ComplaintsforKJE Tiny Homes

• Initial Complaint

  01/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  KJE Tiny Homes in ****** finally completed my tiny home the end of September after many many delays. These are the many concerns and problems I have had:1) A countertop oven was installed inside between cabinets which is causing heat on top where the granite countertop is. Oster, the manufacturer told me that this is a fire hazard, as the directions state it is a countertop oven only, so it needs to be removed. I emailed KJE a week ago and have not had a reply.I did not want a countertop oven. I did not ask for this type of oven.2) KJE builder often installed things without my agreement. For example, windows were installed which were not part of the design. The stairs were to be agreed upon (ladder to large loft), but he went ahead and built it. 3) Many mistakes including the bathroom door is upside down. The bedroom door is on the wrong side, due to where he placed the stairs. Trim is unfinished is some areas, such as lower part of cabinets.4) Communication was terrible throughout the build.5) Many delays with many excuses. Many lies; for example about the incinolet toilet being delayed, when in fact, the incinolet company told me that they never have delays. It takes 3 weeks usually to ship. The builder had not ordered. So, I ended up with a compost toiled which I did not want, just to get my tiny house finally. I then had to pay an extra **** recently for the incinolet I wanted. This has been so stressful.I told the builder that it had been a very very stressful year and I don't feel he really cared. He lost his NOAH ************* which had been written into my original contract. This added to my stress and my finished tiny house showed that there was a reason why he lost the *************.At this time I really feel there have been so many errors made, I just really want to ensure I have a safe home to live in.

  Business response

  01/22/2024

  As the customer explained the tiny house was delivered in September. There were delays which we apologized for as we faced unforeseen circumstances during the last year. To offset the stress and inconvenience that the delay caused we credited the customers final balance by $5,985. Before delivery we did a video walk through and everything was approved by the customer. We only received two communications from the customer after completion of the tiny house. The first email was asking for the oven racks that were left behind. The email was very cordial and didn't include any complaints. We sent the racks via mail right away. The second email was regarding the Oven. We are a small business and only have one person that monitors emails. She was out sick with a horrible flu for over a week when that email came in and we were not able to respond before this complaint was made. The majority of the communication with the customer during the build was via text or phone to the builder. If there was a follow up text or phone call regarding her concern for the oven, we would have immediately responded and set up a time to come rectify the situation. We have attempted to reach out to the customer via text and email explaining the sickness and to discuss and schedule a time to come to the tiny house but we haven't received any response. 

  Regarding the oven, A heat/fire barrier was installed with the oven but if the customer would like it removed and placed elsewhere or replaced with a different oven, we will be happy to do so.

  Regarding the bathroom door, we were unaware that this was an issue for the customer. If she would have asked, we would have let her know that it is not upside down. The door was customized to fit the area.

  The customer initially requested an incinolet toilet but when we were not able to install, the customer agreed to a composting toilet. She was only charged for the toilet that was installed. 

  Multiple inspections were completed on her tiny house by our current inspection agency and any time she requested the inspection report, we sent it over showing everything passed.

  As I mentioned above, we already came to an agreement with the customer regarding the delays and any other stress or frustration she had during the build and credited her nearly $6,000. From the time of the delivery up to this complaint, we were under the impression that we were on good terms from the communication we have had since then.

  We will be more than happy to come fix or replace the oven and address any other concerns she may have. 

  Customer response

  01/22/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:

  Our contract, as the builder, ***** neglected to address, was nullified by several things. One which was the most important, was that his NOAH ************* was pulled during my build, which he neglected to inform me.

  As far as the Oster oven, this builder should not have placed it where he did, no matter with "a heat shield" or not, as it is against the manufacturer's directions.  

  Regarding any decrease in the cost of the tiny house, it was not to offset his delays. It was due to an error which they made when they told me I had paid in full for the house a year before. 

  I chose not to reply to both *****, the builder nor to his wife when they communicated to me recently regarding my BBB complaint, because I felt it was best to keep it within BBB at this point. I also do not trust what *** says, to be honest. 

  The reason I did not complain immediately after my house was delivered, or within a few months is because I was so relieved to be done with this company and to have the house finally delivered. However, every month there is something new which is wrong. The stove was the most dangerous, thus, caused me to email them. There have been other building errors he has made. I am a nurse, if I had made one of these on a patient I would have my license taken away. He has continued to make so many "errors" on people's homes, as I see on other BBB complaints. 

  No, I do not want him to correct the stove or any other of these things he did totally wrong, because I do not trust that he will do them correctly.

  There are other things I did not mention. I could add quite a list. I am very sorry that I did not vett this builder prior to hiring him. 

   

   
  

  
  

  Business response

  01/31/2024

  We will be more than happy to hire a local company to address the oven and any other issues/repairs that fall within the scope of the warranty.

