Heaven help us

Heaven help us. Not since 9-11-01 have I seen anything so horrible. In many ways this surpasses 9-11-01. What happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School was not the result of foreign terrorists—neither was Clackamus Town Center in Portland, OR, or Aurora, CO, or the Sikh Temple in WI, or other domestic mass murders. We’re doing this to ourselves.

I agree with President Obama. “We have been through this too many times. … These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. … We're going to have to come together to take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics."

As US bishops pointed out in their 1994 pastoral letter about violence in our nation (http://old.usccb.org/sdwp/national/criminal/ccv94.shtml), there is much that needs to be done on a wide variety of fronts to change the culture of violence in our country; but, we can start by taking weapons that are meant for military and law enforcement out of the hands of those who aren’t military or law enforcement. This will make some people angry (notably the NRA and its extremist supporters); but, so be it. 

Mr. President, I support your using your executive powers, or any other power at your disposal, to ban the possession of assault weapons by any other person than military or law enforcement personnel. It’s past due time to stop the madness. 


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57559296/obama-we-have-been-through-this-too-many-times/




We live in a representative democracy (Republic) where the will of the majority should prevail. If the majority wants to ban private ownership of assault weapons, then they should be banned, regardless of what my individual position, the NRA’s, or the position of any other individual, lobbyist, lobbying group, or political party in the minority may be. Majority rules--period--move on to the next problem.

I spent most of my career designing highway improvements for VDOT and other state and local governments. Regardless of how bad the traffic, and how badly the project was needed, it seemed that there was always at least one property owner who didn’t want to sell their property. (Can you imagine, with the ever-increasing number of vehicles and drivers, if no improvements to the roadway system were ever made?) Fortunately, public agencies have a way of dealing with this—eminent domain. For the good of the majority, the desires of the minority are overruled; that’s the way that government representing the will of the people is supposed to work.

Whether it’s banning private ownership of assault weapons, improving roadways, raising taxes, decreasing benefits and/or raising the eligibility age for Social Security or Medicare, or any other issue that affects us all, once the people have spoken, and the majority says “do it”, then it should be done, regardless of the minority.

Pulte Homes & that sinking feeling

http://www.ocala.com/article/20121129/ARTICLES/121129676?p=1

“I bought my townhouse in 2007 from Pulte Homes and at no time, when I was shown diagrams of the layout of the community, was I told of likelihoods of sinkholes,” Stella said.

“We have now been hit with two major sinkholes in the last two years that we have paid special assessments for. I want to know where Pulte is now. Do they not stand by their work and where they place their houses?

“This is not only a major safety hazard, but also affecting people’s financial livelihood. We should be getting help by Pulte in fixing this situations and we need answers on whether this is going to continue happening. I can’t keep paying an extra $400 a year for a sinkhole!”

Under state law, property insurers who pay claims for sinkhole-related repairs must file a report with the court clerk’s office detailing the incident. According to Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellsperman’s staff, 15 such claims are on record since December 2010 for the Red Hawk and Saddle Creek portions of Fore Ranch.

None have been filed to date for the Wynchase incident.

Valerie Dolenga, a regional spokeswoman for Pulte, explained that the builder continues to build and sell at Trillium, and that the homeowners’ association there is still developer-controlled.

Fore Ranch, in contrast, was turned over to the residents, she added."

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OS&Date=20121129&Category=ARTICLES&ArtNo=121129676&Ref=AR&MaxW=445&border=0




Homeowners, You may want to look into reports of a HUD/FBI investigation into Pulte's alleged failure to report known "adverse conditions and foreseeable hazards" on required HUD forms for their Fairhaven development in Schertz, TX. Pulte houses there have failed due to poor soils and resulting extreme settlement.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/FBI-HUD-investigating-Fairhaven-homebuilder-3700304.php

"Pulte Homes' serious quality control problems"

This understatement comes all the way from California:

http://pulte-homes.pissedconsumer.com/pulte-homes-problems-20121129363320.html

PULTE HOMES PROBLEMS
Pulte Homes Complaint by Dusty Rhodes 

"The Del Web Sun City Shadow Hills complex in Indio continues to have serious administrative and quality control problems. The re-work and repair crews fail to show for appointments or in the latest instance arrive 7 hours early waking us up. No one seems to be checking or doing follow up on the subs."

