Action 9: Waterfront View Not Pleasant For Homeowners

Two years ago Gail and Charles Tiderman moved into their new $170,000 retirement home in Gaston County with a view of Spencer Mountain.

They've spent hundreds on landscaping only to have much of it washed away. Gail Tiderman took pictures of her plant beds underwater. She says rain runoff rushes downhill from the rear of new homes being built, right into her yard.

"We're living in waterfront property that we didn't pay for because it's very red; it's all red mud," Tiderman said.

She blames her builder, KB Homes, for failing to install an adequate drainage system. She complained two years to the builder, but the work it did, did no good.

When Tiderman continued to complain, she says she got a blunt message from a KB Homes warranty supervisor and his boss.

"We saw (the warranty supervisor) the next week and he said (his boss)'s quote was, 'We're not spending any more money on that property,' and that's when we contacted (Action 9)," Tiderman said.

Action 9 got in touch with KB Homes. At first representatives said the Tidermans had disturbed a swale installed by the developer to divert water. But later they admitted the swale was never even put in.

KB Homes then brought in big equipment to reshape and add a drainage canal behind the Tidermans' house.

Gail Tiderman thinks this time the builder got it right.

"Much better, thank you very much. We're just waiting for the first big rain storm now so we can see it actually work," she said.

The lesson for new homebuyers is to remember that your warranty covers drainage issues only for the first year. So complain to your builder early and often within the warranty period. Otherwise you will be stuck.