ComplaintsforFischer Homes Greater Cincinnati

• Initial Complaint

  09/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We closed on a newly built Fischer Home in March of 2021. Prior to closing we had a final inspection on the house and everything looked OK. What we were NOT told by the Fischer manager was that the furnace had been compromised by the Fischer builder allowing drywall and concrete dust to accumulate in our furnace. As we lived in the house for the first year we were unaware of this condition and therefore did not know to bring it up in the first year "punch list" review. After months beyond this first year review I noticed the furnace fan sounding lowder then it should have sounded. I called the Fischer installer listed on the side of the furnace and he came and cleaned out the furnace fan which was caked with drywall dust. What he didn't tell me at the time was that the exchange coil was also caked and this would become a bigger problem. I thought the situation was fixed when the fan was cleaned but months later the noise came back. I called a different contractor who put a camera into the coil area of the furnace and discovered a significant amount of dust caking the coil. When I called Fischer to ask for their help with this I received a very condescending and dismissive attitude. I was told to send them details, which I did, and they would "get back to me" , which they didn't. I am now faced with a $3000 cost to properly clean the coil or have my relatively new furnace fail at any moment. I am seeking a remedy from Fischer to have their contractor come out and clean my coil and restore my furnace to its proper working order which it should have been at closing.

  Business response

  09/05/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  
  Fischer Homes appreciates the opportunity to respond to this customer’s submission to you. We have reviewed the matter and determined that the dust he is describing is a common occurrence in a new home. There are a lot of components in a new home that may accentuate the the level of dust. This is one of the main reasons we stress the furnace filter be changed about every two to three months.
  

  Having the furnace checked and cleaned by a professional should be on every homeowner’s annual routine maintenance list. With the home being over three years old, Fischer Homes does not agree that this is a builder issue to remedy.
  
  Regards,
  
  Fischer Homes
  Cincinnati

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We built a new home through Fischer Homes and moved in November 2021. In January 2024, we noticed our water bill tripled. After contacting the water department, we suspected a leak at home. Although no leaks were found inside, we later discovered water dripping outside in March/April 2024. We contacted Fischer Homes about the leak, but they denied investigating because the warranty expired after 12 months. We hired a plumber to fix the leak. Upon excavation, the plumber found a loose brass coupling/connector between the PVC pipe and metal pipe after the water meter. This loose connection appeared to be the source of the leak, which likely existed for a while. (Attach pictures here) Investigating our water bills further, we discovered a potential timeline for the leak. The bill remained around $100 per month from November 2021TIme when we moved into this home) to June 2022. It then increased to around $150 by June 2022 and ranged from $220 to $250 from August 2022 onwards. The significant jump to $436 in February 2024 prompted our investigation. This evidence suggests the leak began around June 2022, within six months of moving into the new home. This points to a defect in workmanship, not wear and tear. We incurred a total cost of $3,500 to repair the leak and $816 to locate it. We contacted Fischer Homes again, providing detailed information about the issue, water bills, pictures of the defective coupling, and explaining how this wasn't wear and tear. Unfortunately, Fischer Homes refuses to reimburse us, citing the expired warranty. We are seeking assistance from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to pursue reimbursement from Fischer Homes for the repair costs. Please let us know if you require further information.

  Business response

  06/20/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  This matter was reviewed at the time the loss occured, and it was obviuos that the copper connection was melted. The first assumption was it had been compromised by a surge from a lightning strike, but it could be due to a stray current from a rectifier that protects major state to state underground gas pipelines. The homeowner was advised to contact their homeowner's insurance after our field team investigated it. The melted connection due to an act of god scenerio is not a warrantable claim.

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes 

  **********

   

  Business response

  07/02/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  Again, Fischer Homes did review this claim at the time the loss occured, and it was determined that the brass connection was compromised from an electric surge. This is most evident In image 3.jpg. 

  The homeowner was advised to contact their homeowner's insurance after our field team investigated it. The melted connection due to an act of god scenerio is not a warrantable claim. 
  

  Regards,
  

  Fischer Homes 
  **********

  Customer response

  08/08/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  

  Fishers  has not even seen throughly the brass connector pipe. It did not melt due to electric surge. The force of water leak at the connector created the run in the brass pipe/connector.

  fishers home is trying to wash their hands and not accepting the flaws in the quality. 
  

  based on my water bills water was leaking probably for more then a year and leak was not visible until it leakage increased and more visible in January 2024.

