ComplaintsforLinwood Homes Ltd

• Initial Complaint

  09/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  3/5/21 - 9/5/23 Purchased an Linwood home package on 3/5/21.... Everything before and during the build that we the client did was on time and on budget, 0% of the delays in this complaint were due to us the client and 100% Due to Linwood Custom Homes Linwood advertises on their website ***** weeks to build a Linwood Home....In reality it has taken 130 weeks and our house is still not complete! We have accrued tens of thousands of dollars in extra expenses due to these extensive delays, which were not reasonable under any standards.we are seeking a 15% refund/discount to help cover these expenses that are 100% due to Linwoods extensive and unreasonable delays. in addition $3000 to fix the paint on damaged materials they delivered and a refund for a $9261.20 for unethical overpayment they charged us due to months and months of drafting delays.Linwood has since changed their website as of this week in a effort to cover up their original advertising which in its completely incriminating and not ethical, attached are links to the before and after ORIGINAL TIMELINE UNTIL 9/5/23 :********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** TIMELINE AFTER 9/5/23:************************************************************************************************************************************* we have tried to be amicable and fair, Linwood is not wanting to take responsibility for any of their internal issues that cost us tens of thousands of uneccassary expenses, offering no compenstion for the 94 weeks of delays we experienced above and beyond the ***** week timeline they advertise

  Business response

  09/12/2023

  Blaize BBB Complaint Response
  Cedar Designs LLC (Cedar) signed a contract to deliver a Linwood Design and Material package with ********************* (******) in early March 2021.  Cedar in turn contracted with Linwood Homes Ltd. (Linwood) to deliver a Linwood Design and Material package for their client Blaize on March 8, 2021. 
  In May 2023, Linwood received a letter and an email from Blaize requesting an unspecified amount of compensation for false advertising and unreasonable Linwood delays.  Linwood forwarded this correspondence to Linwoods attorney, ************************* of ****** ********** (******).  ****** emailed Blaize on May 17, ********************************************* order to discuss their case.  As of todays date,****** has not Contacted ******.
  ****** contacted Linwood through Cedar in August 2023.  Linwood offered to refund the $9,621.20 fee which was required to bring pricing for a 2021 delivery up to 2022 pricing.  The delay in package shipment to 2022 was not as a result of any timing issues by Linwood.  The refund was offered in order to provide compensation for some of the material shortages outlined below.
  It should be noted that Clause 3 of Cedars contract for a Linwood Design and Material package with ****** states The seller agrees that it shall take commercially reasonable efforts to make delivery in a timely manner.  However, time is not to be considered the essence of this contract where time of performance is materially beyond its control.
  Blaize falsely states that Linwood advertises on its website to build a home in ***** weeks.  Nowhere on Linwoods website is a ***** week time frame referred to.  It is possible that Blaize obtained the information from Cedars website, however that site is not within Linwoods control.  Cedars statements are not Linwoods and cannot be attributed to or binding on Linwood.
  Linwoods website (as can be seen by clicking on the link that forms part of this complaint) indicated in the *** for timelines:
  1 Consultation and Design Creation          4-8 weeks
  2 *************** and Building Permits     **** weeks for plans plus local building authority time for permits (see details on section 2)
  3 Prepare the Material Package                 5-6 weeks 
  These are the only items that are within Linwoods control.  The remaining items (4-7)are fully in the control of Blaize and their builder.  These items are listed as estimates on Linwoods website to provide guidance to customers.  The builder will provide more detailed information:
  4 Prepare foundations                                  2-4 weeks
  5 Framing to Lock-Up                                    4-6 weeks
  6 Utilities, Insulation & Drywalling             4-6 weeks
  7 Interior finishing                                          **** weeks
  Overall Linwoods website gives a range of 35 54 weeks plus the time for a building permit to be obtained. Permit timing is totally out of Linwoods control.  It varies by region and can be anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.
  The timelines of Blaize project are as follows:
  March 8, 2021                   Contract received by Linwood
  June 21, 2021                   Engineered plans provided to Blaize to submit for permitting
  Total time taken:             10 weeks which is less than the ***** weeks posted on Linwoods website
  Blaize signed amendments to Linwoods contract on July 6,2021 adding deck framing, and on September 2, 2021 upgrading the roofing to 26 gauge snap-lok metal.  These changes were made promptly by Linwood, as were the request by the building department for additional heights to be listed on the elevation and elimination of some information bubbles.  The permit department also had additional questions for the engineers and for the owner/builder regarding siting of the building and the garage/ancillary buildings, none of which were part of Linwoods contract.
  On July 6, 2021 Cedar advised that they were submitting plans for permit and the process could be expected to take 3 to 4 months.   ***** later advised that they commenced work on the foundations in the fall of 2021.  However, local building codes did not permit any work on the property between October and March of each year.  They paused for the winter and restarted the foundation process in spring 2022.  None of these timing issues are attributable to Linwood.
  Linwoods next involvement in the process was quantity survey and ordering materials.  This takes place after the signed plans approving the ordering of materials are received from the customer.                          
  On March 10, 2022 the signed plans were received with a requested ship date of May 6, 2022.  An amendment of $9,261.20 was required to cover the cost of material increases since shipping moved from 2021 to 2022, which Blaize approved.  The order moved from quantity survey to the shipping process on May 3, 2022.  ***** requested that Linwood hold the materials until June 6, 2022 since he would be out of town.  The first load was held at Linwood and shipped on June 2, 2022 so it was available on site June 7, 2022 as requested by Cedar. 

