Friday, August 15, 2008
List of Outlets Pursued
I have called the Carver County building inspector, I have called the city; I have called in three independent contractors, two of which came out and met me informing me it's not my landscaping or my problem. I called my mortgage company to see if they would assist in this battle, of which they replied with, "it's not our problem". I have met with the site manager, Sean from Brandl Anderson who never saw this stucco product before and says they don't use it anymore. I have attempted to meet with and speak with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Brandl, I have sought outside legal council. I have patiently attempted working with Peg the office manager at Brandl Anderson, who recently informed me that they were meeting with the "owner" of metro home waterproofing; however when I called and asked to speak with the "owner" I was informed that the company was corporate and did not have an owner, their president resides in Illinois and she said there is no way Brandl Anderson had a meeting with their president yesterday. I have met with Adam from Metro Home Waterproofing, who said himself that this is not my problem and he has been trying to tell Brandl Anderson that they need a second drain tile and drip edge for three years (my home was built two years ago). Brandl Anderson has done nothing but try to prolong doing anything about this problem and refuses to address the issue; they have lied and manipulated the situation giving me lie after lie about this issue. How can I trust them? How can we trust any construction company when they play hardball and prolong issues hoping disgruntled homeowners will just go away and get tired of complaining with very little result?
Background Information
The story begins with my husband and I stumbling across a spec home already built by Brandl Anderson, the home is a split level home that was everything we were looking for and only 26 miles from Minneapolis. I instantly loved that it was a corner lot with plenty of backyard room for our dogs to run and play. My husband and I purchased the home and when we went through our final walk-through everything was great, Chuck the site manager was great, he made note of things and helped us find areas needing repair. My husband and I thought, great....this is our dream starter home and everything was going smoothly untill three months after we took ownership of the home.
A squeek developed in the main bathtub, so whenever someone took a shower and stepped on that one spot, the tub would bellow a loud squeeking noise, like you'd hear at grandma's house! I made note of it and planned to call Brandl Anderson about it; then the stucco material on the outside of the home began peeling off. I called Brandl Anderson, they noted it and said they would send someone out; three weeks later we came home and the outside was freshly plastered. I received a call that the plumber would be out to look at the tub; when the plumber came out he informed me it was a subfloor issue. I called Brandl Anderson and they sent out a subflooring contractor, who then told me after being there all of five minutes that it was definitely a plumbing issue. After much anger and frustration, I called Brandl Anderson yet again to inform them of the issue, a month or so later they called and said they would have both the plumber and subfloor guy meet at my home, by this time it was July and my husband was home for 10 days, the meeting happened to fall on this particular week and he had to meet with the two contractors. Both contractors blamed each other and after several minutes agreed that expanding foam under the tub would be the best way to go. However, neither contractor had the foam, my husband had a small container with expanding foam used to insulate windows leftover, so he offered his foam. We waited the required amount of time and yet the foam did not fix the issue. I called Brandl yet again and explained my dismay at the unproductive meeting and asked they send a contractor to fix the issue. About three weeks later, they sent out Tub Doctor, the contractor from Tub Doctor said he did not know why they didn't call him out sooner, he was there for 30 minutes, put some more foam in the correct areas and said if I had any further problems to call him directly. FINALLY, relief, the tub was fixed.
Over the course of a year and a half the stucco has been falling off our home, the worst months are spring and fall. The builder continually blames us (the homeowner) even though we put rock around our home to prevent water from sitting up against the house, like we were advised initially. We have installed gutters to prevent this problem and continually the builder finds new excuses to avoid fixing the problem. Now, it's August, I have been in consistent contact with the builder since April regarding this issue as I refuse to live with this. I have met with several contractors both builder provided and independent regarding this issue. I had a meeting with Adam from Metro Home Waterproofing who is the job supervisor to discuss the supposed landscape issue Brandl Anderson says we have around our home and he told me directly that our landscaping is fine. He informed me that Brandl Anderson was told 3 years ago to install a second drain tile and drip edge as the area the homes are built on is clay and retains water easily. Brandl Anderson refuses to install a second drain tile and drip edge and continues to put me off; secondly, my neighbor is having the same problem and was having this problem before the rock edging as well and I was informed that other people in the neighborhood have had this problem and were able to get it fixed. Now I know the housing market is bad right now and the builders are suffering, but that is no reason to try to duck out of poor products and poor workmanship. Sean who is Brandl Anderson's site manager informed me that he has never seen this product before as they no longer use it on their newer homes.
Now, another problem that has developed is water in my basement; after meeting with Adam the siding/ waterproofing contractor and Scottie the foundation guy, both of which said they didn't install the foundation in my home, have no idea what is causing water to come up through the cement floor and run across my cement basement (luckily unfinished). After twenty minutes of scratching their heads and looking at the sump pump, Scottie discovered that no holes were ever put in the sump pump catch basket, so basically water has been compiling under my home for over 1.5 yrs. Brandl Anderson has been slowly willing to fix this issue, because they know they screwed up; however they have not ever attempted to compromise or work with me regarding this stucco issue.
