What should I do? Please help!!! (LONG read)
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:36 am
Hi,
My wife and I have been looking for a new home since November 2005. We were looking for modular, but just could not find anything that met our needs within our immediate price range.
Last May, we finally found a house we fell in love with. It was a manufactured home, but it fit our needs so well, we couldn't pass it up. It was a Horton KCP something or another. I don't remember the exact model name/number. The house is 27x76. The salesman set up an order form, spec'd out to our liking, and we were really excited, because this is our first time buying.
Then the whole thing turned into a nightmare! First off, as we later found out, the house wasn't actually ordered until a full month after we signed the order sheet. Okay, fine. Problem was, we waited, waited, and waited some more, and no house. Now, I'm a very realistic person. I know that some problems are inevitable and things happen sometimes that are really out of anyone's control, but after a while, something just seemed wrong. The salesman, who also happened to be running the lot on an interim basis, constantly tried to pacify us with the whole 9 yards a generic salesman will typically do. It was always, "I called the plant, and it's supposed to ship out either today or tomorrow." or something along those lines. This went on and on. As first time buyers, we were trying to be understanding and patient, so whatever. Then, the next thing we know, we're hearing, "They finished the house, but the inspector stopped it and wouldn't let it ship out, because it has a 5/12 roof pitch, and you can't have a 5/12 on this house in a zone II."
Now, before I go any further, I'm in NC and I have since asked other dealers about this, without letting them know the real reason I was asking, and they have all told me that a 5/12 can be on a manufactured home in zone II areas. I have yet to see anything official (HUD regulations, etc.), where I can come back and prove that I was lied to, so if anyone knows where I can get hard information on this let me know. I've checked the HUD website and couldn't really find anything conclusive.
Okay, so now they're putting a 4/12 roof on the house. Fine. The salesman informs me that because of the mix-up, they'd be taking $2600 off the price. Whatever. Just get me my house please!
Okay, so the house finally comes in during the first of August, close to 2 months after it was ordered and close to 3 months after we requested it be ordered. It comes in, and it sits on the lot. And sits, and sits. All the while, it's hurricane season here, and sure enough, one comes through mid-August. We are assured that the house is secured and wrapped up tight. I know that some water and/or moisture has to be inevitable, but I try to have faith in the whole process. That's what these people do for a living, right?
Well, after the storm blows through, the house sits there for about another week or two, this time because he "can't find anyone who will show up to do the set-up, or anything for that matter." He constantly eluded to the fact that I work in the construction industry, and that "I should know how those contractors are." or "I know how it is..." No, I don't. When something's in a contract, either the work's done when it's supposed to be done or somebody else will be glad to get the business.
Then at the very end of August, after all the waiting, all of a sudden I get a call saying that somebody's gonna set it up and they're starting on it tomorrow. It happened very fast, almost suspiciously fast. They haul the house to my lot and start setting it up. My wife and I went out there one day after the crew had left for the day and, not having a key, took a look-see in through the windows. We look in one of the back bedroom windows, into the room that our 5-year old son had already claimed, and see what looks like sponge painting on the wall. Guess what that was? Nothing but pure mold. Big black and dark green splotches everywhere in that room.
Okay, this is a whole other beast altogether. I found out later that the setup crew saw it when they were putting the house together and alerted the salesman. But did he stop it? No, they kept right on with the setup. I called him the very next morning and he already knew about it, claiming that he was a "step ahead of me" and they would take care of it. I really think that had we not seen it ourselves, he would've tried to cover it up, which he claimed the setup crew suggested he do. But, that's all hearsay, and I have no proof of that. But, what I do know, is that I have a pregnant wife and a disabled child, who also happens to be asthmatic, and a new house full of mold. This isn't gonna work.
I was concerned that, because the house had been put together already, that the mold would spread, and even worse, maybe jump to the front half of the house. By the time they got a professional (who I had to find myself, by the way) to look at the mold, it had indeed spread and jumped to the studs in the front part of the house.
At that point, rather than replacing the house and dealing with the moldy one on their own time, they went to the insurance company to try to get my house either replaced or fixed.
Fast forward to now, the second week of January 2006. I got a call over the weekend from the lot manager. I asked him several weeks ago, "What are you going to do for me for jerking me and my family around like this." He told me this weekend that the person doing the repairs and mold remediation was ready to get to work and wanted to meet with me to discuss the whole thing. The lot manager or owner or whatever he is, is who I've been dealing with directly for the past several months. The original salesman won't even call me anymore!
Here's the deal. We were given a price on this house when we first started. We got them down on our own only about 6 or 7 thousand. Now, he's saying that they'd give me another 8 thousand off, 2 of which would be indirectly through the insurance company. I really don't feel like they're making as good an effort as they should for all the mess that they've put me and my family through. We haven't signed anything, and no money has changed hands because we took care of our own financing. My family has been living out of boxes for the past 6 months because as soon as the house showed up, we got ready to move. I've paid money on rent and storage that I'll never see again. And in general, our lives have been made pretty miserable by the whole experience. But, this is the house we wanted to begin with, and if we were to find a different house, we would always be a little bitter about not having the one of our choice. It's on our land already, and it's put together. If they can make the house right and guarantee the mold remediation in writing, I might deal with them. But to me, 8 thousand isn't cutting it for what they've put us through. I'm calling to set up a sit down meeting so we can discuss numbers. WHAT SHOULD I DO???!!! How much do you think I'm entitled to ask for? I know they can't give me the house for nothing, but at the same time, I've got to look after my family and make sure we get what we deserve.