• Initial Complaint

  11/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  The contract for a 32x10x13.5 tiny house on wheels was signed on 4/21/22. Estimated completion date: February 2023. The following payments were made: 4/20/22 $1000 design fee, 4/22/22 $19,560 down payment, 5/18/22 $19,560, 2/16/23 $19,560, 3/7/23 $29,340, 5/8/23 $7,000, and the final payment on 6/21/23 $7,700. There has been a serious lack of communication from the company regarding all of the delays. I have numerous text messages and emails of my requests for information regarding the progress of the build, the reasons for the delays and my requests for an updated invoice. The lack of communication has been appalling and I have always been the one to have to initiate contact.I am unable to leave a voice mail phone message with either owner. I have to text or email. On October 31, 2023, I drove to ******, ** to see if the tiny house had been completed. It was not on site, the owner had moved it to their home to finish the build. It was still not complete at that time and several items were different than agreed on. The owner said that we would be compensated for this upon completion but did not have a copy of the invoice to give me at this time. He said all would be gone over after delivery and set up. I had a very concerning conversation with ***** when we went to his home to see the tiny home. He let us know that they asked for all of the money before completing ours due to financial issues the company was experiencing and that another home was completed before ours to keep a woman from becoming homeless. Delivery to be the next week did not happen. I finally had been told a delivery date (11/15/23) and it was cancelled the night before due to the owner being ill. We texted dates we would be available the next week and heard no reply until Sunday 11/26/23. Once again, I was promised by the owner, *****, that he would get back to me the next day with a delivery date. I have had no contact from the company and it is now Wednesday, 11/29/23.

  Business response

  12/06/2023

  We are never happy when a customer is unsatisfied. While it is true that we dealt with some unfortunate delays during the build, we will be continuing to work with the customer to ensure her overall happiness with the tiny house. While we both(us and the customer) have experienced unfortunate events during this past year, our customers happiness is always important to us. Now, we are just waiting for the delivery company to have an opening to deliver her tiny house. We do not deliver them ourselves and unfortunately are at the mercy of the delivery companys change of schedule. We will continue to keep our communication with the customer and again, make it our top priority to ensure her overall happiness when this is over. 

  Customer response

  07/03/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I would like to reopen the complaint that I had made on 11/29/23 against KJE Tiny Homes in ******, ***********  Thanks to the BBB's assistance, the tiny home was delivered to my residence in *********, ** on 12/20/23, however, it still is not completed.  The condition that the product was delivered in had many items that needed to be replaced or repaired.  The builder has completed some of these repairs, for example:  
  
  The flooring needed to be completely replaced due to defective flooring product and a metal railing that was inexpertly installed causing burn holes all over the kitchen floor and stairs.  The builder replaced the metal railing with a wooden railing that unfortunately, is not a quality piece.  Also, one of the *** workmen used bondo to fill the holes left by the base plates of the original metal railing and the stairs are going to have to be either redone or replaced.  Eventually, the builder replaced the flooring and he has stated a local company can repair the stairs.
  
  The builder installed the propane stove and broke a component that connects to the propane tank.  When the new stove was finally installed, the builder at that time notified me that he did not feel qualified to connect the stove to the propane.  In all of our previous interactions, he never once mentioned that we would need someone else to do this.
  
  After several trips to ***************************** from *** finally agreed that it would be more cost effective to hire local tradesmen to complete the work in the tiny house.  I hired a local company to connect the stove and to order and install blinds.  I sent *** the invoice for $1540.10 on June 13, 2024 and still have not received payment for this.  
  
  I am waiting for an estimate on the stairway repairs.  I am very concerned that payment be rendered either to me, or directly to the local company upon receipt of the invoice.  I have given *** contact information to deal directly with local companies if that is preferred.
  
  I have several other concerns:
  
  When my local ******* was installing blinds, the living room mini split started leaking water on the floor.  Upon inspection, the drain was not connected properly.  My handyman was able to repair this.
  
  The mini-split heating & cooling units in the loft and the bedroom do not work at all.  When my handyman looked at them, he found that they were not installed with the correct electrical connections.  When I contacted ***, ***** said that he had never tried to operate them!  I am still waiting for a local company to have time to come and look at them to see what needs to be done to make them operational.  
  
  I have asked, verbally and in writing, on a number of occasions for the paperwork from *** to complete the registration of my tiny home with the DMV.
  
  I have asked, verbally and in writing, on a number of occasions for an invoice to reconcile financial concerns.  ***** said that he has given me a number of items to compensate for the duration of this project.  (2 years and 2 months at this time.) I asked that *** produce an itemized list of everything that I have received, everything that I have paid for and not received, the features that were included in the design and that I did not receive and compensatory items and suggested recompense for the length and inconvenience of this project.
  
  I have been hesitant to reopen this complaint due to the negativity that I received from ***** following the first complaint.  This has been an unbelievable situation that we have tried to work through with the builder directly.  If needed, I can produce the number of times that ***** promised to show up to fix something, only to not show up and to not even have the courtesy to let us know he was not coming.  The ongoing problems of lack of communication and outright lies told to us have been too numerous to list in this email.  
  
  Please let me know if you need any further information or documentation. 
  
  Thank you.
  
  ** *************** & *************************
  

*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. ↩