  I do not agree electric surge or any god created nature caused the issue. Their response is very immature and meaning less.

  there is no electrical connection going from there. The leakage was just within couple of feet’s from the main connection of county water, how can there is electrical surge there. 
  

  please ask them to come and investigate and prove me to that electrical surge.

  I still have the connector sitting with me, I can send this to lab for testing if you want that can prove everything.

  
  Regards,
  
  *** *******

   

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  05/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We closed on our home two years this may with Fischer homes. This past weekend we were cooking and our first floor filled with smoke. We went to fan our smoke alarm and could not find out. We then realized Fischer homes did not install a fire alarm in our entire first floor. This is a huge urgent safety matter. We have attempted to reach out and no one will respond to us to fix dangerous safety matter. I am nervous to sleep until I get a fire alarm installed to insure the safety of my family. They also gave us the wrong lot we chose and paid for. The built our house on the wrong lot with a hill in the back yard they then tried to “make it up to us” by installing vinyl flooring which is already coming apart. This company is not being held accountable for the wrong things they do.

  Business response

  05/20/2024

  Fischer Homes reached out to our customer the same day that we received this information. Our ********** Customer Care Manager (CCM) made an onsite visit and confirmed the 1st floor smoke detector was not installed per plan. It was wired correctly, but covered up by the drywall trade partner. The five smoke detectors and two combo-carbon monoxide/smoke detectors were in place on the second floor. 

  The CCM purchased a few battery-plugin type smoke detectors and scheduled the electricians for the next day. The smoke detector is know installed.

  We apologize for this error, and have spoken with our drywall trade partner about the matter

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes
  

  ********** Division

   

• Initial Complaint

  05/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am a home owner of fisher homes build property in *********** community *******. My back yard is not up to the grade. they laid it in a slant way in such a way that my neighbors rainwater/sprinkler water flows into my yard. They say it is homeowners responsibility to maintain the yard and control soil erosion. I don't know how they expect me to control the neighbors yard water flow. I am not able to use my yard for my use as yard is mostly wet.

  Business response

  05/16/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  

  Fischer Homes had a Construction Manager make an onsite visit to review the concern that our customer recently submitted. He has reported back the following.

  For proper drainage in the community an engineered swale was installed at the rear of the properties. That said, there is drainage from other homes that develop into this swale before it reaches the home of the conerned customer.  We've attached a marked a plot plan to indicate this. There is also a home on the upside of the swale that has newly laid sod and it's being watered frequently. It's just the natural path for that water to run through the swale. 

  Yard establishment would greatly benefit this situation. We've also attached photos of the swale and the topographical path of the water flow. 
  
  Thank you for allowing Fischer Homes to review and respond to this matter. 

   

  Regards,

   

  Fischer Homes

  Cincinnati

  Customer response

  05/21/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******** *******

  regarding complaint id ********. My issue is not resolved. what the fisher home team replied is what my problem. 1. the swale they mentioned is wide and water getting stagnated and forming fungus. 2. they made the yard slant to flow water into swale, which is washing the seed and soil. 3. from the place where the water from the swale(water from neighbors yard) and my yards water outlets(sump pump and gutters water) joins, as water flow is more, it is washing off soil and forming dips, which causing water to stagnate. for the above reasons my back yard(the wide swale area) is unused, out of my control, got to spend more time and money.

  Dear Business, 

  Can you clarify if the business has an exact timeframe they will be able to finish the work for the consumer? Thank you for your response

  Business response

  05/31/2024

  Fischer Homes has requested our division Contruction Manager to make a site visit to review this matter with our customer.

  Customer response

  06/28/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  
  Fischer home site manager contacted me directly and his manager on phone. but, they didn't offer a permanent solution.
  
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******** *******
  

  Business response

  07/30/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  The topography of the community results in three yards being upstream from our customer, and when it rains water sheds into her backyard.  Fischer Homes has offered to place silt logs as a temporary measure to help with the water flow while the grass is establishing. We also installed straw matting at one point to assist with establishing root structure, but it must be managed well for it to take.
  

  Fischer Homes has offered solutions to assist with the process. It’s up to our customer to accept the offer and manage their property. We believe this is the path to a permanent solution.  

  Attached is the contractual agreement Drainage, Yard Seeding, Sodding and Landscaping. 