  Customer response

  09/14/2023

   
  Complaint: 20556121
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Response to Linwoods Claims
  Subject
  This is response to Linwoods Message from BBB complaint, for all those reading, we will address each incorrect item,  while adding much needed info that Linwood clearly chose to leave out.  We will simply copy and paste their statements/claims and respond
  LINWOOD CLAIMS: ****** emailed Blaize on May 17, ********************************************* order to discuss their case.  As of todays date, Blaize has not Contacted ******. Actual Email from ***********************: I received prior correspondence you sent to Linwood, but have not had a chance to review it so will need additional time to review and discuss with my client before I can respond  **************************  We never received a response from *********************** or from Linwood about our letter.
  LINWOOD CLAIMS:  These Items (1-3) are the only items that are within Linwoods control.  The remaining items (4-7) are fully in the control of Blaize and their builder.  These items are listed as estimates on Linwoods website to provide guidance to customers.  The builder will provide more detailed information:
  1 Consultation and Design Creation          4-8 weeks
  2 *************** and Building Permits     **** weeks for plans plus local building authority time for permits (see details on section 2)
  3 Prepare the Material Package                 5-6 weeks
  
  The timelines of Blaize project are as follows
  March 8, 2021                   Contract received by Linwood
  June 21, 2021                   Engineered plans provided to Blaize to submit for permitting Total time taken:             10 weeks which is less than the ***** weeks posted on Linwoods website
  
  Response:  we are ONLY addressing #s 1-3 that is as mentioned above within Linwoods control  Please see actual timeline below:
  
   3/5/21 - First Contract signed with Linwood Custom Homes.
  Linwood Website states the timeline to obtain plans from their drafting department and ready for submission to the city is 6-8 weeks.   *Note, this process took 15 weeks to plans original plans for 1st submission, plus additional 16 weeks for required revisions/life safety review.  basically Linwoods drafting **** had our plans in their possession for 8 months, not 10 weeks as they claim.
  
  
  6/29/21 - Received original plans from Linwood drafting department and immediately submit to the ****************************** (BDS) of the **************** to obtain permits.
  
  8/12/21- after 6 weeks, BDS requests life structural review check sheet from Linwood Homes. *Note, there were delays sending/receiving between BDS and Linwood of life structural review.
  