BUT, Pulte Homes claims: "Life tested home designs, unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail."

https://plus.google.com/109016788407020208061

From Canada to Mexico, and coast-to-coast, Pulte Homes has "serious quality control problems". MANY are documented here in  peretired.blogspot.com. Don't sign a contract for a new house with a builder with a reputation for "serious quality control problems". You'll be sorry if you do.

Pulte Homes' whopper of the century

Pulte Homes - Google+

https://plus.google.com/109016788407020208061

Pulte Homes - "Life tested home designs, unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail."

What a steaming pile of BS!!!

Pulte Homes' salesman

$ome thing$ never change:

early Pulte Home$' $ale$man: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SYfUPGCCQ

today'$ Pulte Home$' $ale$people:

Pulte Homes best kept secret

You have to dig pretty deep to find the truth about Pulte Homes--in Google Search, in Twitter, ...

To find the REAL truth about Pulte Homes, go to peretired.blogspot.com
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Pulte Homes "cheap, cheap"

What the experts say about the retaining wall collapse at Hills of Rivermist subdivision in San Antonio TX: 
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=263647


My favorite: 

"msquared48 (Structural)

Yup.  That's their reputation here too.  

A little birdie just flew by and said "Cheap, Cheap".


close second: 

"bridgebuster (Civil)

I found this passage from the news article amusing:

"Travis Watson, 36, said he noticed the ground behind his 3-month-old home in the 8300 block of Valley Well had shifted down several inches Friday, and he called the home builder.

'I was told that I wasn't watering enough,' he said."


#3: 

"JedClampett (Structural)

Pulte owns Centex.  Two peas in a pod."


for more on the retaining wall collapse, google "Rivermist retaining wall", or you can search "Rivermist" on peretired.blogspot.com. 

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Pulte Homes and the Brooklyn Bridge

"From single family homes to low-maintenance townhomes, each new home is built with an unwavering commitment to quality and a disciplined approach to construction."
http://www.pulte.com/


"...an unwavering commitment to quality..." 


You believe that one, and I've got a bridge in Brooklyn that I want to sell you!

FACT CHECK:  http://peretired.blogspot.com/
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Pulte Homes: Lemon Builder

Pulte Homes fact check

"From single family homes to low-maintenance townhomes, each new home is built with an unwavering commitment to quality and a disciplined approach to construction."
http://www.pulte.com/


"...an unwavering commitment to quality..."


You believe that one, and I've got a bridge in Brooklyn that I want to sell you!


FACT CHECK:  http://peretired.blogspot.com/

Pulte Homes and hurricanes

a timely reminder:

http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423


Do you ever wonder why the house building industry is in such a mess? Blame the house builders. If they didn't build such a lousy product, then maybe they wouldn't be in the shape that they're in. Substituting nails for hurricane clips is just one example. There are MANY others. You'll find them right here in this blog.

Pulte Homes San Antonio, TX

Picture yourself as owner of one of these Pulte Homes:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Pulte-tears-down-homes-in-Schertz-3893704.php

Then picture yourself as owner of one of the other around 50+ homes in Pulte's development with "severe foundation and structural problems", who have been trying for the last several years to get Pulte Homes to fix the problems.

--not a pretty picture.

*************************************************************************************


Despite what Pulte Homes spokesperson Valerie Dolenga says, there’s only one reason that Pulte Homes is tearing down these houses.

It isn’t because Pulte Homes cares about their customers.
It isn’t because Pulte Homes stands behind their product.
It isn’t even because of Pulte Homes’ warranty.

It’s because they have to.
Pulte Homes doesn’t do ANYTHING unless they HAVE to.

The fact that Pulte Homes is tearing down these houses is proof that Pulte Homes has lost.

Maybe it’s the FBI investigation.
Maybe it’s pressure from Schertz officials.
Maybe it's some homeowners' and/or their lawyers' resolve.
Maybe it’s something else.

But, it’s clear that Pulte Homes has lost.

