OTHER CONSTRUCTION ISSUES AND DEFECTS WITH PULTE HOUSES |
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My Pulte Experience
Another demonstration of Pulte's quality and craftmanship in "The Reserve" subdivision.
Pulte Homes announces their departure from KC metro area. KMBC9 News
Metro Area Homebuilder Is Moving Out Of The Metro, Fox 4 Kansas City.
Pulte Homes pulling out of Kansas City, KSBH41 Kansas City.
Pulte Exits Wiregrass Ranch Project (Florida).
April 2007: Pulte Homes has abandoned plans to build 500 condos at the South of Market site of the San Francisco Tennis Club, a project club members had battled hard to defeat.
April 30, 2007: Pulte pulls out of proposed Benson home development.
Senior homes project lingers, Pulte Homes pulls out of deal (Nov 15, 2007).
Pulte pulls out of Placer VineyardsPlanners reject dense development plan.
July, 28, 2006: Developer pulls out of 681-home development in Johnson County (IN).
In The Reserve subdivision -- Why did the original buyers back out?
Is this mold?
Here's the link: Lenexa Women Protest Pulte Homes
Building Justice. One home at a time, numerous states listed: Eye on Pulte. Expensive Errors: Pulte Homes, Inc. affiliated companies have been fined thousands of dollars for numerous violations.
Check this out: WARRANTY WEEK
The Newsletter for Warranty Management Professionals
New Home Warranties
Quote taken from wikipedia.org:
Criticism: In late 2006, early 2007 and still ongoing, Pulte Homes was criticized for building houses that had larger-than-normal cracks in the foundation, inadequate plumbing and poor electrical wiring and overall rather poor to fair build quality. Beginning in May 2007, The Building Justice campaign, supported by the AFL-CIO, targeted Pulte Homes for providing inadequate health care, no overtime pay and no vacation days or sick days for its workers. During a subsequent protest at a Pulte Homes construction site, an employee used a water truck owned by the company to repeatedly assault a group of workers picketing outside a home with a high pressure water hose. On June 20, 2007, a video of the incident was posted on Youtube.
Problems in FLORIDA:
Lexington Oaks Residents Sue Pulte Homes Over Mold In Attic
Problems in FLORIDA:
Roofs Rotting in Florida homes -- YouTube.
Problems in NEW MEXICO:
Pulte's Seville subdivision at Irving and Universe NW
Problems in NEVADA (part 1): Builders hit with defect suits, Class-action sought against Sun City MacDonald Ranch,June 18, 2003
Problems in NEVADA (part 2): More on Pulte Homeowners Deal With Faulty Plumbing!
Las Vegas valley builder Pulte Homes is no stranger to being sued. Their current problems exist with the Henderson, Nevada Homes in Sun City Anthem. The community is comprised of 7,500 homes, of which 2400 are subject to a defective brass fitting used for plumbing, the remaining 5100 homes have yet to be inspected. Over time the part has corroded causing leaks, damage to walls and foundations. This defective part is manufactured in Canada and is commonly used by many other local builders. It is believed the part has been used in an additional 14,000 Henderson, Nevada Homes.
There is currently a class action lawsuit underway involving other developers and Pulte is attempting to steer away from the trouble. Through the courts, Pulte has offered $7,800 to each homeowner in Sun City Anthem or a total of over $58 million. If accepted, homeowners would receive the money and be required to sign documents releasing Pulte of any further responsibility with the defect. The settlement also required residents to make their decision in 30 days. On December 22, 2006 the district judge instructed Pulte to put their settlement on hold. It is believe that the total settlement is not adequate to cover all costs associated with replacement and repairs. If this is rejected by homeowners, its likely a class action lawsuit will ensue.
Problems in NEVADA (part 2a): Aug 22, 2007 ---- 5,000 Pulte Homeowners Deal With Faulty Plumbing!
Problems in NEVADA (case closed): Del Webb Communities Inc. (aka Pulte Homes, Inc.),Carson City, NV, Aug-07-07: A class action lawsuit was filed against Del Webb Communities Inc., the developer of Sun City Summerlin, after more than 6,500 homeowners complained that the building had construction defects. An investigation revealed that the homes had been built with defective copper plumbing lines, leading to the property damage lawsuit.