  12/7/21 - Life structural review was finally completed by Linwood Custom Homes after nearly 16 weeks and again immediately filed with BDS.  NOTE* Linwoods drafting **** literally took 31 weeks if you add it all up Not the 10 weeks as they claim.  BDS took exactly 12 weeks to process, so it was not BDS creating the delays,  it was Linwood.
  2/10/22 - BDS permits were issued; ************* and ****************** were notified immediately. 
  3) LINWOOD CLAIMS: Prepare the Material Package               5-6 weeks 
  2/24/22 - We meet ************* at the Spring Home and Garden Show, sign all final papers and contracts, and make the final payment and PRODUCTION FINALLY BEGINS.  At this time we discuss all details, including Linwood build timeline and again we were assured our build would be Envision NWs priority and next/primary job for the summer, and we would have a home to live in by winter 2022 as it takes only  maximum of 3 months to lockup once materials are on site.  this is in the Envision NW contract. 
  6/7/22 - 1st of many deliveries from Linwood over 11 month period after production starts. 
  6/10/22 - We are suddenly charged $9621.20 by Linwood Homes for a price increase, threatened that no more materials will be delivered and work will stop.
  
  *Note, actual reason for this price increase: months and months of drafting delays, production and delivery delays, ZERO percent of which was our (the client's) fault. The only reason we reluctantly paid this was we were threatened that work would stop and no deliveries would be made until it was paid.  We needed a home to live in and wanted to ensure that it would be done before winter 2022, all of which we were continuously assured of by ***** of Envision NW and Linwood "Easier, faster, and more economical. 
  7/28/22 - 2nd Linwood delivery (3 months after construction began). 
  10/18/22 - Sheeting is completed on house and Certainty underlayment installed. The roof should have been installed at this point as heavy rain is in the forecast. At this time it was also discovered that many of the roof pieces were not present, ie. not received from Linwood yet, (EIGHT MONTHS after production began). We cannot start roof from here it takes 3 months before roof can be installed due to missing pieces.
  11/15/22 9 MONTHS after production began. Another Linwood delivery comes, some of the missing roof pieces we have been waiting on several months finally arrive from Linwood. However this delivery is also not complete and we are still missing crucial flashing pieces and roof still cannot be installed so we wait another two months for a roof to be installed, while it continuously leaks throughout our unfinished house.
  12/13/22 - Missing T&G pine is finally delivered from Linwood, 10 months after production started for our home. 
  12/15/22 - The roof is still not complete because crucial flashing pieces had never been delivered. After March, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec we are still missing crucial parts to our homes roof from Linwood. 
  1/09/23 - 11 months and 8 deliveries later, the missing roof flashing pieces and missing vents arrive from Linwood. 
  1/20/23 - Roof is FINALLY on. A roof that should have taken 1-2 weeks to install took exactly 3 months, due to Linwoods missing materials Our house and biggest investment EVER literally leaked for past 3+ months during a very wet and rainy Oregon Winter.
  
    4)   LINWOOD CLAIMS: However, local building codes did not permit any work on the property between October and March of each year.  They paused for the winter and restarted the foundation process in spring 2022.  None of these timing issues are attributable to Linwood.
  RESPONSE: Above statement is completely false, During the rainy season, between October 1 and April 30, ground-disturbing construction work requires an elevated level of attention  this means a excavation moratorium in **************** at our location and that is why we had completed all necessary excavation in Sept prior to October so we could still build in fall of 2021 as originally planned.  If you look at the drafting timeline you will see Linwood actually still had our plans from 8/12/21-12/7/21 in their possesion. Linwoods ******************* delays prevented building in fall 2021 the moratorium had nothing to do with construction 
  5) The order moved from quantity survey to the shipping process on May 3, 2022.  Cedar requested that Linwood hold the materials until June 6, 2022 since he would be out of town.  The first load was held at Linwood and shipped on June 2, 2022 so it was available on site June 7, 2022 as requested by Cedar. 
  RESPONSE:  For all those reading this, here is the problem with Linwood and them not taking any responsibility:  Linwood already admitted that there were extensive drafting issues, however the production and delivery was even worse. To be clear, every shipment was incorrect/incomplete.  There were literally 13 shipments over 1.5 years after the drafting delays and permits were finally issued.  The most important being the missing roof,  we literally waited  3+ months just for these missing roof pieces in the middle of a wet Oregon winter with extensive rains and Atmospheric Rivers, while our house continuously leaked Oct, Nov, Dec and Jan while we waited for the missing roof pieces to be delivered.
  The delays from the drafting-production-13 separate deliveries cost us, (the client) tens of thousands of extra and unnecessary expenses.  We have tried to be fair and amicable with Linwood However after all the un believable stress and everything we have experienced and now having to fight to get any sort of ETHICAL compensation from Linwood,  we are asking 15% discount off the package, in addition to our $9621.20 refunded due to your drafting delays.
  Building with Linwood is "Easier, faster, and more economical.  Nothing went as advertised or as planned.  How many homes has Linwood provided in the past 2.5 years, I have personally witnessed 5 built and completed just in our area.   our small **** sq foot home experienced well over 1.5 years of Linwood delays as ours was on the back burner clearly, creating unbelievable stress and unnecessary expenses for us, the client.  we just seek a fair and ethical settlement for our time, frustration, stress and expenses we accrued during this 1.5 years of pure delays.
  I have hundreds of pictures time/date stamped from beginning to end that include all deliveries, delays and progress, if there are any questions I can provide to substantiate at anytime.
  
