palm harbor

[le]

In November of 2000, I purchased a home from Palm Harbor Village, 6317 E. Ben White, Austin, Texas. This is a five bedroom, 4 bath, living, dining, family room.

We moved into the home in March 2001 and to say I am unhappy with the workmanship would be an understatement. I had kitchen drawers with only a few screws holding the sliders in, causing the drawers to fall out. I had kitchen cabinets where the glass fell out. The first time this happened and the counter was marred we requested they be inspected and repaired. Someone did come to check the doors, but in July 2001, it happened again and this time my granddaughter was injured by the falling glass and required stitches in her forehead. We have screens that have holes in them and a door screen where the screening keeps pulling away from the frame. Several of the windows stick constantly and one cannot even be opened. The sink behind the laundry room tub had no caulking and the water was running down the wall. Carpets are fraying at doors and entrances because they have no plates, they are just nailed to the floor. When I asked about this I was told that was the way it was done. The seams in all the carpets throughout the house began to show after three months and are getting worse. The door jam plates are falling off. The pieces that keep the doors from closing too far have fallen off. The entrance to the crawlspace under the house is at the far end of the structure, at the opposite end from where the plumbing, electrical or phone lines are located. This means that anyone who needs access must crawl the entire length of the house. On April 10, 2002 it was discovered that the Siesco waterheater had a crack and was no longer working. Palm Harbor installed this water heater. The plumber installing the new one turned off the breakers (4 of them) but when he starting working he was shocked and knocked off the ladder (220 line) Why? Because the breaker box is labeled incorrectly!! . Because of all of the above, what should have been and exciting experience for my family has been spoiled by unhappiness and distress and constant anxiety as to what is going to go wrong next.

[Misty Meiss]

Hi. I bought my mb home in July of 2001. It was new. I got it from Oak Creek Village AKA Advantage Housing. We still don't have front door keys. We never received our deck that we were promised. The house has mold and they left anti-freeze in our pipes, which made stuff pour out onto my floor. My house is a piece of junk.

We've been trying to get something done. By law, you are entitled to 3 times your damages (including the house's total price), attorney fees, and court costs. Most attornies do not take on thes cases. You pretty much have to do it yourself.

The good part is that you can hit all three companies--the manufacturer, the dealer, and the MORTGAGE COMPANY! They are jointly and severly bound because they did business together. Type a letter to each telling them they have 30 days to settle and tell them what you want. In my case, I'm asking to settle with each for $180,000.00 a piece, because they will have to pay much more in court. You can include gross negligence, because they know of the problems and won't help. You can also get punitive damages. I have a 2 yr old. If she's a single mom, that will help--since a child is involved. This sucks but can turn into an eventual blessing.

EMAIL me at [email protected] if you need more info. By the way, list all problems in your letter. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested. Give them 30 days from the date they received it to respond. Keep the green receipt whenever it's mailed back to you.

Sincerely,
Misty Meiss

[Kathy Mulford]

David , i have a private septic tank and 900 feet of curtain drain also . there was holes in the black pipe coming from into the ease pipes ther is holes in them letting water under the home also a hole in the foundnation any way my husband took them out let the rain go thur out on the ground . But the water is still coming under the home . A cement block has a hole in it and they did not seal it back up right . we have a electric line out of its conduit . under ther also . now the county sent us a letter the guy did not get the permit and finsh the work and he has til 5-17-2002 or it will be disapproved and a 200.00 permit needs to be bought again ...
The factory came out made the roof vent higher .It did not make the Feces smell go away still there . My Dr says move i have been in the hospital with asthma .
I got a letter from Hud the palm harbor in ohio has 25 days to comply that wa april 25 . i have not heard from them at all .. I bet i do not either ....
Does any one have a good lawyer i need one . i would like to know why my clinton county , ohio did not check all this out before we moved in and our insurance company also ... Does any one have any ideas ????
Kathy

[David Oxhandler]

Kathy -

Each of the problems you listed are installation problems... the way the eclectic and septic were attached to your Palm Harbor are NOT facotry related.. What problems have you had with the home itself ? The septic tank and eclectic hook up and the associated pipes were not made by or supplied by the Palm Harbor factory.... If you ever hope to get your problems resolved you better isolate the true suppliers of your problems...

Misty -

Your problems didn't sound like they come form the factory either... passing the door keys on to you and correct set up of the home (anti freeze problem) are responsibility of the dealer and/or installer. If the local Chevy dealers looses your keys and puts fluids in the wrong places in the car was the car defective or was it wrecked by poor service ?

The dealer, bank, builder and installer are not one in the same. If your trying to get the factory to correct these problems you will continue to be frustrated. Identify the real cause of the problem and go after the operators that caused your problems.

Contact the agency that regulates manufactured housing in your state. You can find the contact information for that agency on our site at www.manufactured-housing.net/saa

Please let us know how you make out. Good Luck.