   

  Regards,

   

  Fischer Homes

  Cincinnati

• Initial Complaint

  04/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  For over 2 years I was adamant about building with Fischer Homes. When I wasn't able to, I pursued purchasing a home that had already been built. When that feel through, I was told I would get my deposit back. I have reached out to several offices and associates after the fact with no response. I just want my deposit. I was supposed to get it back and now no one wants to communicate.

  Business response

  04/12/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  Fischer Homes and the prospective purchaser have worked out an amicable resolution. 

   

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes

  **********

   

• Initial Complaint

  03/28/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Fischer had sold me a premium lot because of the wooded view however the wood view has be torn down and is no longer a wooded view. After the sale associate stated that they would Not develop behind my home.

  Business response

  04/03/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  Fischer Homes has looked into our customer's issue, and found the following. 

  > Fischer Homes did not own the property behind our customer, so the Sales Counselor would not have known what the privately owned land would be in the future. They are trained to respond that there's no way of knowing what might happen with private property in the future. 

  > The lot premium was not in place for the woods behind the home, the home directly across the street on a corner cu de sac lot paid the exact amount. They have a home directly behind them. 

  > The dead end open streets running to the property, would suggest there might be future development, should the private owner decide to sell. 

  > The property behind his home was bought by a different developer/builder in NKY, and they are in process of developing it.

  We hope this clears a very upstanding Sales Counselor (now a Sales Manager) from the deceptive sales claim. 

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes

  Northern Kentucky

• Initial Complaint

  03/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Feb 23rd closed on home. 2 weeks later fischer lied to us and all the woods in backyard are being demolished for miles we paid premium lot fees for wooded site. Also plans we saw didht show them going this far they taking out entire national forest of trees and burning them in our back yard and left them burning all night long after workers left. Im worried about them causing a wild fire to break out this is criminal to destroy entire woods when the one new street going in is already in place half mile from US. Fischer homes lied to us and our neighbors charging them 6k lot fee.

  Business response

  03/15/2024

  
  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  It is unfortunate to hear that our customer is upset about the continuation of their community. The development plans were not available to the Fischer Homes associate that worked through the Construction and Purchase Agreement of this home.
  The Fischer Homes Sales Counselor involved in this purchase is an upstanding accomplished associate, who is also one of our Elite Coaches. When I talked with her about the allegations made by our customer, her response did not surprise me; When I walked the homesite with this customer, he did ask if the trees would remain. I always answer that question the same way,” Unless you own the land, I can never promise what could happen in the future".
  If the recorded plat shows “flood zone” on the property behind your home, it does not mean that there will never be additional development in the future.
  

  Again, Fischer Homes does understand that the customer would prefer no further development behind their tree line, but it is how communities grow. It opens the door for more excited new homeowners to realize their dream of owning a new home is such a vibrant neighborhood.
  

  Thank you for allowing Fischer Homes to respond to this matter.
  
  Fischer Homes
  Northern Kentucky

  
  

  Customer response

  03/22/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** *******
  

  Customer response

  03/26/2024

  The issue with them burning all the forest behind us has caused health issues in the environment. It has caused smoke to get into our dryer vent and now it smells really bad to use the dryer. The fans in the house smell and we have ashes all over our home on roof and driveway. What They are doing by burning all the forest directly straight behind our new home is bad for our lungs and our eyes are burning its so bad outside we can't take a walk or anything. Also smoke is so strong it's getting into our home and all air ducts who is responsible for any damage to are health or our home over poor buisness practices with burning entire forest Right behind us. Their has to be a better way than to cause so much pollution in our neighborhood. 

  Business response

  03/28/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

   

  Fischer Homes has reached out to the development company performing the work on this land, and they have agreed to cease the burning. Although they are within the permitted burning regulations for this development, and thought the smoke was traveling away from the community, they are bringing in chippers to breakdown the trees being removed. 

  The development company is contrite, and will refrain from any further burning. 

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes 

  Northern Kentucky

• Initial Complaint

  03/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Our driveway is the only one in the neighborhood that looks this bad. The fact that this driveway looks awful after a few winters shows poor performance of work. Every day that passes by, it is getting worse. “You can just come by and scrape it right out”. The driveway is not performing as designed. This was not the first time it had happened. In 2018 homeowners from HIllar, Ohio had their issues with Fischer Homes and it was covered at local news, ABC6 and FOX28 Columbus. There were numerous families with varying age and degree of deterioration. Statement from new coverage: “A similar problem was highlighted in Hilliard Preserve where we visited 11 driveways with varying age and degree of deterioration. Karin C***, a construction professor at Columbus State Community College, demonstrated with a sponge and frosting what could be happening at ***** Friend’s house.“This is either they overworked the concrete or they added too much water to the concrete and now it’s delaminating,” said Cash.” We are asking for help to resolve this matter, it is absolutely unacceptable to have this happen to our brand new driveway at our brand new house.

