[Floridasunshine]

We got our money back after a miserable home was built. We raised so much stink they gave us it back right away. The model looked so good, but the actual home was awful, We had list 49 things wrong. THen we found out in our contract to build there was clause we could not tell anyone about anything we were unhappy with per the contract. We were lucky and were able to cancel our contract 9mos into the game. But we should of talked to the neighbors, signs up everywhere for sale first 3mos of living in the homes.
We had 2 different windows sizes in family room, The dry wall was awful. The side walk and cement work was bad. Even the supervisor said it was sad. He
promised to fix but he was gone before long.

[shedav]

I know your frustration when building a home..You go into it thinking of what a huge investment it is and this is the place you want to call home. I have two coworkers who built Mercedes homes last year and moved to the east coast near NASA. They both are happy with their homes though. On the other hand we live in a home here in WV that we had built back in 1996 from Jim Walters. The problems were pretty much the same as yours, we tried to get them to fix them right away but kept getting put off. 3 managers in a year. We would be told oh, we will be out to fix...nobody would show up. After first year was over they then came back and used the excuse our warranty had run out. Fortunately I saw an add in a paper regarding a law firm who was taking legal action against them. I called and we are now currently in a law suite. We have been waiting a long time for this...since 1997 and we finally go to trial in March. There were 26+families altogether. Anyone thinking of building Jim Walters ( I know they build in parts of FL) I urge you to reconsider. Unfortunately, unlike Floridasunshine, Jim Walters was no so honorable and we were forced to take legal action that has cost us over 9 years. This is one of the main reasons we have been unable to relocate to FL sooner...we were adviced by our lawyers to hold off until AFTER the lawsuite is over. Does anyone know of some honorable and good builders in FL? We are looking to build in FL and I sure dont want to go through this again. Thanks for your input Floridasunshine...considering I had been considering Mercedes homes.

[Floridasunshine]

Hi
Actually Jim walters here has some problems,going on here too. A man has a Van parked in front of the office with LEMON DONT BUY HOME FROM THESE CROOKS. the other day I drove by and noticed.

Our Realtor that we rented from tried to warn us about Mercedes Homes but we just figured one unhappy person didnt matter. but according to her alot of people are unhappy. Their Models look so nice, they finance about anyone too.

We have been researching builders and it seems like everyone of them has unhappy people. HIghlandhomes seems to be where we are heading for our next home. Not sure if we will build or just buy this time. We will be sellling our current home in Sept due to so many renters moving in our subdivision.

[shedav]

I will have to look into highland homes. Does everyone seem to like them? I am just realllllly skeptical now since we have gotten so burned with JW homes. The frustrating part is you invest so much into your home not only financially but emotionally and then these crooks act like its just no big deal.

[tallrick]

Isn't it odd that in the 40's and 50's even the low priced homes had few problems? I couldn't find anyone complaining about things in older homes they bought new, but it seems like all new homes are built shoddy and cost so much more.

[shedav]

LOL your absolute right!! My parents have an older home and it is nothing compared to the crap they build today. It is SOLID wood throughout with sliding wood doors into the living room and everything. (there is no such thing in this house like sheet rock) that is so easily damaged..Shoot you accidently slam a door in these new homes without having a door stopper and youve got this massive hole in the wall..Talk about flimsy.LOL

[jake4sally]

You said it. My husband has owned his own construction business in WY and TX. We currently live in TX, getting ready to relocate to FL. The homes here are just as bad as FL. He worked on a crew building 1M+ homes when we 1st got here and you would be shocked at how they are put together. 10K foot houses with crooked roofs, 2x4s used where 2x6s should be, beams in the attics that are not nailed together, just down right scary. We finally started our business again here because the demand was so high for quality contractors to fix these riduculous houses. The $ is so good we would stay in TX, but we are ready to settle down in FL where at least the weather is nicer (try and do construction in 105+, 80% humidity). Best of luck to those of you building. I would highly recommend that whoever you use, stay on them from the get go. Go to your building site everyday and if you see something that is upsetting, stop them until it gets fixed. Unfortunately if you buy an existing home it will be hard to tell the issues until you've been in it for awhile.

[MB2]

Originally Posted by jake4sally

You said it. My husband has owned his own construction business in WY and TX. We currently live in TX, getting ready to relocate to FL. The homes here are just as bad as FL. He worked on a crew building 1M+ homes when we 1st got here and you would be shocked at how they are put together. 10K foot houses with crooked roofs, 2x4s used where 2x6s should be, beams in the attics that are not nailed together, just down right scary. We finally started our business again here because the demand was so high for quality contractors to fix these riduculous houses. The $ is so good we would stay in TX, but we are ready to settle down in FL where at least the weather is nicer (try and do construction in 105+, 80% humidity). Best of luck to those of you building. I would highly recommend that whoever you use, stay on them from the get go. Go to your building site everyday and if you see something that is upsetting, stop them until it gets fixed. Unfortunately if you buy an existing home it will be hard to tell the issues until you've been in it for awhile.

That is EXACTLY the KEY to have a nice home build for yourself. You as the prospective new home owner have to "play" foreman and supervisor yourself, ask questions, and open your mouth, as soon as you see something questionable!
Funny, I live in a Mercedes home (don't ask ... ), and didn't get an "input" in the building process. Well, funny thing was, when they started to build the house (also a Mercedes) next door, and got to see first hand, every day, on what they are doing, what they are NOT doing, and what kind of "short cuts" there are to get the job done, and move to the next! Also, if you live near a new construction iste, be aware and keep a close watch and eye on your water bill!!!!
They will steal your water!!!!!!
It happened to us (we never caught them in the act, unfortunately!), but it also happened to a neighbor of mine. They came home, unexpected, to find the hose with their water going ACROSS the street, to the construction side. Boy, feathers were flying that day....LOL
And, it gets even better, when they don't speak english, the others no spanish, but everyone is screaming....lol....and everyone knows, what's about.
Talk about excitement for a day.
But, seriously....check on your water bill, because they will take water and/ or electric, if they can, to get the house next door, or across the street done.!!!!

[shedav]

Movingback2PA that is hilarious! . I know how your feeling perhaps that is why I find it funny. My husband and I came down to FL last year and took the kids to Disney we were gone about 2 weeks. Came back and never really thought about our Electric bill until a couple of months later our neighbor 2 doors down told us that while we were gone our next door neighbor not only tapped into our electric while we were gone but our water TOO!!! The guts some people have are amazing.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by Floridasunshine

The problems is all these builders sub contract labor mexicans etc. they dont speak english. THey pay them so little . THey just dont do good job. We had 2 different windows sizes in family room, The dry wall was awful. The side walk and cement work was bad. Even the supervisor said it was sad. He
promised to fix but he was gone before long.

So it's the Mexicans' fault?? You contracted with the builder, not the Mexicans. If the Mexicans screwed something up, don't pay the builder until he fixes it! It's not your job to hire, train or supervise the subcontractors, it's the contractor's. Your contractor sounds like he's willing to sacrifice quality for low labor costs. Hold him accountable for results!

A few years ago I hired a contractor to re-roof my house. The Mexicans (actually, they were Salvadorans), he employed did basically a good job, but screwed a couple things up. I pointed it out to the Contractor and told him I wouldn't pay until they were fixed. He and his brother came back and fixed it to my satisfaction. It's that simple.