When I asked the office manager to set up a meeting with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Brandl, she responded with "Mr Anderson and Mr Brandl have no interest in meeting with you or speaking with you regarding your home issues" (P. Cowart, Brandl Anderson Homes). What kind of company tells their customer's that problems are their fault? What kind of company won't even agree to meet with the customer in-person or by phone?
The reason behind this blog is to educate other potential home buyers and/or make some noise by speaking my mind about this company. I may be stuck in a home that has been nothing but nightmares for me, and Brandl Anderson may just think I will get tired and go away; I am here to speak my mind and show them how wrong they are!
A squeek developed in the main bathtub, so whenever someone took a shower and stepped on that one spot, the tub would bellow a loud squeeking noise, like you'd hear at grandma's house! I made note of it and planned to call Brandl Anderson about it; then the stucco material on the outside of the home began peeling off. I called Brandl Anderson, they noted it and said they would send someone out; three weeks later we came home and the outside was freshly plastered. I received a call that the plumber would be out to look at the tub; when the plumber came out he informed me it was a subfloor issue. I called Brandl Anderson and they sent out a subflooring contractor, who then told me after being there all of five minutes that it was definitely a plumbing issue. After much anger and frustration, I called Brandl Anderson yet again to inform them of the issue, a month or so later they called and said they would have both the plumber and subfloor guy meet at my home, by this time it was July and my husband was home for 10 days, the meeting happened to fall on this particular week and he had to meet with the two contractors. Both contractors blamed each other and after several minutes agreed that expanding foam under the tub would be the best way to go. However, neither contractor had the foam, my husband had a small container with expanding foam used to insulate windows leftover, so he offered his foam. We waited the required amount of time and yet the foam did not fix the issue. I called Brandl yet again and explained my dismay at the unproductive meeting and asked they send a contractor to fix the issue. About three weeks later, they sent out Tub Doctor, the contractor from Tub Doctor said he did not know why they didn't call him out sooner, he was there for 30 minutes, put some more foam in the correct areas and said if I had any further problems to call him directly. FINALLY, relief, the tub was fixed.
Over the course of a year and a half the stucco has been falling off our home, the worst months are spring and fall. The builder continually blames us (the homeowner) even though we put rock around our home to prevent water from sitting up against the house, like we were advised initially. We have installed gutters to prevent this problem and continually the builder finds new excuses to avoid fixing the problem. Now, it's August, I have been in consistent contact with the builder since April regarding this issue as I refuse to live with this. I have met with several contractors both builder provided and independent regarding this issue. I had a meeting with Adam from Metro Home Waterproofing who is the job supervisor to discuss the supposed landscape issue Brandl Anderson says we have around our home and he told me directly that our landscaping is fine. He informed me that Brandl Anderson was told 3 years ago to install a second drain tile and drip edge as the area the homes are built on is clay and retains water easily. Brandl Anderson refuses to install a second drain tile and drip edge and continues to put me off; secondly, my neighbor is having the same problem and was having this problem before the rock edging as well and I was informed that other people in the neighborhood have had this problem and were able to get it fixed. Now I know the housing market is bad right now and the builders are suffering, but that is no reason to try to duck out of poor products and poor workmanship. Sean who is Brandl Anderson's site manager informed me that he has never seen this product before as they no longer use it on their newer homes.
Now, another problem that has developed is water in my basement; after meeting with Adam the siding/ waterproofing contractor and Scottie the foundation guy, both of which said they didn't install the foundation in my home, have no idea what is causing water to come up through the cement floor and run across my cement basement (luckily unfinished). After twenty minutes of scratching their heads and looking at the sump pump, Scottie discovered that no holes were ever put in the sump pump catch basket, so basically water has been compiling under my home for over 1.5 yrs. Brandl Anderson has been slowly willing to fix this issue, because they know they screwed up; however they have not ever attempted to compromise or work with me regarding this stucco issue.
When I asked the office manager to set up a meeting with Mr. Anderson and Mr. Brandl, she responded with "Mr Anderson and Mr Brandl have no interest in meeting with you or speaking with you regarding your home issues" (P. Cowart, Brandl Anderson Homes). What kind of company tells their customer's that problems are their fault? What kind of company won't even agree to meet with the customer in-person or by phone?
The reason behind this blog is to educate other potential home buyers and/or make some noise by speaking my mind about this company. I may be stuck in a home that has been nothing but nightmares for me, and Brandl Anderson may just think I will get tired and go away; I am here to speak my mind and show them how wrong they are!
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