Home Services Inc

Shortly after closing on my home, built in 2001, a search into the crawlspace revealed the main joist was cut to accommodate HVAC ductwork. The foundation wall was not built high enough, and HVAC installers decided to cut through the main joist rather than dig further underneath. The crawlspace was being excavated to code prior to Home Services beginning work.  
An initial call to the truss manufacturer, Boise Cascade, resulted in the regional engineer determining the joist span was too long.  Piers and Beams underneath the 1st floor joists were required to relieve excessive loading.
A search for foundation/leveling contractors began in 2011 to repair or replace the main joist and install the recommended support system. 
Home Services was selected as their bid/drawings closely reflected the drawings/recommendations Boise Cascade. 

Excavation was mostly complete when Home Services re-scheduled due to weather.  Water in the crawlspace
delayed excavation, delaying foundation repair. The technician and crew were directed and Home Services agreed to work with the
excavators.    To accommodate this project, all HVAC ducting had been removed underneath the home. And unfortunately, has been since.

Not happy with the warranty promises. Additional problems were created during installation of the Pier and Beam systems.     Three certified letters were required to request warranty service and express my disappointment in results. Since this was a log home, minor imperfections were to be expected. However, I was anticipating the work to be meticulous, not rushed.

Home Services, through a recent admission, knowingly sped through the installation process, placing piers and beams in the area yet to be excavated.  The excavation crew was unable to finish the job as they were now blocked from access.  Finding other contractors to finish excavation has been futile.  Reinstallation of ductwork halted also.  Since the winter of 2011/12, the first level has had neither heating nor cooling.  When they declared the job done, I had assumed they had waited per direction/agreement for excavation completion.  I paid them.  Unfortunately, this was not so when the excavators returned to finished and found themselves blocked. 

An electrical line was severed and two others crushed.  After several hours of no hallway power, I investigated and found a severed line by the workers.  No-one had bothered to tell me.  Perhaps because only the foreman spoke English.  I had also discovered two wires crushed between joists and beams.  A small amount was initially withheld.   Upon repairs and clearance from a qualified electrician, the balance was paid.   At this point, I had still assumed excavation had been completed.

During repair, floor leveling was not happening as expected. About 70-80% complete. Some areas were just challenging.  The main living area though was immediately worse off and I relayed this.  The main floor was raised above original, causing the door sweep to contact the floor, even after the entry rug was removed.  I was told this was under warranty and would be remedied in the future.  The crew had no time to solve the issue as they were scheduled for work elsewhere.

 A ?crown? soon developed in the main living area.  I was assured this would be remedied.  When they returned in August of 2012, an additional pier and beam system was purchased & installed in one of the challenging areas, but warranty work, previously promised was not scheduled.  Another certified letter in December of 2012 had the salesman and owner return to investigate in 2013.  Although measurements showed the majority of the 1st floor to be better than before, both noted the crown, and slope, and promised to alleviate my concerns. 

The crew showed mid May 2013 for warranty work. Here was their chance to redeem themselves.  The crew went under the house.  I had also previously discussed hiring them to finish the excavation work, hoping they would accommodate as they placed me in the predicament.  Their price was $6,000.00???.More than double the original excavation bid with less than 1/3 remaining!  Gouging.  I was told that $6k is their daily goal when on the road.  This ideal reflected in their hurriedness and reluctance for warranty work.  When I relayed this figure was exorbitant did not interest me, they packed up left??..nothing had changed. 

In the end, Home Services felt neither responsible nor obligated to alleviate problems they created. I had the severed electrical fixed myself and inspected by an electrician, excavation of the crawlspace still remains (HVAC yet to be
re-installed), and the Front door will have to be reset to keep from contacting the floor. 

Had they adjusted the floor as promised and given me a reasonable bid to complete excavation I would not be writing of this experience.
Stick with a local contractor.