Pulte Homes

Pulte Homes' legal snags:

http://jacksonvillerealestatemarket.com/new-legal-snags-for-pulte-homes/

Pulte Homes and the 20+ ft. high GRAVITY retaining wall w/ MORTAR JOINTS

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/19/51482.htm

Did the plaintiffs’ lawyers introduce expert testimony from an engineer? Did the engineer point out that the failed retaining wall was more than 20 feet high? That it was a GRAVITY stone wall (NO STEEL REINFORCEMENT) WITH MORTAR JOINTS? That gravity walls are typically used for only LOW retaining walls because gravity walls, PARICULARLY THOSE WITH MORTAR JOINTS, typically aren’t strong enough to resist forces on high retaining walls?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Rivermist-owners-look-to-arbitration-3972254.php

This was a 20+ ft. high gravity retaining wall that was built with stone and mortar joints. Because they have no steel reinforcement, gravity retaining walls are typically used for only low retaining walls (less than 10 ft. high). Gravity retaining walls are typically not used for high (20+ ft.) walls, because they aren't strong enough to resist forces that act on high retaining walls. This is especially true for a gravity wall that has mortar joints.

Google Pulte Homes

Google "Pulte Homes".

Under search tools, click on "past month".

This is at the top of the list:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Pulte-tears-down-homes-in-Schertz-3893704.php

Now click on "past week".

http://www.mhreporter.com/2012/10/13/mountain-house-community-association-sues-pulte-homes/

Pulte Homes and the election

“… two very different paths…” 


One to “government-gone-wild”: out-of-control spending, HUGE national debt, HUGE budget deficit, government overreach, government waste, etc. Who “pays the freight”? We do.

The other to "business-gone-wild": how does that work out? We’ll let you know if the nation ever recovers from the effects of the current economic crisis.

“Two very different paths” to disaster--heads we lose; tails we lose.

Here’s an example of BOTH (in the SAME example!):

Job creation: “Government-gone-wild” gives Pulte Homes $900 million in stimulus (public) $, which hasn’t been accounted for publicly. Who pays? We do. 

Pulte Homes then creates thousands of jobs with the $900 million in stimulus funds, building shoddy houses (“business-gone-wild”). Who pays? We do.

If you doubt the facts in this example, then google “Pulte Homes $900 million” and “Pulte Homes shoddy”.

What a choice: heads, we lose; tails, we lose!
.
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Construction defects' attorneys love Pulte Homes

construction defects' attorneys love Pulte Homes: 

http://www.mhreporter.com/2012/10/13/mountain-house-community-association-sues-pulte-homes/
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If people who bought Pulte Homes' stock had to live in their houses...

If people who bought Pulte Homes' stock had to live in their houses, then Pulte Homes would be no more.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Pulte-tears-down-homes-in-Schertz-3893704.php
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Pulte Homes tears down houses with broken foundations

This is what you do with a house with a broken foundation. How long will it take for Pulte Homes to do what it should have done for ALL the homes with broken foundations?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Pulte-tears-down-homes-in-Schertz-3893704.php



Despite what Pulte Homes spokesperson Valerie Dolenga says, there’s only one reason that Pulte Homes is tearing down these houses.

It isn’t because Pulte Homes cares about their customers.
It isn’t because Pulte Homes stands behind their product.
It isn’t even because of Pulte Homes’ warranty.

It’s because they have to.
Pulte Homes doesn’t do ANYTHING unless they HAVE to.

The fact that Pulte Homes is tearing down these houses is proof that Pulte Homes has lost.

Maybe it’s the FBI investigation.
Maybe it’s pressure from Schertz officials.
Maybe it's some homeowners' and/or their lawyers' resolve.
Maybe it’s something else.

But, it’s clear that Pulte Homes has lost.

Pulte Homes and drinking the kool-aid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_the_Kool-Aid


http://www.litelysalted.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/REMEMBER-JONESTOWN-small.jpg.
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Pulte Homes' gag agreements

Can you imagine taking your new car into the dealer for a warranty repair and having the dealer insist that you sign a "gag" agreement before the dealer will make the warranty repair? A "gag" agreement that says that you will not disclose anything to anyone about the defect or seek any other recourse if you are not satisfied that the defect has been satisfactorily repaired?

