction practices take place, there may be mistakes,â Bottoms said.
Lennar admits more mistakes, like the missing 180 square feet inside John Saunders home and the wrong home building plan provided to the city of North Charleston by Lennar. Hulls building plans show a side loaded garage, but Hull's garage is on the front.
âI don't have an exact explanation for that. I know when we go in and we build in neighborhoods, most of our plans have many different elevations to them.â
Bottoms says Hull and Saunders are refusing the company's offer to fix the problems.
âWe have to have the opportunity. I mean, we want to take care of our people. We have the people in place to be able to correct these issues in the homes and be able to take care of it,â Bottoms said.
Hull says Lennar knew about the problems before homeowners complained. Lennar offered him about $10,000 dollars for the missing square footage. Hull wants Lennar to buy his home back.
Bottoms said in response, âI mean, we are not in the business of buying homes back. We want to be able to take care of our customers and be able to provide a high level of customer service.â
Pro-sight Inspections says it found similar structural concerns in at least three other Lennar homes. Lennar says those homeowners are a small minority compared to thousands of satisfied customers across the country.
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