DR Horton Builder Warranty Problem Ft Worth, Jacksonville Texas, Florida

Below is a rather lengthy letter to the BBB. I would recommend not buying from DR Horton.

It is interesting that Mr. Hughes states that I caused this problem by installing a garden in the back half of my property. The garden was located on the other side of the swale, which would not hinder drainage. The letter from Mr. Hughes was the first anyone from D. R. Horton has told me that my garden was causing the problem. In fact, Mitchell from D.R. Horton told me in August that there was a drainage problem. He told me that he did not know what was causing the problem but that he was going to install a French drain, which would resolve my problem.

When he arrived to do the work he said he decided not to install the French drain and that he would have his workers correct the poorly grated area and install some new sod. The area of new sod was very small, not the entire yard as stated by Mr. Hughes. When this did not work Randy, the property manager, told me he did not know what the problem was, his boss did not know, and the irrigation company did not know. He said he would research and get back to me. That was in October and I have still not heard back from him.

When I spoke to the Superintendent, Dennis Powell, he also said he did not know what the problem was. So, the only answer I have received from D.R. Horton is that I do not Know, which is a contradiction to Mr. Hughes' statement that they have tried to convey the message to me but with no success. The only logical solution I have received from D.R. Horton was from Mitchell who was going to install a French drain, which never occurred.

To show good faith and to show that I will stop at nothing to have this issue resolved, I removed my garden the day I received your letter. Again, this was the first I have been told that my garden could be the reason for the problem. I did not think that the removal of the garden would work since the garden was located on the other side of the swale and that Randy Masson, D.R. Horton Property Manager, and Dennis Powell, D.R. Superintendent, have both been to look at my yard and never indicated the garden was the problem. Again, the only answer from them was I don't know.

Enclosed you will find additional pictures to support my claim. Since removing the garden, there has been no improvement. For most of the week, the weather has been sunny and dry. There was 1 day of rain, which was not significant. I took several pictures on several different days to see if there was any improvement, which there was not. The last set of pictures, taken on December 23, 2006, was taken 24 hours after rain, which again was not a significant amount of rain. You can see standing water in my yard and muddy areas. The pictures taken by Mr. Hughes focused on the garden, not the problem itself. The pictures I have enclosed show the removal of the garden as well as the problem I am experiencing.

Mr. Hughes states my grass is very green. The one spot of grass he took the pictures of is green. The entire yard does not need to be replaced. I am asking that they correct the grating problem, install a French drain, and re-sod the impacted areas as shown in my pictures, which is mainly around the patio area. Mitchell from D.R. Horton told me the yard was not properly grated and that I needed a French drain. D.R. Horton is responsible for making sure my yard is properly grated and if an employee of D.R. states I need a French drain, then they need to follow through.

In addition, I find it odd that each of my neighbors in the building have a sprinkler head in a uniform location outside their patio, except me. One of my neighbors has a sprinkler head but it is not in the same location as the others. This only makes me wonder if there is an underlying irrigation problem that could also be contributing to the dampness of my yard.

Mr. Hughes stated in his letter that he could not find approval for my fence. Please find the enclosed approval letter I received from May Management prior to having the fence installed.

Mr. Hughes also insinuated that I do not cut my grass. My grass is kept at the same level of my neighbors. I maintained my yard weekly prior to this problem. There is no longer a need to cut my yard weekly as most of the grass is gone and it's difficult to cut the grass while standing in puddles of water. But again, I do keep my grass at the same level as my neighbors.

I have been in contact with the May Management and with the Landscaping company and they have acknowledged their negligence and will be replacing some of the sod around the perimeter of my fence that they killed when they sprayed herbicide.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your time with this matter. It's unfortunate that D.R. Horton did not respond to my calls, e-mails, and letter. I had to ask for help through a third party to have them respond. It is because of this that I was not surprised when D.R. Horton tried to put the blame on me, the customer. Some of the statements by Mr. Hughes were completely false and I hope my response will help to show a clear, overall picture of my problem.

ll I'm asking is that the problem is resolved and the impacted sod replaced. I do not feel this is too much to ask from D.R. Horton as their employee, Mitchell, has already admitted negligence.

Robert
saint augustine, Florida
U.S.A.

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