Home Building Experience - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Blackthorn · 08-24-2007, 07:27 PM

I'm now in the process of contracting to build a home in my new city of Jacksonville Florida. The builder I have chosen as it turns out is more of a corporation than a homebuilder. Two times previously I have built homes with custom home builders and I have found that they love what they do. I was expecting this same level of service this rodeo (go round) but what I have found is that this builder is more willing to hose me than build me a home.

I'll name names later...

Do you have a good or bad home building experience?

FYI -- they want to charge me $60 for a soap dispenser in the kitchen sink that I don't need, don't want, and I'm telling them it's okay to leave out. That's not an option (eeehem...bullshit...eeehem....) I aint payin' no guvament price for no soap dispensuh!

Mister Coaster · 08-26-2007, 03:02 PM

We had a problem with our design center designer. First, we had to make an entire 2nd trip from California to Colorado just for the appointment because there was "just no way" to squeeze us in during out first trip to Co, despite having 3 full days in town to do so. When we did get back for the appointment, we felt rushed through the process, and when we were done, we left without getting copies of all of our choices. We even asked about it, "No, I have it all on my computer." she said.

Flash forward a few weeks, she contacts us, blaming us for taking all of her notes from our appointment because she cannot find our choices. "No, we left with nothing, you had it all on your computer, remember?" She still didn't beleive us and we had to piece together our choices via e-mail. We eventually had it all locked down and were forced to sign a fax of these choices.

When the house starts getting our stuff put in, there were several things wrong, and the builder was unwilling to make changes because we "signed off" on the choices. Turns out this same chick wrote down the wrong things on what we signed. We had to fight tooth and nail to get everything right, and this chick's boss FINALLY realized that she was to blame and made everything the way we wanted them in the first place. I could still tell by one of her comments that "This will not be a good house for us, but we'll make the changes anyway." Not a good house meaning they won't be making much money, well too fucking bad! Your absent-minded bitch of a designer was the one who fucked up at every turn (too many to actually list) so you eat the cost.

So my advise is never leave a meeting where decisions are made without getting copies of what was decided upon.

lcskumar · 08-27-2007, 05:18 AM

It is the fate that every one should face these problem while building house.Any way we have to compromise in some way to get our work completed.

EaseUp · 09-01-2007, 08:56 AM

I am undergoing massive problems of this nature right now. Our contractor appears honest, but our interior designer does not.

My advice is the following:

NEVER pay the entire amount until you are in agreement that the job is done to your satisfaction. Dole it out as you go along, and make them fix any problems before giving them the final payment.

Get a completion bond.

Be present at the construction site as close to constantly as you can.

If necessary, hire an expert to come in and review the progress on a regular basis. You will save twenty times what you would have had to pay to fix problems after construction has been done incorrectly. And don't let the person who fouled it up charge you to do it again--in fact, inform them that the additional costs will be borne by them. Be a little careful about that while construction is ongoing, because some of them will try to extort you by threatening to quit the project if you make them pay for THEIR mistakes. I've had to have a lawyer write a letter to subs who tried that.

I could go on and on, but I am presently fighting with the supply company who provided me with ten interior doors that don't match each other dimensionally, do not conform with their frames, and had sawdust accumulated in their grooves, which was just painted over at the factory. Plus, they were supposed to be treated, and one surface of them was not.

Edit: There is no way I would employ a person who is in another state than the one where the building is located. Too hard to come down on them if they screw it up.

tangledweb · 09-01-2007, 07:09 PM

I contracted my first home and learned my biggest lesson right out of the gate.

All decent subcontractors are hooked up with regular builders. The ones who aren't - usually suck. I wound up firing my drywall crew and had to finish the job myself. They filed a lean on my house and luckily I had photo documentation to back up my claim. I wired the house myself because no decent electric contractor would do the job for what I thought was a fair rate. The house wound up taking 9 months to build but in the end, I saved a bundle.

I hired a good contractor to build my next home and we put a 'ball-breaker' clause into my contract. I didn't break his balls every day (even though I quietly checked on his progress each day) and was generally easy to get along with. He wrote me a check for $11,000 when we closed and said it was worth every penny.

lcskumar · 09-02-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangledweb

I contracted my first home and learned my biggest lesson right out of the gate.

All decent subcontractors are hooked up with regular builders. The ones who aren't - usually suck. I wound up firing my drywall crew and had to finish the job myself. They filed a lean on my house and luckily I had photo documentation to back up my claim. I wired the house myself because no decent electric contractor would do the job for what I thought was a fair rate. The house wound up taking 9 months to build but in the end, I saved a bundle.

