Richmond American Homes...good Or Bad? (Queen Creek: hardwood floor, HOA, attorney)

[tomdow1]

My point is this - RAH have seen that this AC system does not work in this model so they are now installing split AC systems in the new houses. My house is only 2 months old but they refuse to install the new split units in my house. I am still working on them..Tom

[Home_Kid]

stay away from Pulte.
see http://www.city-data.com/forum/tucso...lte-homes.html

and btw, RA also does split units on their homes in Tucson.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by tomdow1

My point is this - RAH have seen that this AC system does not work in this model so they are now installing split AC systems in the new houses. My house is only 2 months old but they refuse to install the new split units in my house. I am still working on them..Tom

What model did you get if you don't mind me asking?
I'd try to come to some sort of agreement with them, and while I'd love for them to pay for all of it, I'm not sure that's going to happen.. This is how it is with spec houses.. We purchased one too. What you see is what you get for the price.

Having said that, since you know they are installing them in that specific model, see if maybe you can foot some of the bill, with them paying most of it.

Originally Posted by Home_Kid

and btw, RA also does split units on their homes in Tucson.

In NJ, it appears to go by house size / layout. Our sales lady explained it to us one day as we were checking out lots. Some models don't need the split unless they have the bump outs & sunrooms.

[tomdow1]

I bought the Magnolia II here in the Tampa area. RAH is now installing in the new ones a 3.5 ton unit for the downstairs and a 9,000 BTU ductless system(made by LG) for the upstairs room. Even though mine was a spec house, the 5 ton single AC unit in my house does not properly cool the upstairs. I'm already dreading next summer when the temp gets in the 90's. Tom...

[tomdow1]

Okay...I talked RAH into adding the mini split as a booster for the upstairs. They would not replace the 5 ton unit with a smaller one, but I AM HAPPY!!! Thanks for all the posts. Tom

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by tomdow1

Okay...I talked RAH into adding the mini split as a booster for the upstairs. They would not replace the 5 ton unit with a smaller one, but I AM HAPPY!!! Thanks for all the posts. Tom

Tom, glad to hear it worked out & thanks for posting back to let us know.

I never did find time to go check out the model you bought.

[UtahHome]

Originally Posted by UtahHome

I totally agree, once you sign, you're done. I received assurances on my final walk through that all of my discrepencies would be taken care of within a week. I didn't hear from anyone for a week and a half and then called the assistant superintendant myself. Like others that have posted comments here, we are waiting for decisions to be made by "someone" at Richmond American. I also discovered that the construction superintendants are not required to hold a contractors license. This explains a lot. If you build with Richmond you must watch them constantly. Since the "leaders" of the construction department have no or little constuction knowledge, it is up to the buyer to identify problems and bring them to their attention. Of course that doesn't mean they will address your concerns. Good luck to all who build with Richmond American.

As you can see my last "post" to this forum was in September 2007 and it is now January 2008. We are still waiting for items to be repaired as promised within a week. We finally moved in prior to Thanksgiving but had to spend all of the holidays with a smoke/CO detector in the kitchen that would chirp every time we used our oven. Two weeks ago we met with the Richmond representative to discuss our "30 day" (they must use a different calendar than the rest of us) concerns. The electrician was notified of the smoke/CO detector issue and promptly came out to replace ALL of the units (3) because a factory recall. Why wasn't Richmond aware of this issue? We are still waiting for an $8 bag of lava rock to be installed in our fireplace. All of this was documented in the "survey" sent out by Richmond and we didn't pull any punches. We also asked to be contacted by Richmond's senior management and have heard from no one to date.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by UtahHome

As you can see my last "post" to this forum was in September 2007 and it is now January 2008. We are still waiting for items to be repaired as promised within a week. We finally moved in prior to Thanksgiving but had to spend all of the holidays with a smoke/CO detector in the kitchen that would chirp every time we used our oven. Two weeks ago we met with the Richmond representative to discuss our "30 day" (they must use a different calendar than the rest of us) concerns. The electrician was notified of the smoke/CO detector issue and promptly came out to replace ALL of the units (3) because a factory recall. Why wasn't Richmond aware of this issue? We are still waiting for an $8 bag of lava rock to be installed in our fireplace. All of this was documented in the "survey" sent out by Richmond and we didn't pull any punches. We also asked to be contacted by Richmond's senior management and have heard from no one to date.

I'm sorry you are having problems.

You mention senior management.. I did a search of MDC Holdings, got Richmonds page here - the whole management team is listed. Scroll down, looks like you want John Stubbs. I also went to switchboard.com and looked up MDC Holdings


Hopefully something there can help you.

You should have business cards. Have you tired writing letters?

[Liz Sherlock]

My suggestion... as with any builder: make sure you want to live there... make them spell things out. Build date, refunds, cancellations, policies regarding EVERYTHING!, contingencieswhat are your options based on market value and sale of your present home. Builders protect themselves! Good luck!

[gollygeewhiz]

Originally Posted by gollygeewhiz

I am also building a Richmond American Home in Utah...errr...or shall I say trying to build one. It's been almost three months now since the contract has been signed and they still haven't started. They apparently have been having problems with the land developer. My question is, why are they selling houses if issues with the developer still exist? We were told that they should start construction in about a month...which puts completion sometime in the middle of winter. It's going to be a great time to move and I look forward to digging out my vintage moon boots to trek through the snow.

...and yes, you do have to upgrade just about everything in the house at the design center. Included features will basically give you a cardboard box with a flashlight hanging by a string.

I now know why Richmond puts a contractual 12 month time frame to finish your house. It has been nearly 11 months since we signed the contract on our house. They are now 3 weeks out from completion. The house we are building is only 2200 square feet! The house sat for several weeks with OSB exposed to wet weather. It makes me wonder what kind of long term affects this will have on the house.

They are barely going to make the 12 month time frame, but if they missed it by 1 second, I would opt out of the deal.