Complaint Review: Jim Walter Homes - Hammond Louisiana

Soon after I retired from the 28 year military career, I made the decision to return home to Louisiana, get settled, and become the caregiver of my parents when the time came. I decided to buy the Cambridge Model, Regency series because of its up-scale quality and higher standards. That was in the fall of last year. After 3 months, the contract was finally ready for me to sign. Everything was transferred from Texas to Louisana but it wasn't until the beginning of April that a pre-construction survey was done.

On the 22nd of May, they started construction on the recently laid foundation. A bad dream turned into a nightmare after that! The lumber required for the Chadwick model was delivered! After straightening that mess out, the right lumber (but in insufficient quantities)was delivered. The specially made trusses for the Cambridge were not ordered with the other materials so that brought contruction to a standstill!

I decided to make a quick trip (8-9 hours driving) home to discuss the delay and to ensure that the rest of the materials were ordered and that they were fully aware of the options I selected. I was assured that everything was on-line now and I was further assured that I would be provided with frequent updates on the progress of the house. When I asked why weren't they ordered, the response was "We didn't want them laying around on the ground waiting to be installed". Watch what happens later in my story!

The trusses were finally delivered in June.Frequent rains contributed to a delay in construction but there were many days that the sun was shining bright and did not prevent working. For three weeks, no work was done on the house! The trusses, doors, and lumber lay exposed or partially exposed during this time. I inquired several times about the affects of the materials exposed to the weather, I was repeated assured that the rain would have no affect on the partially constructed building or the materials yet to be used.

One reason that halted construction was the problem in obtaining a cherry picker -- no, it was WHO was going to pay the rental of the cherry picker. The contractor commented that it would be me or Jim Walter Homes who would pay for the rental, not him! He made several other inappropriate comments to my brother (who I asked to watch construction until I could relocate) and, as a result, created an irreparable and tense environment!

Upon learning of this, I contacted the Regional Manager and expressed my absolute dissatisfaction with the inefficient business practices and substandard workmanship thus far. He assured me he would work more closely with the superintendent (of whom he admitted was "new" to the construction part of the company)and personally promised weekly updates hereafter. I thought everything would be okay. Read on, there's still more to the nightmare!

The contractor worked on the building but did so begrudingly and just slapped the house together. I know nothing about building a house, but I truly believe that I could have done a better job in measuring and cutting the materials. The siding was installed with huge gaps between sections and around the windows and eaves of the house. The worst grade lumber, full of knots and knotted holes were used throughout the house and on the porches. It is my understanding that the Regency Series requires upgraded materials. He braced the porches up with 4-5 pieces of scrap lumber instead of setting the frame in concrete. The contractor ran out of the upgraded insulation I requested, so he substituted the roofing felt in the front gable. He told my brother "That will work just as well as the insulation"!

On the 4th of July, he "wrapped" up his part of the construction and my brother witnessed him putting 8 rolls of roofing felt and the best of the lumber and treated wood that he had reserved for himself. The ceiling at the front porch was not even installed. Everything that could be wrong, was wrong.

I wrote a letter to the Regional Manager informing him that I would not accept a house constructed with substandard workmanship. I attached an 18 item list that my family EASILY identified. I also sent a letter, registered with return receipt requested, with the same attachments, to Tampa Florida.

So, here I am on the 8th of July, 24 days from permanent relocation and all I have is the exterior of the house partially (and pitifully) completed. I requested, in the very beginning, that the house be completed by the 31st of July. Everybody assured me that this date was achieveable. Now I will be completely displaced with 10,000 lbs of furniture coming and no home to put it in!

This is where I need the advice of those who have lived through this nightmare! I believe I need to hire an independent inspector to inspect the house at this phase of contruction to more easily identify structual deficiences and a follow-up inspection at the end. Now I am worried about finding a reputable inspector that I can trust! If anyone knows of an honest and thorough Louisiana inspector, I am open to recommendations.

I hold the superintendent responsible, in part, for this poorly constructed house. They are required, from my understanding, to inspect the construction (daily if not weekly). He has occasionally visited the site but quickly left before someone from the family could talk with him about the substandard construction. If he had done his job, perhaps the major problems in construction would have been corrected!

I fully expect more problems and I am convinced that I will end up in arbitration with Jim Walter Homes. I will go, with lawyer, documentation, and pictures in tow. I don't know if any of this will save me from this devestating situation; I don't know if there is enough to justify a breach of contract. I have wished a hundred times that I had never selected a Jim Walter Home. The biggest investment that a person makes in their life should not end up like this!

My advice to anyone considering a Jim Walter Home ... Don't think, for one second, that you situation will be any different. Don't think that you will not have these problems. If you are lucky enough, you MIGHT be the rare expection and not the rule!

Carolyn

San Antonio, Texas
U.S.A.

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