I hired a good contractor to build my next home and we put a 'ball-breaker' clause into my contract. I didn't break his balls every day (even though I quietly checked on his progress each day) and was generally easy to get along with. He wrote me a check for $11,000 when we closed and said it was worth every penny.

Very good practical advice to be followed by everyone.

08-24-2007, 07:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blackthorn Beware the Mad Irish Location: Wish I was on the N17...	Home Building Experience I'm now in the process of contracting to build a home in my new city of Jacksonville Florida. The builder I have chosen as it turns out is more of a corporation than a homebuilder. Two times previously I have built homes with custom home builders and I have found that they love what they do. I was expecting this same level of service this rodeo (go round) but what I have found is that this builder is more willing to hose me than build me a home. I'll name names later... Do you have a good or bad home building experience? FYI -- they want to charge me $60 for a soap dispenser in the kitchen sink that I don't need, don't want, and I'm telling them it's okay to leave out. That's not an option (eeehem...bullshit...eeehem....) I aint payin' no guvament price for no soap dispensuh! __________________ What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want?

08-26-2007, 03:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	We had a problem with our design center designer. First, we had to make an entire 2nd trip from California to Colorado just for the appointment because there was "just no way" to squeeze us in during out first trip to Co, despite having 3 full days in town to do so. When we did get back for the appointment, we felt rushed through the process, and when we were done, we left without getting copies of all of our choices. We even asked about it, "No, I have it all on my computer." she said. Flash forward a few weeks, she contacts us, blaming us for taking all of her notes from our appointment because she cannot find our choices. "No, we left with nothing, you had it all on your computer, remember?" She still didn't beleive us and we had to piece together our choices via e-mail. We eventually had it all locked down and were forced to sign a fax of these choices. When the house starts getting our stuff put in, there were several things wrong, and the builder was unwilling to make changes because we "signed off" on the choices. Turns out this same chick wrote down the wrong things on what we signed. We had to fight tooth and nail to get everything right, and this chick's boss FINALLY realized that she was to blame and made everything the way we wanted them in the first place. I could still tell by one of her comments that "This will not be a good house for us, but we'll make the changes anyway." Not a good house meaning they won't be making much money, well too fucking bad! Your absent-minded bitch of a designer was the one who fucked up at every turn (too many to actually list) so you eat the cost. So my advise is never leave a meeting where decisions are made without getting copies of what was decided upon. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

08-27-2007, 05:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
lcskumar Upright	It is the fate that every one should face these problem while building house.Any way we have to compromise in some way to get our work completed.

09-01-2007, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
EaseUp Upright Location: SoCal, beeyotch	I am undergoing massive problems of this nature right now. Our contractor appears honest, but our interior designer does not. My advice is the following: NEVER pay the entire amount until you are in agreement that the job is done to your satisfaction. Dole it out as you go along, and make them fix any problems before giving them the final payment. Get a completion bond. Be present at the construction site as close to constantly as you can. If necessary, hire an expert to come in and review the progress on a regular basis. You will save twenty times what you would have had to pay to fix problems after construction has been done incorrectly. And don't let the person who fouled it up charge you to do it again--in fact, inform them that the additional costs will be borne by them. Be a little careful about that while construction is ongoing, because some of them will try to extort you by threatening to quit the project if you make them pay for THEIR mistakes. I've had to have a lawyer write a letter to subs who tried that. I could go on and on, but I am presently fighting with the supply company who provided me with ten interior doors that don't match each other dimensionally, do not conform with their frames, and had sawdust accumulated in their grooves, which was just painted over at the factory. Plus, they were supposed to be treated, and one surface of them was not. Edit: There is no way I would employ a person who is in another state than the one where the building is located. Too hard to come down on them if they screw it up.

09-01-2007, 07:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
tangledweb slightly impaired Location: Down South	I contracted my first home and learned my biggest lesson right out of the gate. All decent subcontractors are hooked up with regular builders. The ones who aren't - usually suck. I wound up firing my drywall crew and had to finish the job myself. They filed a lean on my house and luckily I had photo documentation to back up my claim. I wired the house myself because no decent electric contractor would do the job for what I thought was a fair rate. The house wound up taking 9 months to build but in the end, I saved a bundle. I hired a good contractor to build my next home and we put a 'ball-breaker' clause into my contract. I didn't break his balls every day (even though I quietly checked on his progress each day) and was generally easy to get along with. He wrote me a check for $11,000 when we closed and said it was worth every penny.