No? Neither can I.

But, this is exactly what Pulte Homes requires. Pulte Homes’ customers in their Fairhaven development (Schertz TX) with cracked, failed foundations and in Sun City Hilton Head SC with failed stucco must sign “gag” agreements before Pulte Homes will make warranty repairs.

How’s that for standing behind your product? How’s that for treating your customers well?

There ought to be a law. But, there isn’t.

Don’t sign a contract with Pulte Homes to build you a house.
You’ll be sorry if you do.

 

 

Pulte Homes' roofs wouldn't do so well

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/08/21/2181474_florida-university-unveils-new.html

It’d be interesting to see how SCHH roofs would or wouldn’t hold up in the simulator—the roofs where Pulte Homes decided in 2004 to substitute two nails for a hurricane clip at connections between valley trusses and main roof trusses—and then, when discovered, along with Beaufort County, decided to substitute screws for nails, instead of providing hurricane clips, which were installed in houses built at SCHH before 2004. 

My guess is that the clipless roofs at SCHH wouldn’t do so well in the simulator. 

Thanks, Pulte Homes and Beaufort County, SC Office of Building Code Enforcement.

Pulte Homes' fraud

In construction it's illegal for one party (builder or contractor) to make changes to the project, after the contract is signed, without the other party’s (owner’s) knowledge. To do so is fraud. However, that’s exactly what Pulte Homes did with the house that they built under contract with me in 2004. And, they did the same between 2004 and 2007 with hundreds of other customers as well.

 

The contact that I signed with Pulte Homes in spring, 2004 was for the Wysteria model at Sun City Hilton Head, SC. The model home was built in 2003. The model home, along with all other houses that Pulte Homes built at Sun City Hilton Head in 2003, had hurricane clips at connections between valley trusses and main roof trusses.

 

Sometime after I signed the contract with Pulte Homes to build my house, Pulte Homes decided WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME, ON THEIR OWN, to substitute two nails for hurricane clips at the valley truss/main roof truss connections--on my house, and hundreds of others as well.

"We acknowledge that there's a mistake that's been made, and we are preparing to go back and fix the mistake," said Jon Cherry, who heads Pulte's South Carolina Coastal Division.

Read more here: http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423#storylink=cpy

( http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423 )

No, Mr. Cherry. It wasn't a mistake. It was DELIBERATE ON PULTE HOMES' PART and IT WAS FRAUD.


PS  Neither screws nor nails are a hurricane clip. IT'S STILL FRAUD.

 

 

Pulte Homes need not apply

Looking for contractors to build this:

Pulte Homes need not apply:

http://www.hobb.org/content/view/3786/1/

Pulte Homes

the people who have been burned by Pulte Homes, but who don't speak out publicly, deserve what they get.


the people who don't know that Pulte Homes is a dishonest, reckless, and arrogant builder that builds shoddy houses and treats their customers poorly, because people who have been burned by Pulte Homes don't speak out publicly, and because Pulte Homes and their stooges spread lies all over the internet, DON'T deserve what they get.

How Pulte Homes treats their customers

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/31/2152931/delay-and-more-delay-pultes-tactic.html

Delay and more delay Pulte's tactic on stucco

IslandPacket

IslandPacket The Island Packet

Published Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Updated Monday, July 30, 2012

We purchased our Sun City Hilton Head home in June 2006, and the builder began building our home in October.

Even before that, Pulte knew of the stucco issues and could have made the proper changes to the building process. This would have corrected the building procedures and saved so many of us from entering into a lawsuit to correct this problem.

Pulte has done nothing but delay, delay and delay, even to the point of initiating legislative action in the state Senate to eliminate our right to legal action in this matter. Thanks to our state senator, Tom Davis, and two hearings before a Judiciary subcommittee, that action failed. Now, after denial of motions brought by Pulte and South Carolina State Plastering, they have filed four appeals.

An estimated 4,300 homes have been built with improper flashing and control joints. Driving down Sun City Boulevard and throughout the side streets, one can see the homes with scaffolding on one or more sides as they are being repaired.

If it cared enough about its reputation as a builder, it would fix all of the stucco on all of the houses instead of this piecemeal job they are doing.

