I'm writing this report to alert and prevent other consumers from falling victims to Westin-homes' constitute false, misleading, shady contract, and deceptive trade practices. After I moved back to Houston in summer 2007 with new job, I and my wife have decided to have our very first dream-home to be built. We started looking at several home builders, and we like others on this site were drawn to the floor plans and square feet that Westin homes offered for the price. Holly cow... this was a hug mistake!!!
We signed a contract with Westin-Homes on July 1st, 2007 with an initial earnest deposit. We were told that this was the process along with submitting another 50% of the Upgrade Option money that was due before the construction started. The Sales team (Christina & Clair) in the Canyon Lakes at Stone Gate division seemed very nice and helpful during the building process. Little we knew that this was nothing more than a cover up for their shady building process. Because of Un-Permitted of Residential Building & Driveway, the Westin homes builder was building my home with many code violations (we have all evidences); they also uses inferior materials, unskilled workers are unsupervised, especially, a project manager, Matt Roland's offering of "band-aid" reparation and using a falsified document (see our 2nd complaint letter and an invalid document Champion Window letter in www.thebuilderfromhell.com for more details).
The home is under-construction with 1 story floor plan and locates in NewLight Bending subdivision in Canyon Lakes at Stone Gate Community, is at the end of Phase II construction (pre-sheetrock). We hired a Professional Inspector on 11/25//2007 to inspect the home and we found a lot of problems. Some problems which truly concern us including: improperly window flashing, electrical issue, bucked shingle roof, warped studs, A/C air duct and systems, unsound window frame structure, unleveled foundation ground, unleveled front porch, missing standard feature, and etc. It has turned out to be a nightmare. We have taken pictures of the entire building process and all of it is put together terribly as confirmed evidences.
We submitted the inspection report to the builder. We had numerous complaints and issues that we noticed Westin homes during the building process but seemed not to be properly addressed by the actual building contractor. The builder, corporate management people, sales team, all acknowledged these problems but the building contractors have denied their shoddy works and refused fixing or repairing these problems in a proper manner. They said that there is nothing wrong with "their ways" of construction and installation techniques since they've practicing for 12 years (!?!?), and they refused to repair them. However, "their ways of construction" are incompliant with the Standardized Building Codes, "band-aid" reparation (the unleveled front porch complaint in 2nd complaint letter), and are violated the legislative building (un-permitted residential building & driveway). The builder did not cease the construction and still has continuing on this construction despite of the Violation Notice posted at the site from Harris County, Public Infrastructure Department Engineer Division. Used by unskilled workmanship, many warped and crooked brick-walls were latterly installed and covered up some of those unfixed found-issues.
If we did not file many complaints to the Westin homes Corporation, we believe that the contractor will not repair or fix any of these problems and the construction would have gone on according its schedule. In fact, the builder has acknowledged all the found issues but still refused to repair many of them. In fact, the builder has acknowledged all the found defects but still refused to repair many of them. In additional, the project manager, Matt Roland also has tried to cover up his shoddy work by offering a "band-aid" repair and faxing an invalid letter said that "his way" of window installation technique "is not view as incorrect" (!!!). However, when I directly contacted Aaron Watson, an operation manager of Champion Window, he said he did not acknowledged or not personally issued this falsified document to Westin homes.
Since these problems have been appearing and developing, and resolved inappropriately, we do not want to take risk to buy this UNSOUND and UNSAFE home because of foreseeable issues such as: toxic mold, unsound structural frame, dangerous and physical damage, and etc. We believe that nobody would want to live in a home that is riddled with defects. We do not want to be the future homeowners who would be the victims of Deficient Dwelling-Houses that built by shoddy construction and poor workmanship of the Westin Homes builder. Also, the Sale Manager, Christina Bratosin, has suggested us twice that we should give up and should not buy this home since we have gotten too many troubles and unpleasant experience with this home construction. We are exhausted and tired of suffering all the problems, stresses, etc they have put us through. So that, we were writing a letter to corporate to request the Westin Homes should return our full deposits (earnest money and options money) due to their false trade practices, breach of warranty and contract. However, they ignored our request.
Right now we're at the point that we are glad that we didn't move into the Westin homes. We don't want others to get burned by Westin homes. We've considered sending out emails to our relative, friends, co-workers and church members in an effort to prevent others from falling victim to these deceptive trade practices. Our mistake might serve as a blessing to others if we are able to get the word out.
We believe and know that we are not only the victims of the Westin homes; there are many other consumers who also have lost thousands dollar (under and above $10,000 - ten thousands dollars) for our/their deposits to the Westin Homes. We got contact from consumers, European couple just moved to Houston from Connecticut, are also other victims of these deceptive trade practices of Westin homes in the same community. They told us that they walked away the defective home built by Westin homes and losing their $17,000 (seventeen thousands dollar) deposits of earnest money and options money. The Westin homes builder is one of builders who would screw people to make profits.
DO NOT do business with Westin homes. The www.westin-homes.com is FULL OF LIES. They do NOT care about customer satisfaction. There is NO "providing the best product" and NO "reputation of delivering the highest levels of satisfaction to every customer, at every step". It's almost like Westin homes know that they do not build a quality product and will either manipulate consumers or deny you your earnest money when you've identified issues with the building process. Building with Westin homes in Houston is wasting your time, your money, and your peace.
We have sent our complaints to BBB (Better Business Bereau), Federal Trade Commission, Texas Attorney General, TRCC (Texas Residential Construction Commission), HOBB (Homeowners for Better Building), HADD (Homeowners Against Deceitful Dwellings), etc… to report and ask for their helps to stop the Deceptive and False Trade Practices of the Westin homes in Texas. Having a Consumer Attorney to help us to handle this issue is also one of our other considerations. More importantly, we get to make the Westin homes address their ethic practices and quality issues, and need to do something to stop their deceptive and false trade practices.
We really appreciate for your times and kind concerns. Please, help and advise! We look forward to hearing from your earliest attention and responses.
Best regards,
Homebuyer
dknp4ever@yahoo.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
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