Ball Homes---Just say NO!!!!! (St. Matthews: sales, real estate, insurance)

[Kat1996]

I HATE, HATE, HATE my Ball Home and would never recommend them to anyone. When people ask me whether or not they should build with them I tell them about my horrendous backyard that readily attracts wasps because of the amount of mud. We can barely use it because of the slope of the neighbors house. Everything runs straight into our yard because we are the first walkout on the block. There has been nothing done to help the water drain out when it rains.

MSD even recommended that I take them to court because of the multiple drainage issues with my yard that Ball denies ever hearing about (we have the emails to prove this is untrue). Sevice after the sale. What a joke.

Also the windows were installed incorrectly and now when it rains it runs through the crack between the house and the window and onto the carpet. I am not talking about a drip it soaks the blinds, window, ledge and quite a bit of carpet. When they came out to look at it in February (6 weeks after I reported the problem) I was told that the windows need to be resealed every couple of years. Four months later it is raining in my dining room again because it has nothing to do with the seal.

Our paint has been peeling around all the door frames from the day we moved in because they used plastic and then painted it. The paint will not adhere and you will see this on every single home here. Also I cannot begin to count how many people I know who have had their furnaces fail. The last person was told (by a friend) that the unit has not even been manufactured for years and should not have been used on a house his size. He has to shell out thousands for a completely new system and his house is barely 5 years old.

Also avoid Rocco at all costs. He will do everything to NOT fix whatever is wrong with your house. He has been untruthful with us on several occasions. One of our neighbors had their chimney fall onto their house during the wind storm and Rocco told them that they should contact their insurance company because despite it being structural...too bad. I could go on and on and on but you get the idea.

I cannot wait to leave this house and be done with Ball Homes forever. Unfortunately that seems to be the theme of this neighborhood. Too many people here feel the same as my husband and I.

We were so excited to build with Ball and we feel betrayed and just plain sad over how we have been treated.

The bottom line is that they will do everything to get you into the home and they will do the annual fix-ups BUT only the small stuff. If you have something big they will slap a bandaid on the problem and wait for your warranty to expire. There really is very little true service after the sale.

[03Tigeralum]

Which neighborhood is this....I was impressed by their pics online. Anything else to share as I am beginning my search?

[stx12499]

Folks this is no surprise. To the OP, I am sorry you bought such a cheaply constructed home, but frankly, you cannot be fooled by the newness. Ball Homes is basically the GM of homes. They sell cheap crap that falls apart. I wish I could have told you before. Frankly, this is no different than any of the vinyl sided crap going up in sprawlburbs in every city in America. In the Midwest, it is almost imperative you buy a brick home in an established neighborhood. What is better, a late model BMW or a new Kia from the Kiaaaaaaa Store? That is a good analogy to think of....

TRUST ME, buy an older home that has been well constructed in an established neighboorhood like the Highlands or St. Matthews. There is a reason these areas have such a high level of white collar workers and executives.

[tomocox]

I am going to shout for reason here. Ball Homes is a provider of lower cost homes, the moderator is correct that low cost often times brings lower quality. His logic that a BMW should be a better built machine than a Kia is something that every American should acknowledge and buy accordingly.

I find the OP as culpable here as anyone involved. I have preached this many times on this forum and many times in meetings with Realtors and others. The buyer likely bought the home from the listing agency which effectively cost them all representation by a Realtor who should have been working in their client's best interest, which is exactly what the listing agent did for Ball Homes. Ball Homes, as do most other developers, hires a realty firm to be their exclusive representative for a development, so there is an unlikely dual agency role here, but then I don't wish to practice law or even opine. I can only share what I understand we have been advised by lawyers and government officials.

I don't let Ball off the hook either as they have certain legal, ethical, and moral obligations to customers, especially follow-up to repair faulty construction.

Bottom line: Buying a home of any value is a big dollar investment based on the percentage of income a person or family generates to purchase the home with. Make a million odds are more likely to buy a three million dollar home, make $50,000 odds are a $150,000 purchase is in the future. Take time, step back, hire a Realtor who represents you, not the seller.

OP: In most states, as well as Kentucky, there are consumer protection agencies such as the Kentucky Real Estate Commission, the Attorney General's office, and even the National Association of Realtors and the local Realtors Association. As Realtors, we often do impose heavy contractual fines against associates who are irresponsible or unethical. If you feel that you have paid more than what a reasonable person could have expected, I recommend you contact such agencies and associations.

[Kat1996]

Believe me I wish we knew but they have a good track record with the BBB but I should have talked to persons who had built a Ball Home already as that is the only way to truly know what they are like. They are absolutely the Wal-Mart of the housing industry and yes they use an in house realty company (Milestone) so you are not getting advice from anyone who is not on the Ball family payroll. I know that they are not selling their neighborhood well in Oldham county--Williamsgate--because it really it overpriced for what you are getting especially in Oldham county. When they started phase 2 the prices were exactly the same as the first phase because they are not selling well at all. You can just drive around the neighborhood to realize that. BTW that is not the neighborhood where I live.