By the way, we were impressed that Pulte sent a court stenographer to take down every word the presenting attorney said at a recent meeting held to tell homeowners about the class action lawsuit. Even more impressive was the attempt to stop the attorney from presenting us information.

Thanks, Pulte.

Ralph and Linda Perkins
Sun City Hilton Head .

.    

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/31/2152931/delay-and-more-delay-pultes-tactic.html#storylink=cpy

Pulte Homes' puppet politicians

Feeding at the Pulte Homes trough

“It's a tough thing,” the mayor added. “I want you to know that this council supports your positions and we will do anything that we can do within our power, but our powers in this situation are limited. (Pulte) holds all the cards and we don't hold any.”  ( http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Schertz-residents-appeal-Buy-back-our-houses-2456695.php )


Talk about your worthless government!


Don't sign a contract with Pulte Homes to build you a house.
You'll regret it if you do.
And, government won't help you a bit.
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TX mayor: "Pulte holds all the cards and we don't hold any."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Schertz-residents-appeal-Buy-back-our-houses-2456695.php

“It's a tough thing,” the mayor added. “I want you to know that this council supports your positions and we will do anything that we can do within our power, but our powers in this situation are limited. (Pulte) holds all the cards and we don't hold any.”

Scary, isn't it? when the government that's supposed to be representing you says: "Pulte  holds all the cards and we don't hold any.”

Scary, but true.

Don't sign a contract with Pulte Homes to build you a house.
You'll regret it if you do.
And, government won't help you a bit.

Don't believe anything that Pulte Homes says

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Schertz-residents-appeal-Buy-back-our-houses-2456695.php

Pulte Homes bought back sinkng houses with bad foundations at Sun City Hilton Head, SC. I know--I have a house there.

Don't believe anything that Pulte Homes says. Their SOP is to "deny, deny, deny" and "delay, delay, delay".

Good luck, homeowners--you've got it right--you can't "fix" a broken foundation--my civil engineering degree and 45+ years experience in engineering and construction have shown me that.

what ever happened with the VA & Pulte Homes?

The FBI and HUD are investigating Pulte Homes.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/FBI-HUD-investigating-Fairhaven-homebuilder-3700304.php

This not the first time that the federal government has investigated Pulte Homes -- for foundation problems -- in Texas -- more than a decade ago.

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/archives/va-looks-into-pulte-homes-after-complaint/article_fb0f9ce4-fac2-5cbc-b9da-f52c61fac52d.html

What happened???

Is this another case of the federal government NOT looking out for veterans and other citizens? Who paid who?

Pulte Homes is lowest--no surprise there

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-briefs/news-watch/shares-pulte-homes-rank-lowest-terms-sales-growth-homebuilding-industry-phm-n

just might be because Pulte Homes builds shoddy houses and treats their customers poorly.
DUH!

RENT! Don't buy a Pulte house

http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/341510-mad-hedge-fund-trader/908411-more-hard-truths-about-residential-real-estate


"Look at the stock chart for Pulte Homes (PHM) and it resembles my flight path just before I crashed a twin engine Cessna into the Australian Alps (my engine failed).

According to a survey by Zillow.com, a real estate appraisal website, 5 million homeowners plan to sell on any improvement in prices. Add 4 million existing homes now on the market, 1 million new homes flogged by companies like Lennar (LEN) and Pulte Homes, and 1 million bank owned properties. Another 8 million mortgage owners are late on their payments and are on the verge of foreclosure, bringing the total overhang to 19 million homes.

I sold everything in 2005 when my research threw up these numbers, and have been happily renting ever since. And, if the toilet blocks up, I just call the landlord."

"...no brainer..."


Yep. "no brainer"--RENT!
Don't buy a house from Pulte Homes.

Pulte Homes' statistics

One could argue that a few houses with failed foundations are statistically insignificant with the number of houses that Pulte Homes builds. That is, unless you own one of Pulte Home's houses with a failed foundation:

http://www.kens5.com/news/Shifting-and-shuffling-Fairhaven-residents-complain-their-foundations-are-slipping-162115165.html


However, thousands of Pulte Homes’ houses with failed foundations are not statistically insignificant.