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read, but hey, it's a long story.
My wife and I have been looking for a new home since November 2005. We were looking for modular, but just could not find anything that met our needs within our immediate price range.
Last May, we finally found a house we fell in love with. It was a manufactured home, but it fit our needs so well, we couldn't pass it up. It was a Horton KCP something or another. I don't remember the exact model name/number. The house is 27x76. The salesman set up an order form, spec'd out to our liking, and we were really excited, because this is our first time buying.
Then the whole thing turned into a nightmare! First off, as we later found out, the house wasn't actually ordered until a full month after we signed the order sheet. Okay, fine. Problem was, we waited, waited, and waited some more, and no house. Now, I'm a very realistic person. I know that some problems are inevitable and things happen sometimes that are really out of anyone's control, but after a while, something just seemed wrong. The salesman, who also happened to be running the lot on an interim basis, constantly tried to pacify us with the whole 9 yards a generic salesman will typically do. It was always, "I called the plant, and it's supposed to ship out either today or tomorrow." or something along those lines. This went on and on. As first time buyers, we were trying to be understanding and patient, so whatever. Then, the next thing we know, we're hearing, "They finished the house, but the inspector stopped it and wouldn't let it ship out, because it has a 5/12 roof pitch, and you can't have a 5/12 on this house in a zone II."
Now, before I go any further, I'm in NC and I have since asked other dealers about this, without letting them know the real reason I was asking, and they have all told me that a 5/12 can be on a manufactured home in zone II areas. I have yet to see anything official (HUD regulations, etc.), where I can come back and prove that I was lied to, so if anyone knows where I can get hard information on this let me know. I've checked the HUD website and couldn't really find anything conclusive.
Okay, so now they're putting a 4/12 roof on the house. Fine. The salesman informs me that because of the mix-up, they'd be taking $2600 off the price. Whatever. Just get me my house please!
Okay, so the house finally comes in during the first of August, close to 2 months after it was ordered and close to 3 months after we requested it be ordered. It comes in, and it sits on the lot. And sits, and sits. All the while, it's hurricane season here, and sure enough, one comes through mid-August. We are assured that the house is secured and wrapped up tight. I know that some water and/or moisture has to be inevitable, but I try to have faith in the whole process. That's what these people do for a living, right?
Well, after the storm blows through, the house sits there for about another week or two, this time because he "can't find anyone who will show up to do the set-up, or anything for that matter." He constantly eluded to the fact that I work in the construction industry, and that "I should know how those contractors are." or "I know how it is..." No, I don't. When something's in a contract, either the work's done when it's supposed to be done or somebody else will be glad to get the business.
Then at the very end of August, after all the waiting, all of a sudden I get a call saying that somebody's gonna set it up and they're starting on it tomorrow. It happened very fast, almost suspiciously fast. They haul the house to my lot and start setting it up. My wife and I went out there one day after the crew had left for the day and, not having a key, took a look-see in through the windows. We look in one of the back bedroom windows, into the room that our 5-year old son had already claimed, and see what looks like sponge painting on the wall. Guess what that was? Nothing but pure mold. Big black and dark green splotches everywhere in that room.
Okay, this is a whole other beast altogether. I found out later that the setup crew saw it when they were putting the house together and alerted the salesman. But did he stop it? No, they kept right on with the setup. I called him the very next morning and he already knew about it, claiming that he was a "step ahead of me" and they would take care of it. I really think that had we not seen it ourselves, he would've tried to cover it up, which he claimed the setup crew suggested he do. But, that's all hearsay, and I have no proof of that. But, what I do know, is that I have a pregnant wife and a disabled child, who also happens to be asthmatic, and a new house full of mold. This isn't gonna work.
I was concerned that, because the house had been put together already, that the mold would spread, and even worse, maybe jump to the front half of the house. By the time they got a professional (who I had to find myself, by the way) to look at the mold, it had indeed spread and jumped to the studs in the front part of the house.
At that point, rather than replacing the house and dealing with the moldy one on their own time, they went to the insurance company to try to get my house either replaced or fixed.
Fast forward to now, the second week of January 2006. I got a call over the weekend from the lot manager. I asked him several weeks ago, "What are you going to do for me for jerking me and my family around like this." He told me this weekend that the person doing the repairs and mold remediation was ready to get to work and wanted to meet with me to discuss the whole thing. The lot manager or owner or whatever he is, is who I've been dealing with directly for the past several months. The original salesman won't even call me anymore!
Here's the deal. We were given a price on this house when we first started. We got them down on our own only about 6 or 7 thousand. Now, he's saying that they'd give me another 8 thousand off, 2 of which would be indirectly through the insurance company. I really don't feel like they're making as good an effort as they should for all the mess that they've put me and my family through. We haven't signed anything, and no money has changed hands because we took care of our own financing. My family has been living out of boxes for the past 6 months because as soon as the house showed up, we got ready to move. I've paid money on rent and storage that I'll never see again. And in general, our lives have been made pretty miserable by the whole experience. But, this is the house we wanted to begin with, and if we were to find a different house, we would always be a little bitter about not having the one of our choice. It's on our land already, and it's put together. If they can make the house right and guarantee the mold remediation in writing, I might deal with them. But to me, 8 thousand isn't cutting it for what they've put us through. I'm calling to set up a sit down meeting so we can discuss numbers. WHAT SHOULD I DO???!!! How much do you think I'm entitled to ask for? I know they can't give me the house for nothing, but at the same time, I've got to look after my family and make sure we get what we deserve.
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read, but hey, it's a long story.