Take the moderators advice and buy a well built brick house in an established neighborhood. Just a side not we have a 11 year old Mercedes and it drives better than most new cars. Buy quality..it pays everytime.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by Kat1996

I HATE, HATE, HATE my Ball Home and would never recommend them to anyone. When people ask me whether or not they should build with them I tell them about my horrendous backyard that readily attracts wasps because of the amount of mud. We can barely use it because of the slope of the neighbors house. Everything runs straight into our yard because we are the first walkout on the block. There has been nothing done to help the water drain out when it rains.

MSD even recommended that I take them to court because of the multiple drainage issues with my yard that Ball denies ever hearing about (we have the emails to prove this is untrue). Sevice after the sale. What a joke.

Also the windows were installed incorrectly and now when it rains it runs through the crack between the house and the window and onto the carpet. I am not talking about a drip it soaks the blinds, window, ledge and quite a bit of carpet. When they came out to look at it in February (6 weeks after I reported the problem) I was told that the windows need to be resealed every couple of years. Four months later it is raining in my dining room again because it has nothing to do with the seal.

Our paint has been peeling around all the door frames from the day we moved in because they used plastic and then painted it. The paint will not adhere and you will see this on every single home here. Also I cannot begin to count how many people I know who have had their furnaces fail. The last person was told (by a friend) that the unit has not even been manufactured for years and should not have been used on a house his size. He has to shell out thousands for a completely new system and his house is barely 5 years old.

Also avoid Rocco at all costs. He will do everything to NOT fix whatever is wrong with your house. He has been untruthful with us on several occasions. One of our neighbors had their chimney fall onto their house during the wind storm and Rocco told them that they should contact their insurance company because despite it being structural...too bad. I could go on and on and on but you get the idea.

I cannot wait to leave this house and be done with Ball Homes forever. Unfortunately that seems to be the theme of this neighborhood. Too many people here feel the same as my husband and I.

We were so excited to build with Ball and we feel betrayed and just plain sad over how we have been treated.

The bottom line is that they will do everything to get you into the home and they will do the annual fix-ups BUT only the small stuff. If you have something big they will slap a bandaid on the problem and wait for your warranty to expire. There really is very little true service after the sale.

Oh my goodness I am so sorry you have had such trouble!

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by tomocox

I am going to shout for reason here. Ball Homes is a provider of lower cost homes, the moderator is correct that low cost often times brings lower quality. His logic that a BMW should be a better built machine than a Kia is something that every American should acknowledge and buy accordingly.

I find the OP as culpable here as anyone involved. I have preached this many times on this forum and many times in meetings with Realtors and others. The buyer likely bought the home from the listing agency which effectively cost them all representation by a Realtor who should have been working in their client's best interest, which is exactly what the listing agent did for Ball Homes. Ball Homes, as do most other developers, hires a realty firm to be their exclusive representative for a development, so there is an unlikely dual agency role here, but then I don't wish to practice law or even opine. I can only share what I understand we have been advised by lawyers and government officials.

I don't let Ball off the hook either as they have certain legal, ethical, and moral obligations to customers, especially follow-up to repair faulty construction.

Bottom line: Buying a home of any value is a big dollar investment based on the percentage of income a person or family generates to purchase the home with. Make a million odds are more likely to buy a three million dollar home, make $50,000 odds are a $150,000 purchase is in the future. Take time, step back, hire a Realtor who represents you, not the seller.

OP: In most states, as well as Kentucky, there are consumer protection agencies such as the Kentucky Real Estate Commission, the Attorney General's office, and even the National Association of Realtors and the local Realtors Association. As Realtors, we often do impose heavy contractual fines against associates who are irresponsible or unethical. If you feel that you have paid more than what a reasonable person could have expected, I recommend you contact such agencies and associations.

Good post, Tom. You are 100% correct. I wish we could have warned the OP....

[tigerlillydownunder]

The BBB. Don't swallow that one hook, line and sinker either.

Don't just go by the little plaque on the vendors wall that says they're a member of the BBB. It doesn't mean squat. Because the vendor essentially pays a membership fee; if they don't pay they're annual fee, they get removed as a member--but they still keep the plaque; the BBB doesn't ask for it back. It doesn't take much more than a little $$ to qualify as a member of the BBB. I mean there are some....criteria, that must be met, but it seemed pretty flimsy, and it's not like there is ever an audit or a follow up to make sure the company/store is doing the right thing by the paying customer.

I worked for a few years at a (I feel) disreputable mid-west large (there's a hint right there folks, if you watch their annoying commercials and browse the Sunday ad inserts) retail furniture chain that had said plaque on the wall. Everytime a customer came in (and rightfully so) unhappy with their service and/or product, they naturally would threaten to contact the BBB. Most people are all talk and no action, btw, and will just drop it rather than fight for what they've paid for.

The manager would just shrug, and condescendingly point out the plaque, and say, "Go right ahead. We're a member of the BBB." It was a suggestive thing: he's pointed out the plaque, the customer is then hit with the idea that the store surely must have enough integrity to earn such a thing, and then assumes the battle is lost, and takes whatever the store offers.