“Michael Dicks, a Phoenix construction-defect attorney, believes that ‘thousands upon thousands’ of homes have been affected by soil problems -- or will be showing damage in the near future.” 

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/


Neither are thousands of Pulte Homes' houses with failed stucco.

“…4,300 homeowners …” 

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/14/2134568/judge-lawyers-in-stucco-suit-can.html


or inadequate roof truss connections.

“… 2,600 homes …” 

http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423


Don’t buy a house from Pulte Homes.

Odds are NOT in your favor.

dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes

When problems occur with Pulte Homes' houses (they do regularly), Pulte Homes always says: "Pulte Homes is fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality."

Really?

If that’s the case, then why did Pulte Homes deliberately build thousands of houses with unreinforced concrete foundations on expansive soils in Arizona in the early 2000s, and then do the same thing in Texas years later, leaving customers in Arizona and Texas to deal with devastating consequences of failed foundations? Why did Pulte Homes deliberately substitute nails for hurricane clips in thousands of houses in coastal South Carolina? Why did Pulte Homes install defective stucco in thousands of houses at the same location?

There are widespread problems with Pulte Homes' houses at many other locations. Pulte Homes’ mantra is always the same: "Pulte Homes is fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality."

Dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes

dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes

In the early 2000s Pulte Homes deliberately built houses on marginal soils in Arizona. Unreinforced concrete foundations failed, and unsuspecting homeowners are left with the consequences.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/


"Petroulakis declined an interview, but issued a written statement saying that the company, a division of Pulte Homes, is 'fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality.' "


Years later Pulte Homes deliberately built houses on marginal soils in the Fairhaven development in Schertz, TX. Unreinforced concrete foundations failed, and unsuspecting homeowners are left with the consequences.

http://www.kens5.com/news/Shifting-and-shuffling-Fairhaven-residents-complain-their-foundations-are-slipping-162115165.html


dishonest, reckless and arrogant Pulte Homes

disposable Pulte Homes

disposable diapers.
disposable bottles.
disposable cups.
disposable tableware.
disposable razors.
disposable lighters.
disposable contact lenses.
disposable gloves.
disposable cameras.
disposable cell phones.

and now, from Pulte Homes:

disposable houses ( http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/ ,http://www.hobb.org/index.php?searchword=fairhaven&option=com_search&Itemid=  )

We live in a disposable world.
(maybe it's time to dispose of Pulte Homes.)

NOTHING has changed with Pulte Homes

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/

http://www.hobb.org/index.php?searchword=fairhaven&option=com_search&Itemid=

Pulte problems--SOS (Same Old S____)

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-03-16/news/cracked-houses/

March 16, 2006--a mere 6+ years ago!

"Del Webb's attorney, Roger W. Strassburg, referred all questions to a company spokeswoman, Jacque Petroulakis. Petroulakis declined an interview, but issued a written statement saying that the company, a division of Pulte Homes, is "' fully committed to customer satisfaction and quality.' "

S.O.S.
NOTHING has changed with Pulte Homes:
http://www.hobb.org/index.php?searchword=fairhaven&option=com_search&Itemid=

Pulte's strategy: deny, deny, deny; delay, delay, delay

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/19/2140069/hundreds-of-sun-city-homeowners.html

"That's their strategy: Delay, delay, delay," Seekings (Attorney Michael Seekings of Leath, Bouch & Seekings law firm in Charleston) said."

Yep. That's what I said almost THREE YEARS ago:

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/19/2140069/hundreds-of-sun-city-homeowners.html#storylink=cpy

http://peretired.blogspot.com/2009/09/pulte-playbook.html

another dissatisfied Pulte customer

http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Buyers_Agents_Be_Aware_Pulte_has_changed_HVAC_sys-409456-p_1-recent?answerId=1498234#left_content


"Pulte Homes has an extensive history of this sort of thing. I know—I own a Pulte house—in a Pulte development on the SC coast. In 2006 I discovered that roof truss connections in these houses were woefully inadequate. I’m a retired civil engineer. The building code requires that houses in this location must be capable of withstanding a 130 mph hurricane force wind. It was obvious to me when I saw the roof truss connections that they could not. I came to find out that Pulte decided to substitute two nails for the hurricane clip called for on construction drawings. That’s bad enough; but, many of the connections that I saw had no nails, one nail, nails that completely missed their target, nails in split wood, etc.—woefully inadequate.


