Nightmare on my street

[Geemoney]

My new dream home is quickly becoming a nightmare.
I choose what I thought was a reputable builder based on advertisement and personal observation of other new home construction in the area.
Heres the deal.
During framing the torrential rains of June made ponds on the upstairs floor. After drying out -colorful fungus has started to grow on some edges.
After starting to install the roof sheating I pointed out that it was not the radient barrier I had paid for -so it was removed and replaced.
They just installed the furnace unit in the attic and where the ceiling rafters meet their supporting members has bowed and shifted on one end -scary. Is a furnace that heavy or is the framework that bad?
I find it hard to believe this is a typical problem when I survey other homes under construction in the area and dont see this happening; Is this homesite jinxed? or just a luck of the draw.
The question is... Just how many "little problems" does someone encounter/put up with before backing out on a new home construction.
Is the builder committed to fixing them or just cover it with sheetrock, call it good and find another unsuspecting buyer.

Thanx for letting me vent but I need to know.

[Rich]

The contractor will typically do just enough to get the inspector to sign off on it... not my personal way of doing things.. but it happens none the less.
IMO a contractor is required to build a home on budget, on time, and at the quality specified. If no quailty has been specified it's implied that industry standard is followed.
A furnace is not that heavy where it would begin to bow a wall or even a single stud if blocking was placed correctly. It's hard to tell without being there to see the actual framing condition and what's happening - but IMO it shouldn't bow anything.. and if it is should be replaced/repaired.

[doyle]

Have you even talked with your builder yet? Perhaps he's using a new contractor and hasn't been made aware of any problems. I'm sure if he's reputable, he will promptly adress any issues you may have.

Having a home built is anything but a pleasant experience. You just have to tackle each little problem as they arise. I once refused to sign the papers at closing because one of my problems still wasn't solved. When they saw I wasn't bluffing, the builder was on the phone right away to get it fixed. I went ahead and signed the papers. Guess what? When I arrived at the new house with keys in hand, the repairs were just being completed.

Just be tough, and you'll get the house you want. If you're not keeping a daily journal of everything that's done to the house, things you see, and people you talk with, now is a good time to start. Photos on a daily basis are also a good idea.

[vtr99]

I would be interested to know how this story turned out. It seems we had problems every step of the way, so much so that I would have wrote off our initial investment of $13K had I known things would continue to go wrong. Contacting executives at our builder got some action, but it was very limited, and didn't really make our situation any better. Once you have a screwed up home, it will probably take much more than original cost of the specific area to properly repair. It may also be far more difficult to sell the home later. I wish I had read forums like this one before we started building.

[rabadger]

I got an e-mail the other day asking me how many drawing should go with specs should go in a full set of prints. That was the wrong question to ask me. I have been known to go a little heavy on planning things.

I told the guy that the reason I have never tried to build a home is because the prints and specs would end up costing me more than the home.

What are everyones recomendations on what to include in a full set of prints. When I do an HVAC design if there are three stories I draw three sheets and a sheet with the specs.

[Geemoney]

I am posting a followup.

It has been almost a year since my "experience" and I am still a little bitter about it.
We were at the buildsite every day taking pictures. (too often in the builders eyes)
After some more incidents/disagreements with this builder about constuction techniques I went "up the chain" and recieved a full refund of my monies.(backed out of the deal at the 8 weeks to completion)
It was unfortunate for the salesguy; who was not directly responsible for the problems -but wasnt helping to resolve my concerns.
In the end, when the house was completed (with all of our upgrades) the builder sold it for 15K more than what I paid.
(Why would the salesguy be concerned when he could sell it for more money and a larger commission.)
I ended up purchasing a new house in another neighborhood with less headaches so you might say that things worked out for the both of us.

"G"

[Cole]

Where in Texas are you located?

[Geemoney]

New Braunfels, Texas

"G"

[AustinRealEstate]

I know this is way way way late, but now we have the Texas Residential Construction Commission to protect buyers from this exact scenario and many others.

Search for TRCC and you'll find it.

joe