Bought new home from TEL Builders near Martinsburg, WV (Berkeley County Eastern Panhandle), moved in February. Driveway and lot grading/lawn were not done at time, front sidewalk was still wet and had chunk broke out when forms were removed, had ceiling repair with wet wall compound in living room—jet tub just above didn't work.
Builders used paving contractor (Asphalt Unlimited, Inc., Martinsburg WV) that did very poor quality paving, driveway started cracking apart a month after being paved in April. TEL did not respond to requests per their defect correction process to correct driveway—not even after a consumer complaint was filed with state of West Virginia (who doesn't adequately enforce complaints in the eastern panhandle, especially if they involve contractors).
Asphalt Unlimited responded to complaint by asserting to state that it was an excavation issue, not a paving issue, that they were told by the builder we are "chronic complainers" and refused mediation.
Had serious roof leak in June after roofer they used omitted step flashing; this was a serious leak again in February with more flashing installed to correct it.
Defective garage door lock was replaced when key got stuck in it and heat pump/AC units were flooded (not damaged) after heavy rain—they were below ground level after lot grading was done. TEL elevated units some, but still below grade of surrounding lawn.in response to consumer complaint, TEL stated these were "favors"—not warranty repairs for defects!!!
TEL buried large amount of construction debris in front yard, and piles of large rocks were found concealed under green seed matting used for "starter lawn". Now water flows from adjacent properties toward house and garage due to poor lot grading, subsidence occurring along foundation backfill. Grass grows poorly and wasn't seeded at all in some spots—front lawn corner slope "collapsed" during rainstorms and lawn contour was never restored.
In November we passed around a petition and 17 out of 27 homeowners approached, signed it, despite my wife being openly threatened with a lawsuit we couldn't afford on someone's front sidewalk by the builder's rep. This requested the state to intervene, for the builders' non-response to requests for corrections of defects under warranty, among other things.
Immediately after one year warranty walk through, patch repair to sidewalk promptly fell out. TEL had broke plastic frames around several windows upon installation, and would only repair with glued on covers, instead of replacing these window units—which were supposed to be "new".
We emphasized getting them to address driveway and lawn/lot grading problems, as minor items they fixed under warranty were poor quality repairs. It was agreed that they would provide us advance notice of when our driveway was to be repaved, so a relative (retired from home inspection) and ourselves could be present when the work was done, and what was to be done.
In April TEL's contractor, Asphalt Unlimited, came to our home when we weren't home and started tearing out sections of the driveway. They damaged our garage, landscaping brick and sidewalk, while removing asphalt. They came back the following morning, in cold weather, to start repaving and when I questioned what they were going to do—different from what we had been told previously—their employee called the builder and referred to me as an "asshole" making a nightmare out of this. The builder's rep called and angrily said it was going to be now or else. I told him we never received any advance notice, and reminded him of what was agreed. Then he stated it wasn't going to be redone.
The builder's rep then called back, then we were supposed to choose a paving contractor and they would pay the difference between what Asphalt Unlimited—which was now refusing to do anything—charged them and what it was going to cost. I said no, we have a contract with TEL and the driveway was included in the contract, that they need to cover the full expense—it was defective in the first place.
Then he stated they would cover the full expense. I then requested they put this in a writing, which he said they probably won't agree to put it in writing, but he'd get back to me—then didn't.
Later that day, Asphalt Unlimited's owner came into our back yard and threatened to punch me, after I took a picture from the street. He then similiarly threatened to punch my wife when she came out. Later I was told by another home owner that the same individuals had used obscenities toward his wife on the phone when they objected to Aspahlt Unlimited coming to repave their driveway when he wasn't home, after being told by the builder they would receive advance notice.
After 17 months, our driveway hasn't been repaved—but part of it was removed, we have recieved a letter from TEL's attorney asserting it not illegal, and even common practice, to bury construction debris—after TEL was issued violations by the state for a huge open dump behind our subdivision. We have not received any response whatsoever to the lot grading and lawn. I
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