San Antonio Family Displaced Due to New Home Construct Disaster
San Antonio, TX – A local family has been forced to relocate into temporary housing as their newly-built dream home has become a nightmare. Less than a year into their homeownership journey, Laci and her family have been homeless due to the endless repair works that their new home requires.
A Dream Home Turns into a Nightmare
The stunning facade of the Pulte home promised luxury and comfort. However, for the Booker family, happiness was short-lived. “You walk in and you’re greeted by studs and drywall cut out,” said Laci Booker, the distraught homeowner struggling to hold back her emotions as she narrated her ordeal.
A few weeks after moving into their new place in April 2023, the family started noticing flaws within the house. Doors weren’t being able to open and close properly due to the misaligned structure of the walls. The more they delved into the faults, the more issues cropped up, transforming their newly-built home into a hazardous construction site.
Endless Repairs
It all began with lodging a complaint with the warranty team. From there, the situation spiraled into an endless loop of extensive repair works, all while day-to-day life was significantly disrupted. Beams were exposed as drywalls had to be removed extensively. The construction nightmare was only worsening with each passing day.
Temporary Housing and Continuing Troubles
The PulteGroup asked the family to move into temporary housing, promising to bear the expenses. The agreement was to finish the major structural correction within three weeks and handover the home back to the family. However, the repairs seem to continue indefinitely as the family remains displaced months later.
Seeking Second Opinions
Unsatisfied with the progress, the Bookers decided to bring in an independent home inspector. Mark Eberwine, a veteran home inspector, flagged almost 80 items as deficient. According to his inspection report, the house has significant framing, electrical, and safety issues, suggesting that if the drywall was pulled out, more structural integrity issues might surface.
Builder’s Response
Pulte confirms that repair work started in January 2024 and claimed that all issues flagged by the city of Seguin have been resolved. The company mentioned that the necessary framing repairs subsequently resulted in necessary adjustments to drywall and interior finishes. It is also working to address the issues highlighted by Mark in his inspection report. Nonetheless, the Bookers have lost their faith in the builder.
As the legal battle looms, it brings to light the importance of having third-party inspectors to avoid such traumatic experiences. It does not only save homeowners from enduring hefty repair costs but also from the emotional stress of what was supposed to be a happy and exciting life event.