Complaint Review: Oakwood Homes

I was a single parent raising two teenagers trying to make ends meet and was going through a divorce when I found this manufactured home in 09/2001. I feel in love with it when I was only 3 feet in the door.

The home was set up on an Oakwood Homes dealership lot as a "lot model". It was a '2001' 28 x 48 Doublewide, 3 BR, 2 BA. and on sale from $42,000 down to $38,000.00 with everything included in the sale price (Delivery, Setup, A/C, Skirting,etc).

Well, I signed the 'contract to purchase', gave them a deposit towards the home and used my existing property as collateral for the down payment.

We moved into the our new home in 12/2001. I was on cloud nine. I felt that my bad luck was changing, the future was looking brigh and hopeful for a new beginning. Think again...........

Not two weeks living in the home, I noticed things happening. It was the start of a nightmare and I did'nt know it.

I had constant repairs the first year of occupancy. For example, the windows would not open/kitchen floor was bowing and raising up across the middle of the room/the floor under the refrigerator seemed to be sinking and tilting towards the floor marriage line.

The cabinet above the refrigerator was coming off one of the walls / when the A/C or the heat was on, it would create an air bubble under the linoleum the length of my kitchen floor.

The counter top that surrounds the sunk in tub seemed to be pulling away from the outter wall creating a gap/shower door was not plumb so it would'nt shut right, it was also installed backwards.

I could go on and on, but what it really came down to is that my beautiful dream, my future was a ticking time bomb!!!

I found out the truth, little by little starting about 9 months ago around 09/2003 when the actual damage started to reveal it self.

The exterior walls are pulling away from interior walls. The walls, window frames and molding are buckling under stress. I'm still waiting for the day when one of the window glass panes either breaks or shatters(I pray there won't be anyone near it if and when that happens).

There is a gully or pot hole forming under one of the kitchen cabinets. The ceiling seems to be lifting off the top of the interior supporting walls and there are gaps and cracks forming throughout interior and exterior of home,

The exterior walls had dropped @ least 1/4" (to date, approx. 1" so far), the interior ceiling marriage line seemed to be pulling apart, the counter top in the kitchen was forming a crack in it and both ends of the home were also starting to sag downward.

I could go on and on, but what it really came down to is that my beautiful dream, my future was a ticking time bomb!!!

I found out the truth, little by little starting about 9 months ago around 09/2003 of what is actually wrong with my home.

I had made numerous attempts to get a technician to come out from thier warranty company to inspect my home. They stated they normally don't perform any further work to these homes after the first year warranty was up. But, I was persistant.

The conclusion of the inspection in 12/2003 was that the home was not manufactured properly and up to standards.

It was manufactured without the required outriggers needed to support the weight of the exterior walls(this is mentioned on Oakwoods website under thier standards features). There is no support for the exterior walls approx. 30" from the frame to the edge of the exterior wall.

This should have been noticed or questioned by the setup company who then should have taken the initiative and/or the responsibility by perimeter blocking to avoid this issue. Also, there is the lack of piers and footings needed for the PSF load and tiedowns.

The frame rails(I-Beams)in both halves are twisting due to the lack of 'c-channels' required for the adequate support needed.

When the trim was removed off the interior ceiling marriage line where both halves are connected where it splits the living room and kitchen by a hallway, it was revealed the roof is gapped open 1 1/2". You can see up to the roofing underlayment thats installed under the shingles.

Also, there is only ONE lagscrew visable in that particular 8' area(should be 2, one on each side 16" on center)and it is not even attached to the opposite side due to the opposite mating beam is split and broken.

The set up company also forgot the ridge cap installation on the roof. Now the interior walls along the marriage line are getting damaged when it rains.

Per the damage in the kitchen, that is due to the 2 x 6 connection floor joists are split in half and broken due to the set up crew over tightening lagbolts and not using the correct materials needed.

This home is a total loss due to the extensive damage that it has by the setup company (Jorge De La Rocha Movers) not properly setting up the home according to Arizona statutes and regulations and that it was not manufactured correctly by Oakwood/Schult Homes.

Now, I have had the Svc. Mgr. from the Buckeye, AZ plant out here and he gave me some story that I did not install the dryer vent correctly and I have voided the '5 Year Frame/Structural Warranty' they offer you.

I advised him that I was not an 'IDIOT'. There is no way that an improper installed dryer vent is doing this. Each half of the doublewide is sealed with its own sheet of Visqueen and how could moisture get into the other half and that it was just a cop out so they would'nt have to deal with it.

Well, he (Rick Schultis) and the Gen. Mgr. Lionel Clark of the Buckeye plant have stuck to there story. I voided my 5 Yr warranty due to I improperly installed the dryer vent and that is what is going on with my home. HA-HA-HA !!!

I have a extensive written and illustrated 50 page report from 'Rimkus Consulting Group' out of Phoenix, AZ that my Insurance company had done for me(due to they denied my insurance claim)that verifies and clearly states the extensive damage to this home was the cause of the manufacturer and the set up crew and not an improper installed dryer vent.

In the hell that I have been through, I had also revealed that I have a '2000' year home, not a what I thought I had purchased and further more, this piece of junk that I am paying $43,000 for not $38,000 as promised was used as a 'SHOW HOME'.

This thing was carted around from lot to lot, home show to home show. Who knows how many times it was put together and taken apart. It looks like swiss cheese on the mating parts that are visable.

I also have (3) different serial numbers on (3) different copies of my contract. The dealer (Forrest Ross, Mgr.)where I had purchased the home fraudulently submitted my signature with new contracts I did not sign.

This situation is one big Cluster!!!!!! I am so furious that they had and still are taken advantage of not only myself, but so many other individuals. They promise you the world and fill you with hopes and dreams, then they ripe them right out of your hands.

I've gone through all the proper channels with my complaint against these (3) individuals and companies.

The Assistant to the Attorney General
The Dept. of Manufactured Housing
The Better Business Bureau
My Insurance Company, American Family Insurance
Their Insurance Comapny, American Bankers

I have either been told that I did not have insurance at the date of loss, or I'm out of my first warranty, or they do not have jurisdiction over manufactured homes ??? or we are just the mediator to resolve this issue.

All of them state 'sorry about your luck'. Well I'm sorry to that I ever stepped foot onto an Oakwood Homes Dealership. I am not giving up. I will get them to pay even if it takes 1 month, 1 year, I don't care. They have to pay for what they have done do our lifes.

I have possibly 6 more months in my home. Once the Arizona monsoons hit, it will be all over with. My home, my dream everything, gone. I have lost my job over this, I have no money to fix this home, no money to have an attorney. They all state I have a good lawsuit but they need cash upfront to start the paperwork and to find out who is responsible.

I know who is responsible and I want justice. I'm tired of the run around. I'm sick of all of our resources that are there to protect us as consumers stating 'sorry, we can't help you'.

I have been down to our "Legal Aid" office for help to file a lawsuit against all of them. I had a glimmer of hope from a 'staff attorney' there. I hope that I will not be shot down again. I don't think I can take this to much longer.

My own Mortgage Company, Washington Mutual won't even step in. They just want to know when I am going to send my payment in.

It's as if no one gives a d**n.

I will update this regarding my situation and the out come of Legal Aid. But, please everyone that has gone through this hell with Oakwood Homes, don't let them get away with this. Tell everyone you can not to ever deal with this comapny or any of thier affiliates.

Thank you for reading my Rip Off Report and Good Luck to all of you.

Virginia
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.

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