Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/13/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On July 12, 2022 we broke ground for our home. When the concrete was poured and we came back to see the finished product it was horrible. They smoothed most of it but it still looked bad. After framing we could then tell that the concrete was low in places and high in others. The contractor said all of that would be fixed. He stopped working on our house in April of 2023. The house was to be finished in February 2023. The roof leaks and we had to have the walls torn out in spots because the metal that goes on the porch of the house is not on. We have missing windows and doors. The front door has been on order since September of 2022. The two front windows by the doors is still on order, over a year as well. Some of the subcontractors has not been paid. He received money for the windows, doors and exterior paint as well but none of that is complete. There is debris still on the property. We asked that he close up the house because the overhang of the porches is open and he had not returned to do that. He has a punch list of things to do and has been working on that list since September 2022 and hasn’t addressed one thing on that list. Nothing is complete in the house, the work is below grade. The island was cut wrong so the countertop doesn’t fit flush on it. He didn’t put all the insulation in the house and he used a inside door for attic access when it should be an exterior door with a threshold. He also left the one of the walls to the attic open, we now have rodents in the house. He was informed of this and has done nothing. Upstairs floor in bedroom has buckled, he hasn’t come to see.It’s all poor craftsmanship and he is not trying to fix it. He spent all the money and saying it’s because of the prices going up and wants more money from us. We had more than enough money to complete the house. We contacted another contractor and was told he could finish the house for $225.000.00, he should pay this to make it right; we will be paying for a house we can’t live in.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/27/2023

  My response to the complaint from Cynthia ***** as well as a previous complaint by Chalyn *****, whom both have the same lender.  There homes were started in the middle of inflation something that all contractors had to deal with.  Prices of materials were steady on the rise, however contractors like myself still fought to get these homes built without cutting any corners while rather, making adjustments to overhead to cushion the cost of materials and labor increases.  People build houses,  they are not manufactured, so errors do and will happen, but like the buyers stated those items will be corrected as each phase is addressed.

  As for the items not purchased for Mrs *****, I have been in communication with her to pick other selections that are readily available. I ordered her front door and it was on back order and was never received. She stated that sub contractors where not paid. No subcontractor nor vendors have liens on either of these owners homes, if someone was owed, they would have lined the properties.  I have recently provided documentation such as receipts, paid checks, and invoices of every dime that went on her home, along with showing that Starr Builders spent more money than what was actually recieved in disbursements. This goes for Cynthia *****, Chalyn *****, and James ******.  All of these homes were during the same time.  The flaws in workmanship were done on all 3 homes at the same time by the same subcontractor who has since been released from Starr Builders.

  The reason the homes have not been completed that each owner failed to mention.  Each borrower excluding Mr James *. Went through the same lender, ****** ***** ********, whom used a company called ******** ******* ******* to fund there loans. I had signed contracts for $125.00 per square foot, a contract that I had to honor.

  The borrower signed loan documents with the mortgage company charged very high interest rates and interest payment were taken directly out of the construction loan funds while building, something that I was not aware of. I knew there would be interest payments but that does not normally come out of the funds, which ultimately means No Contractor could ever finish a project if interest payment was coming out of the allowed funds he had to build the home as well as deal with inflation. 

  As a resolution each homeowner that I was in contract with have been provided, proof and documentation of checks, receipts, as well as a formal Change Order which was explained in there contract if something of this sort would occur.  I am very sorry that anyone would have to deal with this, building your dream home is supposed to be a wonderful experience.  In the 19 years I have been building homes, this is the only time I have had reviews of such, and all of the reviews share the same problem. Inflation caused a major setback for many contractors, and all we can do is communicate and work through it. 

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/04/2023

  
  
  Complaint: 20856980
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I totally disagree with the statement of Casey ********* (Starr Builders).  First, the square footage of our home is 2836 at $125.00 a square foot is $354,500.00.  Our contract which will be attached is for $397,040.00.  That's 2836 square feet at $140.00.  When we finally signed the contract that is the amount.  When building a home a contractor should lock in the prices for building materials, at least that is what other contractors has said so that their quoted price is locked in. Corners were cut on our home, starting with the foundation.  We called about the unevenness of the foundation and was told that he would make sure everything was level.  I have given the list of items for the home several times and nothing that he suggested I didn’t agree with.  There is no lien because he said that –that time had passed.  My island is also messed up and needs to be replaced. The quality of work is really messed up.  The disbursements on our house could not have gone on just our house because nothing is complete.  He needs to provide us with the proof because we don't have it.  He DID NOT OVER SPEND ON OUR HOUSE. As for the front door which was or has been on order since September of last year, I called Home Depot and was told that the door is a special order and that all special orders has to be paid for in advance.  So that door won't come in unless he pays for it.  Which according to the spread sheet he has paid for all the doors.  I'm missing Study door, pocket doors, 2 windows, barn door linen door and closet doors.  We compromised on the patio doors so he can't say that we are not willing to work with him.  Nothing has been completed in this house.  The front porch has post not anchored because no one has come to finish them.  The house has gotten water in it and has walls taken out twice.  This last time the walls are not replace and a wall upstairs is still open.  If the cost of materials are so high why not finish what you start correctly so that you are not buying the same materials over and over.  Our roof has metal over the porch. That metal is not on the roof which is where the water keeps getting in at.  That porch has had boards replaced because the metal is not on it. Looks like it will have to be replaced again because the metal is not on it. The house was to be painted since October of last year, no paint on the house.  Because we don't have the porches closed up we now have mice in our house, the door that leads to the attic is an interior door.  This should be an exterior door with a threshold and again that wall in the upstairs bathroom also lets rodents in.  I have said too many times this house needs to be closed up and nothing has happened.  We had to pay $1455.00 to have an exterminator come out because I was told by Casey he would get one and no one came.  We have both bedrooms upstairs that have buckled floors and we have no clue why.  He was to come see about that and did not come.  Our house should have been completed in February and that is why he has penalties on the house.  If he had finished the house as agreed upon there would be no  penalties  at $93.00 a day to him.  Our loan is for $483,809.00 those fees he is claiming is not on him, he is losing money on the back side because he has not finished our house.  Even the crown molding in the house is made out of press board, he is not putting quality material in our home.  As for subcontractors we have had the siding sub, the plumbing sub and the electrician say that they were not paid.  That still has nothing to do with the completion of our house.  This change order is not happening because we have seen the wasted material that was left on our property, and we have not seen any receipts and I know for what this house has cost us it should be livable and it's not.  So much needs to be corrected and materials need to be re-bought.  If he can’t make it right, we want a full refund so that we can start over.
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  Cynthia *****

  Business Response

  Date: 12/04/2023

  My response, is I have provided All documentation, such as emails, contract, lian documents, disbursements,  reciepts as well as canceled checks to there rep resentatives at this time. I have no further information to share. 

   

   

  Thank s

  Casey ********* 

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/04/2023

  
  
  Complaint: 20856980
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  He has not provided any documentation to us.  We don't have a representative, he may have to the Rapides Parish Sheriff's investigation team but not to us.  The disbursement amounts came from NCF.  If he is not going to finish our house we want all of our funds refunded to us.  There has been no work on this house since April of2023, that's eight months.  He should have plenty to say about the completion of this house.

  
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  Cynthia *****