Action 9

Waxhaw man upset with country's largest home builder

WAXHAW, N.C. — Kurt Miller's house is only a few years old, but stone is falling off the front.

Miller said that also meant leaks.

"The exterior part is around $6,000 and that's not including the inside or the potential mold. That's the other issue: what's the mold factor?" Miller told Action 9.

He expected the builder to take care of all this, but there's a problem.

"Evergreen started the home. Timberstone completed the construction. Then from there, Timberstone got bought out," Miller explained. "Ryland took over. And then CalAtlantic bought out Ryland. And now Lennar has bought out CalAtlantic."

That's five companies. "Who's responsible in the sense of who can help me?" Miller asked.

Action 9 emailed Lennar, which calls itself the "nation’s largest homebuilder" on its website. Four minutes later, a representative emailed back, saying, "We will be sure that our customer is contacted." Miller was, but said Lennar simply referred him to the warranty company the original builder lined up, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. Miller said 2-10 HBW wouldn't foot the bill.

"Basically, it was that, if it's not a support structure or a weight-bearing support structure that it's not covered," Miller said. "Tell you what, 2018 is a year that I would like to truly forget."

Action 9 called 2-10 HBW and emailed the company twice through its website, starting Jan. 2nd.  Action 9 still hadn't heard back by news time Tuesday.

Miller said his insurance won't cover it, either. So he's going to have to himself.

"It's the big man versus the little man," Miller said. "How many other people are going through this right now?"

Here's what you need to know about new construction:

The home builder's warranty usually covers shoddy workmanship, but only for a year.

You can always buy your own home warranty for about $400-$500. Just make sure you know what it does and doesn't cover. There's a lot of fine print. Plus, many have deductibles or fees for sending someone out.

If you have a problem that makes the home unlivable, both Carolinas have what's called an "implied" warranty of habitability. In North Carolina, that lasts up to six years, but is fairly limited.

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