JIM WALTER HOMES ripoff BUILT HOUSE ON THE WRONG LAND. MUSCLE SHOALS ALABAMA

and get yourself a lawyer. You are at risk of losing your home, and should not be spending time posting, get legal help immediately.

Didn't you think to tell them they were building YOUR house on someone else's property? I mean if YOU didn't know where your property was, what are the chances JWH knew? See if the neighbor will sell you enough of his land to cover the house. I'd see an attorney, JWH may share some of the fault here. The county or whoever approves any permits or deeds and such maybe on the hook also. You had to have had title insurance for the properties to be built but out in the sticks things can get pretty screwed up. Been there, done that.

To the one who respond to my letter.We didnot know exact where the boundary line was is the reason a survey was done and we do have a lawyerI'm just waiting at this point.thank so much for responding.

Katie,

Let me start by saying how sorry I am that you are going through this.

We had something similar happen to us. We have an acre of land and there were no houses for two blocks. We had the survey done, and JWH asked us where we wanted the house. They actaully told us to stake out a 50x50 area. When we expressed concern to them that we didn't know what the city requirements were for set backs, they said "oh it's just a general guideline for us, we'll take care of that." Well in clearing the property, the boundary stakes were lost,with no other houses to use as a guide we really were just guessing. They then sent us plans with the proper setbacks and the house in the correct place....but they actually put the house in the exact place where WE staked it. It turned out to be 9 feet off..JWH wouldn't take responsibility, the city wouldn't take responsibility for passing the setback inspections, and the foundation inspections..they put a freeze on our house..it was a mess. We finally insisted that JWH come back and do another survey and it turned out we had enough property to accomodate for the 9 feet.

I know this doesn't help you, but I know this isn't your fault and I just wanted to go on record letting you know that. It was a careless mistake and of course the builder and the city aren't going to admit fault....you are doing the righ thing in getting a lawyer. I hope it all works out for you.

This is in response to the 2 customers who had Boundary Issues. First off, no permitting agency will help you. They are there to take your money for a building permit. I don't think Jim Walter employs any full time Registered Land Surveyors (also known as RLS, PLS or PSM nomenclatures.) Most of these guys are Subcontractors, or are treated and paid as such. They are Professionals registered with your applicable State Boards. They were hired by JW, and did a survey of your Land. They might or might not carry Liablity (E & O) Insurance.

If THEY made a mistake (Corners in wrong place etc), your options are to contact them and their liability carriers, and if they don't cooperate, file a formal complaint with your State Board of Land Surveyors. That WILL get their attention as their License (s) can be revoked\suspended\fined. If Jim Walter asked for a "Boundary" Survey only, and then the building subs misinterpreted the survey without hiring the surveyor to place the house on lot, then the surveyor is not at fault for house location-unless original Boundary Survey is faulty.

You should ALWAYS protect your metal corners set for you. DON't LET THEM BE TORN OUT!!! Its your Land and Your responsibility to do so. Put Wood Fence Posts up about 6 inches away from them and paint them.

Also, to the person clearing a patch for your house, your local building dept. will gladly give you setbacks over the phone. You need to know your zoning. If you don't, your local zoning dept. can tell you that. In smaller towns or Counties, the same person can and usually does both.

I know from experience (I refuse to work for Jim Walter because their representatives are ill informed and untrained here at least) Jim Walter is like a bunch of builders in that they hire subcontractors to work for you, their client. In this area, you can't find good help as it's already taken by a higher bidder who will hire them full time, pay on time etc. You're usually getting the "dregs" of the local help. In some areas, if you're lucky, you get competent workers.

Its Russian Roulette if you don't watch every aspect of the building process. I hope this clears up some of your survey issues. If you have further Land Surveying questions, respond and I will try to help you with any ongoing problems, Timothy B, PSM, Melbourne, Fl

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As a former Jim Walter Homes employee construction manager for the Jackson Tn. branch 12-1-99 to 11-1-04. My advice on this is that your home should have never been built if any question as the placement on your property was at this time or previously was evident. Your recourse would be to have JWH relocate your home or to purchase the property it now occupies.

I saw heard and witnessed a lot of things during my time with JWH. When I came to work for JWH things were a total mess in my area which took over 9 mos. to straighten out and the only thing that helped me through these times were my experience as a licensed builder in Mi. and a lot of determination.

Any other disgruntled JWH customers should contact me through this site and I would be willing to for a fee help anyone build a case against this company as I know there corporate policies inside and out and most of there home plans also some I still have copies of. During my time with JWH I took great pride in producing the best homes possible and though all customers were not happy most of my problems were sales related due to improper information given by sales associates or misinterperated by customers. I admit I saw a lot of shoddy practices in play and any company insider can tell you we called this putting a bandage on a gunshot wound.