New construction -(edit- sorry, can't name property) (Joliet: house, rent)

[mokenaguy]

I've been in a contract with them since February 2008 for them to build a townhouse. It was supposed to be completed in August/September 2008 and requires a 6 month build time. They haven't even started it yet!

Anyone else having problems with them? I'm tired of getting the runaround.

[chet everett]

Yet another satisfied customer of a new home builder / developer...

How big was your deposit? Got a lawyer? Ugh.

Must be real quality construction to take a whole six months too!

[mokenaguy]

It was a $4,000 earnest deposit.

I do have a lawyer who has contacted them, no response yet.

[Steve-o]

Send in Rambo.

[mokenaguy]

If only...

[mokenaguy]

This is exactly what has happened so far, from the very beginning:

February 4th: Emailed Moderator cut: sorry, can't handle consumer complaints for location information, received response from sales manager.
February 9th: Toured the models, was told there would be a 10 month wait before the next model I was interested in would be ready because the models in the next building going up were already sold.
February 10th: Was informed one buyer for the model I wanted was switching and the next model being built was available and this one had a 6 month build wait.
February 24th: Contract signed, building was supposed to start in the next few weeks, estimated move in date was August/September 2008 with the 6 month build time.
February 25th: Moderator cut: sorry, can't name company emailed to inquire how I wanted the furnace room framed out.
March 8th: I went in to modify the spec sheet as to where I wanted the cable and phone outlets put.
April 19th: I took a friend in to tour the model and get a status update. Sales manager said that framing would begin during the first week in May.
May 19th: No framing took place. Emailed for status update. First email response said that she was assured framing would be taking place during the month of May. Another email came shortly after that saying that a dumpster was just delivered and usually that means they are starting very soon. She was still going to talk to corporate in the afternoon and would have an exact date. After talking to corporate she was told they would not be starting for quite some time and that I could purchase the model instead. They wanted to sell the spec homes (the ones that they’d already built and didn’t have buyers for) before they started building mine.
May 20th: I declined an offer to purchase the model but was quoted a price of $216,277 but that they may come down more with a model discount. I said I may be interested if the price came below the $216000 mark. Sales rep. said that she was sure they would come down and would get back to me with a price.
May 21st: I received an email saying stating that they WOULD be starting my building and I would get an exact date soon. No information on the model discount.
June 11th: Email received saying the framers would be starting the week of June 23rd. I responded by saying I’d believe it when I saw it, to which the sales manager responded by saying it would definitely happen as corporate was out of excuses.
July 3rd: No framing still. I emailed the sales manager for an update. I was told that the copper plumbing had been stolen from the build site and the plumber needed to come reinstall the pipes before the framers could come in. On this date I saw a MLS listing for Moderator cut: sorry, can't name company townhome of my model that had photos of the model and a description matching the model. The list price was $193,900. In my email I stated if this was the model’s asking price I would be happy to pay it.
July 5th: Sales manager responded that the listing that includes the model photos and description is actually a spec. home across the street. It has a similar floor plan but was missing several upgrades that the model and mine were supposed to have (vaulted and tray ceilings, corian counters, upgraded carpeting, walk in closets). I said I wasn’t interested in it but I was invited to make an offer on the model which was listed for over $230,000. Yes, the same model that I was quoted $216,277 on less than 2 months before. I put in a low ball offer of $202,000 as the sales manager said they would want to haggle.
July 7th: The Vice President Moderator cut: sorry, can't name company came back with a counteroffer of $229,000. She said that they couldn’t offer much more of a break because the conversion of the garage from their sales office to a normal 2 car garage was going to cost $10,000 but I was welcome to make an offer on the other two (very different) models that were for sale as the garages needed no converting. To clarify, the sales office is currently housed in two of the model’s garages and need to be converted to regular garages before closing – so the offi ce, carpet, recessed lighting and some drywall needs to be removed and then the walls finished out with drywall and tape. How is this expenditure the buyer’s responsibility? To me it’s no different then the staff needing a copy machine and trying to pass on the cost of it to a buyer who isn’t going to use it! I spoke to my mortgage consultant to see if I could qualify for an extra $10,000 loan and make an offer of $216,277 as quoted in May.
July 9th: The counter offer came in at $227,500 again quoting the $10,000 conversion charge as the reason for being unable to come in lower. It's pretty obvious they're staying high to make me buy the model they are supposed to be building for me and would take $1,000 off the contract price for the trouble. I wrote back saying chances are I'm going to walk away from the contract and would let them know for sure later.
July 21st: My lawyer has sent a letter requesting a return of my earnest money and a release from my contract. No response yet.

I am also waiting for information on what day copper piping was allegedly reported stolen so I can request a copy of the police report from the Joliet Police Department. It's all available through the Freedom of Information Act... if it exists anyway!