Building Nightmares: Haunting Construction Horror Stories
Custom home construction can be an exciting and rewarding journey, but it's not always smooth sailing. Many homeowners have endured their fair share of construction nightmares while building their dream homes. In this blog post, we'll share some hair-raising client horror stories in the world of custom home building. These tales from our Utah based CEO, Dave Whitaker, serve as cautionary examples of what can go wrong when communication, planning, and execution fall short.
Deposit Disaster
I once met with a potential client to provide an estimate for their project. During the conversation I learned that a few months ago, they originally hired a contractor. They paid the contractor a 50% deposit, then never heard from him again. Luckily here at Bluerock, we only send invoices to our clients after services have been provided and materials are delivered or installed. You may be asked to send a deposit for special order products and materials but any deposit request for labor & services that have not yet been provided, is a huge red flag!
Walls of Woe
A homeowner hired me to be an expert witness in a lawsuit they were involved in. The contractor they hired for a remodel removed a few walls without hiring a structural engineer. As a result, their entire second level was slowly sinking. Every door on the upper level of their home could not close properly into the door frame. If you think hiring a good contractor is expensive, try hiring a bad one!
Permit Panic
Our team at Bluerock completed a small renovation project for a client. After passing the final inspection, we learned that previous projects done, by another company, were not properly permitted. It was extremely difficult for the homeowner to prove to the city that the prior work was done correctly. As a homeowner, it’s crucial that you only hire a qualified, licensed, and insured general contractor who will ensure building permits are secured for your project.
Our team at Bluerock ensures each client follows a municipal plan review process. This ensures the blueprints are thorough and contain the necessary structural details and calculations. In addition, having regular building inspections during construction can catch those errors or omissions and protect you from major issues.
Construction Catastrophes
A client of ours bought a new construction home in Oregon, where the water table is high and no homes have basements. After they moved in and the rain came, they found there were feet of standing water under their home- right up to the access door in the floor. They contacted the builder who promised to come right out and address the drainage issue. The builder came, started digging a large hole next to their house and never came back. After repeated calls, they ended up fixing the issue themselves. A few months later, they experienced issues with a poorly installed skylight that caused their attic and roof to build mold and rot. The company failed again to follow through on promises to repair the shoddy labor. This was all with a major construction company. Boooooooo! Luckily, here at Bluerock we prioritize our clients. We work to meet all city codes and building regulations while ensuring we meet your expectations.
While these custom home construction horror stories are hair-raising, they serve as valuable lessons for both homeowners and builders. A successful custom home building project requires open communication, careful planning, and the engagement of Bluerock professionals who share your vision and values. By learning from these nightmarish experiences, future custom home builders can better prepare themselves to turn their dreams into realities while avoiding the nightmares that haunt others.
Happy Halloween!