To resolve the class action suit, Del Webb repaired more than 600 homes and paid $21.5 million to the more than 6,500 class members, including those whose homes were not repaired. Apart from that, the court allowed a couple, Irwin and Edith Marcuse, to continue a separate suit against Del Webb Communities Inc. When the Marcuses returned from a vacation in May 2003, they found their home flooded. Del Webb paid to repair the defective plumbing, but did not compensate the Marcuses for the full damage. The Marcuses tried to resolve their damage claim within the class action suit but were unable, prompting them to file the separate lawsuit.
Problems in ARIZONA:
by Tony Lombardo - The Arizona Republic - Apr. 15, 2008 11:20 PM Owners of about 1,000 homes in Sun City Grand, one of Surprise's most affluent retirement communities, are seeking legal action against developer Pulte Homes to correct alleged construction defects.
The sheer number of participants puts this among the largest such complaints in Arizona history, building experts say.
With about 9,600 homes in Sun City Grand, more than 10 percent are part of the legal action. advertisement
The law firm representing the residents argues that abnormal cracking in walls, floors and ceilings demonstrates a clear pattern of defective construction. It says the repairs could amount to $50,000 to $100,000 per home.
In the Valley, there are many areas where the soil can expand and cause cracking without proper precautions.
But Pulte Homes, while not yet served with the lawsuit, stated Tuesday, "Since receiving notice of the initial claim, more than 100 homes have been inspected, and we have found few, if any, issues related to the foundations and slabs."
Other complaints by residents include:
Stucco: About half the homes do not have "weep screeds." A weep screed is part of stucco wall construction that allows rainwater to drain out of the walls and prevents mold growth.
Acoustics: Noise levels are too high inside some Sun City Grand households, which fall within the noise-impact zone of Luke Air Force Base.
Concrete: Foundations are deteriorating because of corrosive salts and desert weathering.
Pulte Homes, under the Del Webb brand, bills itself as "the nation's largest builder of active adult communities for people age 55 and better."
Pulte merged with Del Webb Corp., famous for its Sun City brand developments, in 2001.
"The homeowners relied on Del Webb and the promises they would use quality-control measures in connection with the construction, and they're terribly disappointed," said attorney Ken Kasdan."What they see is Del Webb walking away from responsibility in the community."
Kasdan is a senior partner of Kasdan, Simonds, Riley & Vaughan LLP, a law firm that specializes in construction-defect cases with offices in Arizona and California.
Kasdan's Sun City Grand clients live in homes built between 2000 and 2006. Their purchase prices ranged from $104,000 to $338,000.
Bob Leslie moved to Sun City Grand with his wife, Barb, seven years ago and settled down for a nice retirement. Then, he said, his house began to crack - on the ceiling, on the floor and out to his patio.
Leslie is among more than 500 homeowners participating in the lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court this week. The remaining homeowners are seeking arbitration as required in their purchase contracts.
Leslie said he received no help from the developer and considered suing only as a last resort.
"The thing is, I want my home fixed, because I came here for retirement and I plan to die here," he said.
Sun City Grand resident Pete Powell received word about the lawsuit in a letter sent to his home.
A resident since 2004, Powell said his house has interior and exterior wall cracks, the baseboard is separating from the foundation and window sealing is deteriorating. He purchased his house for about $195,000 and said it is among the community's smallest models.
"Many of these structural problems need to be addressed," he said. "I'm just glad somebody got this started."
In the past seven years, a "cottage industry" composed of construction-defect law firms has moved into the Valley, said Spencer Kamps, vice president of legislative affairs for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.
"Those individuals are looking for clients in an effort to sue," Kamps said.
And while about 1,000 Sun City Grand homes are part of the legal action, Pulte Homes contended in an e-mailed statement, "We understand that the law firm solicited residents from more than 7,000 homes."
Kasdan's law firm was founded in California and opened an office in Phoenix five years ago. But Kasdan said it was faulty construction methods that brought his firm to the Valley.
"Lawyers don't build the defects," Kasdan said. "The builders are building the defects, and the lawyers are catching them at it and holding them accountable."
David Jones, president and CEO of the Arizona Contractors Association, said it is incumbent on residential developers to study their land investments above and below ground to avoid problems.
Pulte letter disputes home-defect claims."
by Tony Lombardo - May. 15, 2008 06:35 AM - The Arizona Republic Pulte Homes has sent a letter to Sun City Grand residents disputing claims of widespread construction defects outlined in a lawsuit filed in April.
More than 1,000 Sun City Grand homeowners are taking legal action against Pulte for what they claim are home defects ranging from cracks in the foundations to insufficient noise protection.