  Sincerely,
  *************************

  Customer response

  09/14/2023

  Here is yet another addition to my response..... whomever is responding for Linwood Homes is either completely un aware of the situation, misinformed or outright lying on behalf of Linwood Homes

  here is addition

  Linwood Claims:  and on September 2, 2021 upgrading the roofing to 26 gauge snap-lok metal.

  RESPONSE:  we never wanted to upgrade the roof, we intentionally from the very beginning ordered a shingle roof and always wanted a shingle roof.   This Upgreade they are speaking of was a mistake by ************* or Linwood 100%  they claimed that we ordered it and on original order form which we still have says shingle roof.   they made the mistake and then said it qwas already cut and ready oad for us to pay 1/2 price... that is when and why this so called UPGRADE which was a not correct happened

  Be Ethical Linwood come on man, I am a small Buisiness owner, be ethical

  Customer response

  09/15/2023

  Linwood Claimed: "However, local building codes did not permit any work on the property between October and March of each year.  They paused for the winter and restarted the foundation process in spring 2022.  None of these timing issues are attributable to Linwood".

  Response:  The above statement is completely false.  There is nothing in the **************** thats states there cannot be building/construction from Oct 1 - April 30th.... Linwood is mistaking This moratorium is for excavation only as far a.  That is why We (The Client) made sure to have the Excavation completed prior to Oct 1st, in hopes to still build on original schedule as planned of Fall of 2021.  If you look on timeline Linwood still clearly had in their possession our houses plans a 2nd time for 3+ months in fall 2021 Sept-Dec,  We did not receive them back until mid December right before the **Mas holidays and how are we supposed to get permits issued in 2021?  This again was 100% a Linwood and they are trying to blame it on us the Client, the builder, BDS and moratoriums they clearly are unfamiliar with.... See below

  Forest Park Subdistrict

  33.563.200 Prohibition
  In *************** subdistrict, activities which expose soil to direct contact with stormwater between
  October 1 and April 30 are prohibited. An exception to this prohibition is planting of native plants with
  hand-held equipment, and emergency repair of existing structures.

  I have attached  pictures of the Excavation time/date stamped AUG 10th & 11th 2021 of our excavation conducted which was clearly ready and waiting for Linwood to do what they were supposed to do with plans and provide materials.

  LINWOOD CLAIMS:  "None of these timing issues are attributable to Linwood".

  Above statements from Linwood are completely false and we the client were indeed ready to build in 2021, Linwood is 100% the cause of these delays, everything is logged and time date stamped there is no question it was not the client, builder or BDS it was clearly Linwood!

   As mentioned before Basically Linwoods drafting **** had our plans in their possession for 7-8 months, not 10 weeks as they claim, so for them to say the price increase from 2021-2022 was valid is completely un ethical, please see attached pictures and timelines

  If there are questions, I have pictures time/date stamped and logs to substantiate anything over past 2.5 years

   

  Customer response

  09/28/2023

  Hello, our complaint against Linwood has been resolved please disragard complaint and take down

