Two Veterans Experience
with Buying a House from Pulte Homes by John and Cynthia Daugherty
The updated web page has been delayed several times for numerous reasons -- my apologies to all who have contacted us -- it will be ready in two weeks. Thank you for your patience.
Attention all Pulte homeowners (AND PERSPECTIVE BUYERS) -- WHEN THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS, WE LISTEN!
"You really can't tell because all you're seeing is the cosmetic finishes, which doesn't really make a good house. That's where a lot of people go wrong. They think that the cosmetic finishes make a good house or the better house.
IT STARTS WITH UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SOIL THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GO ON.
You must understand what that soil is and SECONDLY YOU MUST BUILD THE FOUNDATION.
Third is the framing structure has to be CORRECTLY built. Then the correct mechanical system, meaning plumbing and heating; they got to be in correctly, and the wiring has got to be in correctly. The roof is the next important thing, because IF YOU HAVE A BAD ROOF IT'S GOING TO LEAK.
And then the LEAST IMPORTANT IS THE COSMETIC FINISHES that you see but it isn't really the important stuff because I could take a good shell and do a miserable job with the finish -- people won't like it as well,
OR I CAN TAKE A LOUSY SHELL AND DO A GOOD JOB WITH THE FINISH AND PEOPLE LOVE IT EXPECT WHEN THEY'VE LIVED IN IT A FEW YEARS and ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS."
But as Pulte homeowners, we are unable to objectively recognize and appreciate that although riddled with design flaws, building code violations, and construction defects, our Pulte homeownership experience should be equal to owning a defect free home. Nothing short of "100% Customer Delight" (per Pulte Homes' marketing slogan)!
We closed on what was represented to us as a "defect free" home on August 18th, 2006. Considering all of the now known construction defects that exist in the home, we are paying for a valueless residential structure. Before the ink dried on the mortgage paperwork and we left the title company, our home was destined to never benefit from increased property value as expected or be placed on the resale market without a massively extensive disclosure. We have learned the pitfalls of buying a house constructed by Pulte Homes, using a VA Home Loan, the hard way! We are not saying that Pulte Homes only builds defective homes, but we are merely documenting the most painful and costly homeownership experience in our lives. We share our knowledge and experience in hopes that no other homebuyer will suffer!
Summary of Construction / Structural Defects
1: Misaligned pier pads that compromises the load-bearing capacity of the home.
2: Foundation walls are extensively cracked that is a result of hydrostatic pressure, caused by the builder's negligence to grade the lot post-construction. One area has begun leaking.
3: All four foundation walls have extensive cracks caused by hydrostatic pressure, two of the exterior wall have upper wall rotation, and one exterior wall (upper living area) is pulling outward (away from the house). This damage was caused by the builder's refusal to properly grade the lot for drainage.
4: Excessive deflection in LPI Engineered Floor System (Silent floor system). Due in part by the vertical movement of the basement floor compounded by poor product installation.
5: Water intrusion in all exterior walls (upper living area), failure to properly seal exterior windows.
6: Leaking roof.
We're running out of things that were properly installed/constructed.
Please "click" on the "Structural Defects" buttons above for details.
This flag was used during the American Revolution to unite the colonists against a common enemy. The rattlesnake has sharp eyes and may therefore be esteemed as an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.... She never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.
"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist.
That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They
know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to
tremble, if men are allowed to reason… There can be on right of speech where any man…[is] compelled to suppress
his honest sentiments.
Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the
hearer as well as those of the speaker." Quote Frederick Douglass (American abolitionist, author, orator
(1817-1895)), In famous plea for free speech in Boston 1860.
FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The most basic component of freedom of expression is the right of freedom of speech. The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for the interference with the right of free speech where it attempts to regulate the content of the speech. A less stringent test is applied for content-neutral legislation. The Supreme Court has also recognized that the government may prohibit some speech that may cause a breach of the peace or cause violence. The right to free speech includes other mediums of expression that communicates a message.
Despite popular misunderstanding the right to freedom of the press guaranteed by the first amendment is not very different from the right to freedom of speech. It allows an individual to express themselves through publication and dissemination. It is part of the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. It does not afford members of the media any special rights or privileges not afforded to citizens in general.
We are also protected by other laws. USC Title 18, Section 1513, federal whistle blower laws protects those that are informing the public about
possible federal crimes such as predatory lending.