Pulte warned in the letter, sent to the entire community, not to get caught up in the "media hype" that it asserts is being generated by the law firm Kasdan, Simonds, Riley & Vaughn. "They may attempt to dazzle you with stories of their many and substantial victories," reads the letter from Pulte's community relations department. "They may even try to frighten you by having their usual band of paid experts pontificate about the so-called defects in your home's construction."
The letter, mailed within the past week, goes on to tell residents that the lawsuit could negatively affect resale property values, that these lawsuits take years to reach resolution and that Pulte will "aggressively defend its reputation."
"Unfortunately, we have found that in may cases, justice seems too seldom the goal, greed too often the motive and the resulting unhappy homeowners too often the result," the letter reads.
Ken Kasdan, representing homeowners in the lawsuit, said the letter was "full of material misstatements."
"It's curious that Pulte chooses to send out a letter now that over 1,000 people have chosen to sue them, when they've been ignoring homeowner demands up until now," he said.
Kasdan's law firm, which focuses on construction-defect suits, originated in California and has offices in Phoenix.
Problems in CALIFORNIA:
EMERIVILLE, CA -- Some Emeryville residents will be forced to spend the holidays in a hotel, instead of their town homes, because of water damage that happened five months ago.
The builder is Pulte Homes. They put a new roof on, and the work is still not done.
"I can't have Christmas, I can't have New Years. That's not right for someone who's paying a mortgage and association fees and property taxes," said Amanda Coffey.
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Amanda Coffey has been living in a hotel in a jumble of boxes and belongings since July. Pulte Homes has been paying her bill while they put a new roof on the town home she bought four years ago.
That's when the problems began.
"Behind here is my shower, feces come out of the shower, where the light fixtures were had water just dripping down," said Coffey.
Today, the kitchen and bathroom are in disarray, parts of ceilings and exterior walls are gone and dehumidifiers hum incessantly. Pulte Homes promises they'll have her moved back in by January 7th. She says she doesn't believe it.
"They have promised us five times we're going to be in our house and it hasn't happened. It's a false hope. Now I'm scared to go home because every time I go home I see more damages," said Coffey.
Yesterday, Pulte Homes sent a letter to Amanda Coffey, saying they would reimburse her $25 a day for food if she signed this document, agreeing not to disclose any information about her problems here.
"They're asking me not to talk to the media, not to talk to my neighbors," said Coffey.
Pulte Homes says the letter is in no way a settlement. No spokesperson was available to talk on camera today, but Pulte Homes told ABC7 news by phone that they will replace damaged floors and furniture.
Their customer relations manager says: "We're a builder that stands behind our product and our homeowners. That's why we're out there repairing things. We'll make it right."
Other families are also stranded at the hotel, but no others would comment on camera. A mold remediation company was at work at the complex today. The homeowners association sued Pulte Homes over faulty construction and litigation is still in the works.
For now, the holidays mean a hotel and the new year could bring a resolution.
(Copyright ©2008 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
Problems in CALIFORNIA: Builder Pulte Homes Schedules Massive Mold Cleanup
in Apple Valley, California, Environment Times, June, 2007. The Damage of Pulte Homes.
Problems in SOUTH CAROLINA:
Problems in SOUTH CAROLINA (The beginning): The history of the Roof Truss design change in Sun City, SC.
Low-Country Revival: Pulte turns the sales tide at Del Webb's Sun City Hilton Head with pricing and efficient design. Source: BUILDER Magazine
Publication date: January 1, 2003. "That changed with the new model series. Pop-out designs on the front and rear were reduced. More efficient truss layouts and floor and roof systems were adopted. The old models required 119 different types of roof trusses; the new models use just 13. "It was really just a matter of building the homes more efficiently," says Hull."
Problems in SOUTH CAROLINA (PART 1): Roof Truss Problems in Sun City, SC.
Problems in SOUTH CAROLINA (PART 1a): An independent experts evaluation of the Roof Truss Problems in Sun City, SC.
Problems in SOUTH CAROLINA (PART 2): OVER 600 Pulte homeowners experience water intrusion and bad stucco = wood rot and mold! Sounds awfully familiar.
Problems in NEW JERSEY:
Services, Home Builders - Pulte Home Corp., Central New Jersey struggling to get Pulte to honor warranty"
Complaints.com received the following e-message on August 25, 2001:
RE: Complaint about Pulte Home Corp.
Fifteen months ago we bought a home from Pulte Home Corporation, in Central New Jersey. It came with a builder's warranty on many of the home's features. For 13 of those 15 months we have been struggling to get Pulte to honor that warranty.