Well, the manager was right--they were listed alright--several years before, and only still had the plaque.

Nothing would ever come of it, except another disgruntled customer, who hopefully spread their dissatisfaction by word of mouth about what kind of store this was if nothing else. If they contacted the BBB, the BBB never once came knocking. I can only assume that the managers use of power of suggestion worked and the customer was convinced that nothing would come of it and just let it go. I've seen it countless times.

Which is really disheartening because this particular chain is frequented by lower-moderate income families who want new furniture but don't have the cash to pay the prices of the truly good stuff; they also want/need it right now, so rather than put it on law away at the more reputable store, they get bamboozled into financing it through the "bad" store. So they get ripped off twice, really: crappy stuff, and they pay finance company interest rates (24%pa, or more) as well.
The sales people will point out that 'this sofa and that chair are made by Kroehler, which so-n-so store also carry. If you go to that store you'll find this exact same model, but for X$'s more'. True. But in so-n-so store, Kroehler might be their low end supplier which means that yes it's cheaper, but cheaper made than say, Lazy Boy.

Anyway, even with my employee discount, I never bought anything from the chain I worked for. And ever since watching the sales people work their persuasion, I do my own research when buying furniture, white goods, electronics.......cars.......and pay no attention to that plaque. As far as I'm concerned it's just decoration.

that of course, is just my experience with the BBB, from behind the cash register, and it's been a few years. things may have changed, but I'll pretend I'm from Missouri and insist on you showing me! lol

Regardless of the purchase, whether it's a house or housewares, do your research, and don't be a sucker for a "bargain". If it's too good to be true, then chances are it is.

Good luck!

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by tigerlillydownunder

The BBB. Don't swallow that one hook, line and sinker either.

Don't just go by the little plaque on the vendors wall that says they're a member of the BBB. It doesn't mean squat. Because the vendor essentially pays a membership fee; if they don't pay they're annual fee, they get removed as a member--but they still keep the plaque; the BBB doesn't ask for it back. It doesn't take much more than a little $$ to qualify as a member of the BBB. I mean there are some....criteria, that must be met, but it seemed pretty flimsy, and it's not like there is ever an audit or a follow up to make sure the company/store is doing the right thing by the paying customer.

I worked for a few years at a (I feel) disreputable mid-west large (there's a hint right there folks, if you watch their annoying commercials and browse the Sunday ad inserts) retail furniture chain that had said plaque on the wall. Everytime a customer came in (and rightfully so) unhappy with their service and/or product, they naturally would threaten to contact the BBB. Most people are all talk and no action, btw, and will just drop it rather than fight for what they've paid for.

The manager would just shrug, and condescendingly point out the plaque, and say, "Go right ahead. We're a member of the BBB." It was a suggestive thing: he's pointed out the plaque, the customer is then hit with the idea that the store surely must have enough integrity to earn such a thing, and then assumes the battle is lost, and takes whatever the store offers.

Well, the manager was right--they were listed alright--several years before, and only still had the plaque.

Nothing would ever come of it, except another disgruntled customer, who hopefully spread their dissatisfaction by word of mouth about what kind of store this was if nothing else. If they contacted the BBB, the BBB never once came knocking. I can only assume that the managers use of power of suggestion worked and the customer was convinced that nothing would come of it and just let it go. I've seen it countless times.

Which is really disheartening because this particular chain is frequented by lower-moderate income families who want new furniture but don't have the cash to pay the prices of the truly good stuff; they also want/need it right now, so rather than put it on law away at the more reputable store, they get bamboozled into financing it through the "bad" store. So they get ripped off twice, really: crappy stuff, and they pay finance company interest rates (24%pa, or more) as well.
The sales people will point out that 'this sofa and that chair are made by Kroehler, which so-n-so store also carry. If you go to that store you'll find this exact same model, but for X$'s more'. True. But in so-n-so store, Kroehler might be their low end supplier which means that yes it's cheaper, but cheaper made than say, Lazy Boy.

Anyway, even with my employee discount, I never bought anything from the chain I worked for. And ever since watching the sales people work their persuasion, I do my own research when buying furniture, white goods, electronics.......cars.......and pay no attention to that plaque. As far as I'm concerned it's just decoration.

that of course, is just my experience with the BBB, from behind the cash register, and it's been a few years. things may have changed, but I'll pretend I'm from Missouri and insist on you showing me! lol

Regardless of the purchase, whether it's a house or housewares, do your research, and don't be a sucker for a "bargain". If it's too good to be true, then chances are it is.

Good luck!

Was it Value city furniture?

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by missymomof3

Was it Value city furniture?

Why Missy, have you had dramas with them?

sounds like Ball Homes and VCF may have cornered the market with craptastic service and products.......

I've gone back and read what I posted--(sorry for going so far off topic, folks)--but I still maintain that the BBB doesn't necessarily hold up their end of the bargain when it comes to making sure paying customers get fair treatment.

So do definately research other consumer protection agencies and groups when you've been had.

Cheers!