As you all know, we are building a new house. It's a modular home. Well, our front foyer was supposed to be almost 5 ft deep. It is not even 4! The door barely opens and they say there is nothing they can do about it. I am so upset and frustrated. We paid alot of money for this home and the first thing I am going to think when I walk in the front door is how I can barely get the door opened.

By Debbie on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 05:27 pm:

{{{{HUGS}}}} How frustrating for you. So, did you have a contract for the home? Is it somewhere in writing what the floor plan and dimensions are suppose to be??

By Paulas on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 05:47 pm:

We have a signed final floor plan. The dimensions aren't written out for the foyer specifically but it is easy to see here that there should be more room. They say they can't fix it and I'm sure they are right. I'm wondering if we should be asking for some sort of compensation for this mix-up (the second major one btw...the other was the windows that were not supposed to have grids at the bottom and do).

By Debbie on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 05:50 pm:

I would definitely ask for compensation if they can't fix it!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 06:08 pm:

Wow, how frustrating. I have no idea what can be done. So, you are just supposed to put up with a door that won't open? I think DH would be screaming about that.

By Amecmom on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 08:22 pm:

Who drew up the plans? There have to be plans with actual measurable dimensions on them. The plans rule. If they built the foyer too short and the plans back you up, then they have to rip it up and re frame or they have to pay you adequate compensation. This is what a lawyer is for if it comes to that.
As for the windows, did you sign off on a window order? If so, and they got it wrong, they need to fix it or pay you some kind of compensation.
If my builder does anything that is not according to specs, plans or written communication he fixes it at his cost, not mine.
They should be doing the same thing.
I am sorry you are going through this. Building - even a modular- is no picnic.
Hugs,
Ame

By Kaye on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 08:30 pm:

I think I would contact a lawyer at this point. I would sit down with dh and really think about what you want in this home. Really I think they have broken their contract with you and you can get out of the house and change your plans. I would not settle for something I didn't want, unless there was something spectacular about the lot or not an equal option. You definitly should get compensated for failure to follow the contract.

By Conni on Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 08:49 pm:

Ditto Ame. It has been yrs since we built this house. It seems like we had a generic plan and then a very detailed plan with every little measurement?? That a builder would obviously need to build to spec.

Do you owe them money? Tell them if they don't produce what they said they would, then you can't produce their paycheck they need. ;) lol

If the door was already bothering me and they had messed up windows earlier...I would have already had a fit. Sorry, but you are paying a lot of money for something that you need to be happy with for a very long time. They need to do it right.

{{{Hugs}}} I am sorry you are dealing with this.

By Paulas on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 05:11 am:

Thanks guys. We went and looked at it again last night. Although all of our friends tell us that we won't use the front door (apparently it's an east coast thing...everyone uses the mud room door) the point is the plan that we signed off on is not what we got! A neighbour came over last night and said, "Why don't they move the door up?" It was as simple as that and should give us another 10 inches...plenty of room. Still, not what we asked for but doable and acceptable. So, the owner of the company is going to have a look at it this morning. I know they don't want to do it because it is going to be ALOT of work.

He also said this would move our move in date by 2 days. I don't like that but I know I would end up hating this door. I also believe that it would have definitly impacted the resalability (is that a word) of the home.

Thanks guys and I'll keep you updated.

By Amecmom on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 08:58 am:

Yes, it will be alot of work, but you didn't make the error. They did. This must be your position when you meet with the owner of the company. Just moving the door is a fix, but not what you want. You want the house you signed off on. Period. You should get the quick fix and some kind of credit.

As far as not using the front door, that's probably true. I hardly ever use the front door during the daily routine of the day. However, when I have guests, they always come in through the front door. Packages usually arrive through the front door. How will you move big items in if the front door does not open all the way?

Good luck with your meeting and remember you are the owner. You hold the checkbook!
Ame

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 15, 2008 - 11:07 am:

Stand firm!

By Amecmom on Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 11:22 am:

What happened with your meeting? Were they able to help? Hugs!
Ame

By Paulas on Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 10:51 pm:

Yes, they moved the front door and it gave us an extra 10 inches or so. We are pleased and have left it at that. Since the plan we signed didn't have measurements for the foyer on it, we aren't going to push for credit in addition to the fix. We're just happy to have a usable front door now.

Spent the weekend painting...my body aches