  Business response

  03/19/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  Fischer Homes requested an experienced concrete professional make a site visit to review the driveway concern sent in by our customer.
  

  He performed a visual inspection of the driveway and sent us the following statements:
  

  Scaling was observed on the slab. Most of the scaling was along the path of the vehicular traffic leading up to the garage doors. This pattern suggests damage due to deicing chemicals introduced from the roadway by vehicles. Although surface mortar scaling is not desired, it is generally a cosmetic issue not affecting the integrity and application of the slab and therefor may not require repair.
  

  Fischer Homes believes this to be the case as well. If the driveway was not sealed with a penetrating sealer as we suggest in the Homeowner Use & Care Guide that that we provide to our customers. The Calcium Chloride in road salt melts off of the owner’s vehicle and causes cosmetic damage to the concrete.
  

  The structural integrity of the concrete is performing, but the cosmetics have been damaged by the calcium chloride in the deicing salts. This unfortunately can happen even when the protective sealant is applied, but the likelihood is low.
  

  Thank you for allowing us to perform the research and respond accordingly to this matter.
  

  Fischer Homes
  Cincinnati

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  We signed with Fischer Homes on 02/05/2024 to build a home. We had two separate appointments at the Fischer Homes Design Center both of which we asked AT THAT TIME if we would be required to put more money down than what was previously agreed to. At that point Samantha, our design rep, went to check with Victory mortgage to which they explained we possibly may need to bring more money to close which is fine. This was at our first design appointment on 02/21/2024. At the second design appointment on 02/28/2024, we asked Samantha multiple times during our meeting with her regarding needing to put more money down now. She stated that was not necessary as she had already checked and the amount she collected was indeed the correct amount. Much to our surprise we had our sales representative, Jacob call us at 530p on a Friday evening to say that we owe an additional $8,000 due immediately. At that point my husband attempted to explain to Jacob that we blatantly asked and repeated verbatim what Jacob told us when asking to which Jacob responded with a typical script that I’m sure he’s given by Fischer Homes. He kept talking in circles and essentially calling both my husband and I liars. He than offered to get his manager on the phone who was even less helpful than Jacob. Ann also spoke in circles throughout the entire conversation at times repeating the EXACT same thing that Jacob said prior to her joining the call. That’s really personable huh, to treat someone spending a lot of money that way. To call and go back on what my husband and I both verified and to do it at the end of the day on a Friday. So here we sit till Monday not knowing what is going to happen. It’s completely comical that they are acting like it’s our fault for doing what we were told by the Fischer Homes employee. How were we to know that the Fischer Homes employees did not know the correct answer. Customers should not EVER have to bear the burden of worrying if a nationwide company is lying to them.

  Business response

  03/05/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  The Cincinnati Market President has discussed this matter with our customer, and an amicable resolution has been achieved. 

  Regards,

  Fischer Homes

  Customer response

  03/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** *******
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife and I decided to relocate to Northern Kentucky for a new job that i accepted. My oldest daughter is a senior in high school and we decided that I would live in the area and let my wife and two daughters remain in ********** **. for the school year. We met with a Fischer sales representative in January 2023 and explained our situation. We were clear that we did not want to move/close until June 2024. We stayed in contact with our sales representative for the next 9 months. In September 2023, we asked him for the current build time and were provided exact dates about the build time for our new home. Our sales representative assured us that the current build time would meet our time frame. We trusted him. Well, it turns out that he gave us bad information or lied to us. Fischer wants us to close in April 2024, which is roughly two months early. Despite numerous emails showing our sales representative’s statements about lead times and his failure to correct his representations, z Fischer refuses to push the closing one month. While this is way ahead of the build time represented to us, we do not mind closing at the end of May. We feel that we have been taken advantage of and would like help. We love the house, neighborhood, and service up until recently. Fischer prides itself on service. We are not seeing that today

  Business response

  03/01/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  This is a contractual matter, so the appropriate Fischer Homes associate will be contacting our customer.
  

  Thank you,

  Fischer Homes

   

*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. ↩