ComplaintsforDeltec Homes, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In January of 2023 I contacted Deltec from my home in ******* and spoke with ***********************. Over the course of many conversations I relayed my dream of owning a Deltec. Because of the cost of shipping, I decided to move to ************** in order to save money. I told **** my budget for everything, all in, including property was $500k. **** told me there would be no problem in meeting that budget. With that information, I put a deposit of $8,000 down. Deltec **** up preliminary plans with my specs. In July of 2023 I moved to ************** and began looking for land. I finally found land for $50k and Deltec (*****************) came out and took a look and said that a Deltec would work. I reiterated my budget to him. I put a deposit on the land and entered due diligence. Then I attended a meeting with ***************** and I received the bad news that the deltec I wanted to build would cost almost $600k. I was told that things like my desire for upgraded windows, and a screened in porch, would jump the price too high. But this was not news to Deltec. From the very beginning in my conversations with ***********************, and later, *****, the designer, I made it clear what my choices were. Everything* was disclosed to Deltec before I even decided to move! I am terribly disappointed. I moved across country, in a motorhome, with my dog and parrot, planning on living on site while the Deltec was being built. Instead, I am told, after spending thousands of dollars in the move, and $8,000 for the deposit on the Deltec, and a deposit on LAND, that my dream is not possible. I would like Deltec to refund my deposit. $8k is a lot of money to pay to be told that it was never possible in the first place. I am 65 years old. This was no small decision. Deltec should have advised me of the feasibility well in advance of my move. Deltec had SIX MONTHS time to tell me. Instead, the news waited until I was completely vulnerable, with no home and no family in **.

  Business response

  09/27/2023

  We are also disappointed that this project has not yet moved forward.  We strive to make our design and construction communications clear, and we do our best to meet the needs of our customers throughout our process.  It can be challenging to meet a specific budget and specific design criteria, and often a customer will have to prioritize either the budget or achieving their specific design vision.  In this case, we did not have a full understanding from the customer of everything that she wanted in her home prior to the deposit.
  
  The most significant items that changed during the design process that led to the increased construction costs were:
  
  -The original plan was a slab foundation. The actual property required a crawlspace which is more expensive. The customer did not choose land until late in the design process.
  -The home grew in square footage by 6%
  -The customer-selected windows were 57% more than the budget and six skylights were added
  -The patios changed to decks with a covered porch roof and screened walls
  

  These changes increased the overall price significantly.  We suggested several options to the customer on how to change the design, but she did not want to make any adjustments.  Our design team urged caution to the customer about relocating to ************** until the property was finalized.
  
  We are not able to offer a refund of this deposit.  The contract is clear that the deposit is non-refundable, and we have already done a great deal of design and pre-construction work for this customer.  We would still like to help this homeowner build her dream home.  To help move in this direction, we can offer the customer two items: First, an extension of her purchase agreement, which currently has a latest allowable construction state date of 10/25/2025, to 12/31/2026 to give the customer more time.  Second, we are also willing to offer an additional round of drafting services at no charge to make changes to the plans to reduce the construction cost.

  Customer response

  09/28/2023

   
  I am rejecting this response because:  Deltec home has misrepresented itself in almost every way.  They NEVER encouraged me to not relocate, in fact, the exact opposite is true.  They said my plans were entirely within my budget.  Their original prices were based exactly on what I wanted, the original plans included skylights and the windows.  There was absolutely NOTHING about the Response that is true.  You can try to sugar coat it all you want, but what you did was take clear advantage of a senior citizen.  I will pursue other remedies if you do not refund at least HALF of my deposit.  Also, it's a joke about the design process.  People aren't stupid.  You have modular plans that take a few minutes to stick in the bedrooms, etc.  I spent maybe an hour of time, TOTAL, with ***** about my plans.  After I met with ********** conceded many of my "wants" as indicated in my attachment.  But it STILL was not doable.   I have NO INTENTION OF LETTING THIS GO.  You baited me, then switched.  Shame on Deltec!!!
  
  

  Business response

  10/05/2023

  We stand by our initial response.  We have reached out to the customer and have offered to meet with them to discuss how to move this project forward.

*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. ↩