AMERICAS HOME PLACE

It was the most horrible experience we could have expected. When we signed with them we had contacts that had built their homes with AHP and they were very happy with them. Shortly after we signed they had an employee overhaul and got rid of all their experienced and professional workers. They then bid out to the lowest bidder or day labor. Not one of the professional crews we were promised from day one where still employed by AHP. On the first day, we took the day off to watch the slab pour, with video and camera in hand, and it was apparent that this was not a savvy company. No one from AHP, no supervisor or a representative came to the site on the day of the slab pour, and they had not left enough supplies for the concrete crew because they ran out of anchor bolts within the first hour. A crew worker went to get more and proceeded to try and cram them in after the fast drying concrete had already started to cure. They immediately began framing to cover up anchor bolts issue and we had to call our county building inspector to get them to stop. Needless to say the slab was compromised and all had to be sent to engineering for strength/stability issues. This was the beginning of a lousy relationship. There was a 2 inch wave in the garage so they had to jackhammer the floor to repour it to get it level and consequently there are floor cracks thoughout the house. The roofers took a month and a half to complete shingling the roof, blaming it on rain. Columns on front and large back porch (10 of them) were cracked, chipped, split and hanging off slab by some up to 2 inches. So they would fit on the slab WE had to compromise on the size so they went from 10" to 6" columns. Fireplace was 3 ft off the wall instead of 2 ft. We eventually got this corrected and then found out that it was because they had failed to engineer our wood burning fireplace into the plans and there were trusses in the way. Fireplace flue pipe has kink in it. Hot/cold faucet in kitchen reversed. Garage door does not always work. Doors don't close correctly showing gaps of light. They failed to order flooring, we had to wait a month. The counter tops were straight instead of bull nose and then it took 3 weeks for them to tell us that the style we chose was no longer being made. It took another 3 weeks for our new counter top pick to come in and was cut really poorly. Paint was wrong and done by amateurs was so poorly done that we ended up with 4 coats. Not one piece of wood was sanded and all surfaces were rough with all kinds of debris painted in because they did not clean or sweep before they painted. They used old wood and in the attic some wood already showed mold. They removed it immediately when informed the inspector was the one who noticed it. One window sill in master bathroom had approximately 25 nail holes in it and it was not yet secured. Even after we pointed this out to our super who's jaw dropped, they still installed it and just caulked the holes. Almost all walls are curved, crooked or wavy. Trim was not cut at 45 degrees and no one knew to use a coping saw so the gaps are up to 1/4" at every end and corner. We paid extra for 11 pocket doors to save wall space and almost all were hung improperly. Door frames to large for doors or some doors are to small for door frames. Pocket door guides not installed properly and door plates were not cut in. When we emailed list of issues, and we did complain weekly, they stopped coming out, to punish us, only sending someone out for 2 hours once a week as not to cancel the contract. Shutters were loose. Microwave vent was located in wrong place. Mantel height was not correct. Fireplace surround was not what we ordered. There was dust and debris in shower mechanisms and they left filthy water in our tub and shower for 2 months even after we complained. Shower/tub in guest bathroom is bone instead of white that we ordered so does not match white toilet and sink. Almost all windows out of level. Sliding glass door not plumb and missing screws. Wood and trim that was cut short was just caulked and not redone as requested. There were paint smudges left on skylight, cabinets, counter tops, appliances, floors and door hinges. Screens for sliders needed to be replaced because broken and stained. Paint, texture and stains all over concrete. Door weather stripping was torn. Broken exterior trim. Used foam around exterior protrusions instead of high quality sealant. Gouges in cabinet drawers and doors. Electrical plates crooked. Rear exterior gutter was improperly sloped and held water. AHP ran tankless hot water vent out to front of house instead of out attic to roof so now shows as eye sore. One of the interior pocket doors had a deep nail scratch across it. After we complained to have it removed we noticed after we moved in that the door had been moved to another opening in the house!!! We were phoned 5-10 times by neighbors because workers had left windows/doors open or lights on all over the house after leaving for the day, even when raining. Needless to say we had to have a New Home Inspection done and the house failed! We were advised by our lawyer to let them fix what they can and settle to get rid of them. Roof failed because not sufficient amount of nails found and exposed pipe boot nails were not sealed properly. Wavy/crooked walls. Almost all windows are not level. The worst part is that AHP did not check the grade of our existing septic system and the house was built to low, so now we have a septic pump on a brand new house!!! Don't think this is an isolated incident. We also had emailed the CEO of AHP and still nothing ever changed. The president of AHP did a walk thru with us and his response was "I guess we made some mistakes and have to try a little harder". So please be warned that this is how this company works and not just happening in Tallahassee, FL. We had our attorney present at closing and with our final New Home Inspection, pictures and issues list in hand and the VP of AHP just repeated that "the home was built to America's Home Place standards and nothing else would be done and you will get no compensation". You probably think we are a little crazy but we have over 400 pictures. This is not the complete list of issues, it goes on. This whole thing was just 9 months of unbelievable. The last 3 months there was someone there only 20 days and for 2-4 hours only (neighbors were watching in disbelief!!) THEY PURPOSELY HELD OFF ON COMPLETING THE WORK KNOWING WE WERE PAYING INTEREST ON OUR CONSTRUCTION LOAN AND THEY WERE HOPING WE WOULD DEFAULT BECAUSE WERE HOLDING OUR PROPERTY AS COLLATERAL. RUN AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. 10-22-2013 This is an update. Well you get what you pay for. We had a 1/2 bath rough in put on our back porch and were ready to finish it. I had not gone in the small room in 6 months because of moving and unpacking. There was mold all over the baseboard and back wall. Apparently around the vent pipe on the roof had been leaking the whole time. A leaky roof and the house is 6 months old!!! So as our "new home inspection" predicted, we had problems. It took another month to get the roof repaired, drywall and insulation replaced and the painter to again come in. It still smells moldy in there. This company sucks!!! Beware