delivery nightmare

[christina]

We ordered a modular and they attempted to deliver it on two trucks on June 2. It is a rural area and 10 miles away from site they realized they could not go any fruther. They unloaded my home on DEP property - (we were notified of this after the fact). Ten days later it is still sitting there, the windows and doors have been broken. THe builder gave us a new delivery date of June 14, only to call us the evening of the 13th and tell us that the foundation plates were not installed at the site andhe can't deliver until the week of June 19th. Also we have to pay an additional $1500 to install these plates. According the the foundation people the plates are part of the set up and not our responsibility. Can someone help? I want my house, fixed and delivered. Is the builder telling us the truth - what are our options. This has been a horrible exp. I'm sorry for the run on letter but I am vibrating right now just trying to get my house. Thank you for your assitance.

[rmurray]

The seal plates probably are a required part of the foundation of any modular home...I cannot begin to think about a dealer off loading a modular directly onto the ground on someone else's property without permission..My guess is that the builder/dealer is out of money...He should be responsible for the damages to the home....He obviously did not have a construction manager who inspected the site and access prior to delivery....Who paid the crane operator to off load the home...This would have cost about $1500.00,,,Maybe the dealer is trying to recover this expense..Your story only points out that modular buyers should be very careful about the builder/dealer they are dealing with...This one does not seem very experienced..and is using inexperienced contract crews..There is no government agency who will help you....You should very soon talk to a local attorney skilled in construction law...Also you should contact your construction mortgage company ASAP about the situation...Be sure they do not advance another draw to the dealer before the home is properly on the foundation...

[christina]

Thank you for your reply. We did find out that in an attempt to save $ our builder told the shippers two trucks rather than four were fine. My home is on state property that belongs to the Dept of Enviromental Protection but they want it out of there. We feel like we are totally lost in this. We've contacted everyone. He has promised to repair the home. His plan is to deliver the pieces to our property but the set up will not take place until a few days later. In desperation to finish this my husband told the foundation people to install the plates and we would pay. I felt all along that this was a ploy by the builder to recoup some of his losses.
I really do not want a broken unassembled house sitting on my property. Do I have to accept this?
Thank you again it's wonderful to know that information is out there.
Christina

[rmurray]

You ask "Do I have to accept this? "...No one here can answer this since none of us have seen the documents you and the dealer have signed...If you closed a construction loan at an attorneys office you might want to call him and ask for a consultation..There will be a small fee ($100 or so) but it is very small next to the tens of thousands in problems that could happen..If you get nothing else from these groups...Get the point that you need local legal advice...

Understand the home now is not yet yours..that is the dealers home sitting on the state land. If they want to pick a fight..it will be with him...Before you allow this home on your land you should have the consultation with the local attorney...Make this step your highest priority..