We have made countless telephone calls and personal visits to their office. We have had to struggle and fight with Pulte every inch of the way to even get them to make the simplest of repairs. On some items they make repeated promises and never follow through. On others they just simply refuse to respond. The one year warranty on many of the items has now expired and yet we are still trying to get them to fix items clearly covered, that were reported to them 13 months ago. Even some of the items on our pre-closing punch list have still not been fixed.
Pulte has made many promises they have failed to honor. We feel that buying a Pulte home is one of the worst errors we have ever made because they have made life so miserable for us. Pulte built all the homes in our neighborhood. We are not the only ones who have had these problems with them. When people in the neighborhood get together it is the first and the main topic of discussion. Most of the neighbors we have talked with share similar experiences.
Pulte's approach appears to us and many of our neighbors to be to drag everything out and make it as long and arduous as possible, in the apparent belief that most people will give up somewhere along the way. In fact, that has worked with many of our neighbors. However, it has not worked with us. We have had to file for arbitration against them twice on a total of 24 different problems and continue to struggle to get them to honor their obligations.
Problems in MARYLAND. Water intrusion with EIFS stucco product: In suit by builder [PULTE HOMES, INC.] for damage to seventy-seven newly constructed luxury homes against manufacturer of synthetic stucco material, the
suppliers/distributors and the applicators, when the Barrier Exterior Insulation and Finish System (Barrier EIFS), which had been applied to the exterior of the homes, trapped water between the (Barrier EIFS) cladding and the wooden substrate, causing the wood to rot, for which the builder paid $3,800,000 in damages to the homeowners.
Maryland Court of Special Appeals slashes synthetic stucco award: The Court of Special Appeals found that Pulte's damages against Parex Inc. were capped by a deal Pulte had negotiated with suppliers, distributors and installers.
Problems in VIRGINIA: Circuit Court of Virginia, Fairfax County; Pulte Home Corp. v. Fidelity & Guaranty Ins. Co. -- 2004 WL 516216 (Feb. 6, 2004).
In 1998-1999, fifteen lawsuits were brought against Pulte Home Corp. ("Pulte") and one of it subcontractors, Coronado Corporation, for installing alleged ly defective Exterior Insulation Finish Systems ("EIFS").
Fidelity & Guaranty Insurance Co. ("FGIC") and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.("St. Paul") did not respond to Pulte's selection of counsel, nor did they provide a defense. Pulte filed a motion for summary judgment against FGIC and St. Paul seeking a declaration that the terms of its policy, obligated FGIC to reimburse Pulte for its $1,350,293.17 in expenses.
FGIC and St. Paul did not dispute that there was a duty owed under the policy; however, they did dispute the scope of the duty. Specifically, FGIC and St. Paul assert that the (1) total amount expended by Pulte, (2) the reasonableness of defense costs, and (3) other entity insurance coverage are all material disputed facts that cannot be decided as a matter of law.
The Court explained that although insurers who breach their duty to defend waive their rights to contest either coverage or the reasonableness of the judgment amount; however, insurers do not waive their rights to contest the reasonableness of defense costs. The court held that the amount and reasonableness of the defense costs to be material facts that could not be determined at summary judgment as a matter of law. The court also ruled that the total amount expended by Pulte was in dispute; therefore, could not be decided as a matter of law. The court denied Pulte's motion for summary judgment on reimbursement for Pulte's defense costs.
FGIC and St. Paul motioned for partial summary judgement regarding the duty to indemnify. They argued that (1) there is no indemnity coverage for repair or replacement of named insured's own work under the "your work" provision and (2) that defective workmanship is not an "occurrence" under the terms of the contract.
The Court held the "your work" exclusions to be unambiguous. The exclusion in the contract clearly excluded indemnity for repair or replacement of "your work" by the name insured. The court held that the exclusions extend to Pulte as the Additional Insured.
The Court granted FGIC and St. Paul's motion for partial summary judgment for the portions of the homes allocated to the repair and replacement of EIFS.
Problems in MICHIGAN: Opinions from Pulte homeowners.
THE SOW'S EAR - HEAVING, CRACKS AND BUILDER [Pulte Homes] EXCUSES: Homeowners watch their $700K home crack apart, while Pulte Homes representative blame the the homeowner.
Problems in TEXAS: Pulte
Homes'Summerlyn subdivision in Austin.
Problems in PENNSYLVANIA: The Damage of Pulte Homes.
Ripoff Report --- complaints from around the nation: Type in "Pulte Homes" in the SEARCH block and read the stories.
