Site Ready Homes - Ritz Craft Homes No contact from either seller or builder for modular warranty work; multiple lies told by salesman. RIPOFF Jonesville Michigan

You guys are completely insane. Instead of blaming a great company like ritz-craft blame the builders you purchased the home from. You dont buy a car directly through Ford you buy through dealers. Same with Ritz-Craft. stop seeking attention by posting on these sites. Christine next time dont do the work yourself. then your house will be built correctly by people who know what they are doing. 

Since I was personally named in this story I thought I should reply. First of all, I remember Christine and her husband and I felt they were good people. However, as with most people, the purchase of a new home is not something that happens everyday and it can be somewhat overwhelming. My issues are not with Christine personally but with a few of her comments which I found to be misleading:

Christine Wrote: To anyone buying a modular, the company which builds the house will deliver it COD, but the bank will not cut a check from the construction loan until it is placed on the foundation. When the modular is still on the trailer it is considered "personal property", which the bank will not recognize as real estate because of the possibility of it being taken away or moved. Only when the house is on the foundation will the bank cut a check.

Reply: This is true for a very few banks but it is not the norm. Most banks understand modular financing and will actually cut the check up to 3 days in advance of the home's delivery. Her situation was the exception and NOT the rule. Even in cases like hers, a bank representative will often watch the home as it is set on the foundation and then hand the check over once the set is finished. This too is an accepted practice in the modular industry.

Christine Wrote: I explained the pressure Bob was putting on us about the money, and we were concerned the house would be sold to someone else. This was untrue, Jeff assured me. (Lie #1).

Reply: How was this possibly a lie????? Christine is now living in her home and at no time did Ritz Craft threaten to sell her home to someone else.

Christine Wrote: I called Ritz-Craft and discovered that the order was placed the week of May 2, well before the building permit was obtained (lie #2).

Reply: I don't know who she is saying lied. Obviously, Ritz-Craft is confirming her order date which is based entirely upon the company's receipt of a signed order (by Christine) and a deposit. Both of which had been received by Ritz-Craft. The date of the building permit has absolutely nothing to do with when a home is ordered. (This may have been due to something said by Bob Morgan, but has nothing to do with Ritz-Craft or myself).

Christine Wrote: We discussed with Jeff the possibility of having Ritz-Craft help us with the installation of trim, fascia and carpet in exchange for the error. He agreed that would be fine, that "We want the customer to be happy and he would have a repairman out next week. Well, that was three weeks ago and besides a fax I haven't received any correspondence whatsoever about the repairs.

Reply: The word Christine used (possibility) is correct. The fascia was damaged during the set process and Ritz Craft agreed to the repairs. I told her I would submit her request and 'see' if the company could help her since 'we want the customer to be happy'. Something worth noting: Christine and her husband had made a deal with Bob Morgan to do much of their own finish work (trim, carpet, etc) to help reduce the price. Now they were trying to bargain with Ritz Craft to get them to do some of this work saying the basement door issue was the fault of Ritz Craft. Ritz Craft built the home according to the specifications spelled out on the order which was signed by Christine. Ritz Craft was not made aware of any changes prior to construction so therefore the issue was in no way an error on the part of Ritz Craft.

Christine Wrote: Finally yesterday I was able to get Bob to return a phone call and he said the change to the door width was made too late and Ritz-Craft didn't "owe us anything", i.e. they won't help us install the trim and carpet as Jeff had promised.

Reply: Again, these are items that Christine originally agreed to do on her own to save money. Although I'm sure the words she quoted were not the exact words from Ritz Craft, they probably do represent their final decision which was out of my hands.

Final note: Unlike Christine, I would never call her a liar. I know there were some issues in communication between Christine and Bob Morgan (who was actually the builder she purchased the home from). I also know there were some minor issues with the home that were eventually fixed either by Christine or by Ritz Craft.

Although I can understand some of her frustration, I think she went a little too far with her report. My recommendation to anyone building a new home: Let the professionals do the work. Don't try to save money by doing it yourself, you may get in over your head.

Just an FYI. If the home has a H.U.D tag it is considered a manufactured home, if it does not have the tag it is a modular home. I know that in Michigan a manufactured home DOES NOT need to meet state building codes but a modular does. No matter what type of home it is, the company is still responsible for honoring the warranty.

I would look into finding a lawyer that deals with these types of properties or real estate and also look into the michigan laws and regulations on these houses. I also agree with the last person, no matter what DO NOT back down from them.

I would also call Ritz-Craft and speak with them to see if you can get anywhere.

Christine,

Keep hounding them, make sure that they do the work that is supposed to be done. I am in the same boat with a different company (ripoff report has been filed, look up Fortune Homes under the search feature). You are still under the warranty period, and you need to document everything, keep copies of all work orders, take pictures, and contact everyone that you can think of regarding the damage. There are several organizations that help to document this type of problem, and work on our behalf to have the laws changed to make companies such as this be held accountable.

Keep us updated, and good luck!!!

Christine,

Keep hounding them, make sure that they do the work that is supposed to be done. I am in the same boat with a different company (ripoff report has been filed, look up Fortune Homes under the search feature). You are still under the warranty period, and you need to document everything, keep copies of all work orders, take pictures, and contact everyone that you can think of regarding the damage. There are several organizations that help to document this type of problem, and work on our behalf to have the laws changed to make companies such as this be held accountable.

Keep us updated, and good luck!!!

Christine,

Keep hounding them, make sure that they do the work that is supposed to be done. I am in the same boat with a different company (ripoff report has been filed, look up Fortune Homes under the search feature). You are still under the warranty period, and you need to document everything, keep copies of all work orders, take pictures, and contact everyone that you can think of regarding the damage. There are several organizations that help to document this type of problem, and work on our behalf to have the laws changed to make companies such as this be held accountable.

Keep us updated, and good luck!!!