Currently, in Schertz TX, foundations for homes in a Pulte development have completely failed due to expansive soils, and the fact that the foundations don’t have steel reinforcement (rebars). Unlike our houses a completely failed foundation is fatal.


If you want to know more about Pulte’s shoddy construction, see my blog: http://peretired.blogspot.com/ . Good luck with Pulte Homes. Most of us have found that Pulte’s SOP is to deny, deny, deny and delay, delay, delay. If the problems are “manageable”, then most of us have fixed them ourselves."

Typical--Pulte Homes hiding from their customers

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/264265/8/Sinkhole-worries-continue-in-Hernando-County

Pulte, the Prevaricator

Anyone who has ever contracted with Pulte Homes to build them a house knows that Pulte Homes lies to their customers. Now, let's see if the Feds can make it stick. Will the Feds be influenced in their investigation by Pulte Homes and their pocket politicians? Time will tell.

Also, it would seem that the homeowners have grounds to sue Pulte for fraud, which would be outside the binding arbitration clause for construction issues that is included in Pulte's sales contract.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/FBI-looking-into-Fairhaven-3714329.php

Pulte screws their customers

http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423

Building inspectors have reviewed more than 1,270 attics since Beaufort County launched an investigation earlier this summer to check whether roof trusses in 2,600 homes were installed properly.
   
    Out of 739 homes reviewed by inspectors in July, 668 required at least one repair, according to inspection records. Many of those repairs were minimal, requiring the addition of a few screws to fasten trusses together.

    Other repairs were more extensive, requiring dozens of screws and additional lumber to close gaps between trusses, according to inspection reports.

Of the 668 homes repaired in July:

Trusses in 319 homes needed between one to nine screws.

Trusses in 266 homes needed between 10 to 29 screws.

Trusses in 60 homes needed between 30 and 49 screws.

Twenty-two homes needed 50 or more screws.

136 of the 668 homes also needed additional lumber to close gaps between trusses. The trusses are supposed to rest on top of each other.

    Inspectors also made other observations. For example, they noted that several homes were missing a valley truss.

 The trusses in Sun City resident Rick McCollough's home were deemed "unsatisfactory" by county building inspectors during a preliminary inspection in May because of gaps between several trusses and multiple places where nails didn't fasten trusses together properly.

    When the independent inspector returned two months later, he ordered 50 screws installed to secure the trusses. The inspector also had 11 pieces of wood installed to close the gaps between trusses, according to the inspection reports.

    Even after the repairs, however, a Packet reporter saw some trusses with gaps between them and some not connected securely with nails.

    "It's very arbitrary," McCollough said, "and they wouldn't have put this many (screws) in here if I hadn't been up here pointing them out."
   
    Pulte used to fasten trusses together using metal brackets called hurricane clips, but switched to a different method after Jan. 1, 2004. Pulte's engineer said hurricane clips were not necessary and instead recommended using nails.

    However, in some cases the nails didn't thoroughly penetrate the trusses or they split the wood, weakening the connection. Some connections had no nails or only one nail instead of the two ordered by the engineer.

    To fix the problem, Pulte's engineer recommended switching from nails to screws. Pulte took that advice this spring and began using screws to fasten trusses in new homes.

    But Pulte decided to switch back to hurricane clips this summer, Cherry said, because clips are easier for inspectors to see. Clips are attached to trusses with multiple nails, and have more holding strength than nails alone.

    Homeowners whose attics were repaired with screws rather than clips shouldn't be concerned, Cherry said.

    "It's not one method is better than the other -- they're all acceptable," Cherry said. "We just want to make sure this mistake does not occur ever again."

    McCollough and his next door neighbor aren't convinced. They plan to hire someone to install hurricane clips in their homes, he said.

    "We've put too much money into this to leave it to chance," McCollough said.


Guess who got screwed?
answer: Pulte's customers.

Read more here: http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/14423#storylink=cpy