Home builder blames “COVID-19” for not addressing warranty issues

COLORADO SPRINGS — Our Information 5 investigative team is tracking a pattern of problems towards a Colorado household builder.

Because the start off of the COVID-19 pandemic, many house owners have filed grievances with the Much better Business Bureau with just one widespread trouble—they say they builder would not honor its guarantee.

It can be no magic formula—new residence construction is popping up all over the place in Colorado Springs.

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William Sawvel not too long ago bought a property from CreekStone Properties on the northeast facet of the town.

He says because he moved in, his relatives has knowledgeable nothing but challenges.

“Just about every 3-4 months we have lights pop in the house and we have to replace all of them,” he reported.

Sawvel experienced no difficulties demonstrating electrical difficulties for our cameras. For example, each and every time he turns on the vacuum, the lights in the basement flicker.

If you just take a wander on the treadmill in the basement, the gentle also flickers.

In the beginning, William says this was not a big problem since his house arrived with a 1-calendar year warranty.

“With all of the issues we were being obtaining, my wife and I decided it would most likely be a good notion to get an inspector to arrive in prior to the guarantee is up and have him seem through the property and inform us all the things which is wrong with the dwelling that requirements to be fastened so that we could send it to Creekstone,” he claimed.

In an inspection report received by News 5, an inspector uncovered cracks in the concrete, overdriven nails in the siding which could lead to drinking water destruction along with electrical problems deemed as a “protection hazard.”

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Sawvel states in advance of he arrived at out to News 5, he experimented with several periods to get the builder to resolve the complications.

I ended up sending three emails,” he explained. “I am just reminding them these are guarantee troubles and we might like these points mounted. They under no circumstances responded.”

The paper trail:

March 17, 2020: CreekStone Houses despatched a generic message to householders notifying them that in-home guarantee appointments ended up suspended instantly owing to problems bordering COVID-19

April 22, 2020: CreekStone despatched an additional electronic mail out expressing that all guarantee get the job done on completed properties is temporarily suspended owing to the Governor’s “Stay at Household” order

Nevertheless, Information 5 Investigates observed a likely situation. If you search at the real get from Gov. Jared Polis, we noticed an exemption for services connected to construction, housing, and get the job done performed by electricians and plumbers.

On best of this discovery, William says as he and his spouse were being taking a walk in the community, they came across a CreekStone product house. On the doorway of that household was a take note that lists a telephone selection to established up a exhibiting appointment.

On-line, William mentioned CreekStone Residences pointed out their models had been “open up” and appointments for in-man or woman tours were obtainable.

William requested, “How are you obtaining open up residences and then telling folks who have these houses that we are unable to repair problems with residences we presently offered? A little something didn’t feel suitable.”

William suggests after months of no progress, he made the decision to finally make repairs on his possess.

He then submitted a lawsuit against CreekStone Houses to assist get well fix expenses.

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A judge awarded him a lot more than $2,000. On the other hand, court docket records show CreekStone Houses has not paid out this judgment.

News 5 Investigates afterwards uncovered CreekStone Houses has submitted an enchantment to overturn the judge’s ruling. Court docket files filed by CreekStone concern irrespective of whether the courts really should have experienced the authority to intervene in this situation. They cited a “Order and Sale Settlement” which reportedly states that disputes ought to be taken care of through mediation and arbitration.

“There are other family members owning the very same challenges (with warranty difficulties),” Sawvel stated. “They are not responding or they are coming up with excuses to not take care of problems.”

We confirmed William’s claim as a result of the BBB’s own data.

Given that anybody can depart a terrible evaluation towards a business, Information 5 resolved to only emphasis on the 8 official complaints the BBB has on file within just the previous 3 yrs versus CreekStone. However, it appears all 8 problems have been filed following the pandemic started.

“Bigger problems have been ignored by the builder,” just one criticism said.

Yet another criticism indicated “guarantee work was observe done.”

Information 5 Investigates reached out to CreekStone Homes for comment on William’s circumstance and to additional examine the BBB grievances.

Perry Cadman, VP of Functions did not address the BBB complaints, but did situation a statement about William’s court docket case.

“Pertaining to the make a difference, Creekstone Homes has filed an appeal of a verdict in El Paso County District Courtroom involving a dwelling buyer who at first filed a claim of significantly less than $7,500. It is our company’s policy not to remark on pending legal circumstances,” Cadman claimed.

News 5 also questioned no matter whether CreekStone Properties would be keen to sit down and go over processes and procedures for dealing with warranty statements. Cadman declined that possibility.

“At Creekstone Houses, we are happy of our A-as well as rating with the Improved Business Bureau, and we respond to challenges and problems on a timely basis, with the customer’s greatest pursuits in brain,” he reported. “We have been in business for 27 decades, and we eagerly look ahead to the future 27. Regarding a dialogue on the subject of our warranty insurance policies, we will respectfully decrease to participate for the reason that they are so common and for this reason, in our impression, not newsworthy.”

William says he nevertheless isn’t going to have the electrical problems in his household resolved and CreekStone Houses presented no resolution in possibly statement issued to News 5.

We’ll continue to keep tracking the builder’s charm via the court docket course of action. 

Recommendations for performing with dwelling builders:

Communication is essential—both just before and just after the closing system. It is okay to seek out clarification and question inquiries about a builder’s process for managing warranty concerns.

Similar to operating with contractors, usually document issues and concerns in producing. This generates a paper trail.

Even if you’re moving into a new property, it may perhaps be really worth obtaining an inspection prior to closing. Also, be existing for that inspection so you can bring up any challenges you might discover.

If you come to feel complaints or guarantee challenges usually are not remaining managed appropriately, you can file official grievances with the two the Far better Business Bureau and the purchaser defense division at the Colorado Legal professional General’s Workplace.

Have an difficulty you would like Information 5 Investigates to look into? Email us: [email protected]