• Initial Complaint

  08/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  12/29/2020-Signed Contract and pd 10% deposit ($24,300) for a 6-9 month delivery of materials promise. 3/2021 started the process. Waited for a draftsman and was in the "drafting line" from 3/21 to 6/21. During that time we were asked to put more money down to have "more leverage" and "to get to the front of the drafting line." 5/21 made an additional $24,300 deposit to make it 20%. 6/10/21-Preliminary designs were sent to us. Questions asked about the upgrading charges and clarification came very confusingly with discounts changed from ****% to 20%, 9.2% sales tax included & removed, upgrade fees, credits from material changes all lumped into one email message. We tried reconciling the charges and signed the amendments. Consulted our GC and construction team to make thorough change requests on the prelims. Sent in 8/4/21. 8/14/21 changes came but were incomplete/partial from drafting. We gave feedback. Completed drafting came 8/18/21. We responded two days later saying the changes looked great- "What's the next step?" We did not receive a response for 11 days. We emailed again to get a response on 9/1/2021 to work on final changes in order to get final plans. Final changes were submitted 9/10/21. We waited until 12/7/21 to received final plans. We asked multiple times between September and December about the timeline. 10/22/21 we were told it would be 1.5 weeks to get our plans started. 12/7/21 I reminded drafting that the size for the plans needs to be a certain size for submittal for permitting. After getting engineering, asking details about lumber and answers being withheld or promised later we were told to submit the production deposit. We sent $50,600 via check. Went to submit for permits in April. They were bounced back immediately due to wrong sizing that I had asked Linwood to make sure of. We resubmitted again in 6/2021 and they bounced back again because of sizing incompatibilities. Overpromising and under-delivery was the theme. We paid $99,200 to date.

  Business response

  08/19/2022

  Good Afternoon:

  *************************, CFO and senior person at Linwood who will be responding to this complaint has been out of the country in Africa unable to access technology.  She has been away prior to this complaint being filed and will be returning on August 25th.  She will be responding shortly after her return.

  Thank you,

  ***************

  Retail Sales Manager-US

  Linwood Homes Ltd.

  Customer response

  08/26/2022

   
  Complaint: 17703760
  
  I am rejecting this response because:This response is not complete and Linwoods breach of contract is not resolved. This delay is evident of the continued delays weve received to date. Our disappointment continues. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

  Business response

  09/02/2022

  On December 29, 2020 ****** and *************************** ("Purchaser") signed a Purchase
  Agreement MB 107-2956 with Linwood Homes Ltd. ("Seller") for the purchase of a home
  package. A 10% deposit on the contract value was received by Linwood on January 8, 2021.
  

  The contract clearly states that "if the purchaser terminates this contract for any reason
  whatsoever, the deposits paid by the purchaser will be non-refundable and absolutely forfeited
  to the seller on account of damages..."
  

  Since there was a Wetlands Delineation and zoning requirement on the property, an additional
  clause that "in the event that building was not feasible and Linwood was notified no later than
  May 30, 2021 then a refund would be issued" was included in the Purchase Agreement.
  The Seller was notified by the Purchaser and an amendment signed accordingly on March 6,
  2021 that building WAS feasible and that clause was waived.
  

  A new design was chosen and several design changes were made by the Purchaser. On May
  19, 2021 an additional 10% deposit was paid by the purchaser to allow for full construction
  drawings and associated schedules to be generated. The Purchaser approved the preliminary
  plans on September 14, 2021 to allow for the generation of full construction drawings. Full
  construction drawings and associated schedules were issued to the Purchaser on December 7,
  2021 in order for the Purchaser to use its chosen local engineer to provide engineering on the
  project.
  

  At this time Linwood had fully earned its 20% deposit. It had provided copyrighted plans for use
  by the Purchaser with a Linwood package and extended 18 months price protection on the
  package price.
  

  On March 21, 2022 the Purchaser issued a production deposit totaling 20% of the contract
  value. The provision of a production deposit and signed construction drawings are required in
  order for the Seller to start the process of producing the home package materials.

  On April 25, 2022 the Purchaser's engineer submitted engineering details to be incorporated on
  the construction drawings. The details were added to the drawings and they were issued to the
  Purchaser to submit for permit.
  

  The Seller followed up with the Purchaser on several occasions as to the status of the permit
  and when they would be ready to submit approval for the Seller to produce the package
  materials.
  

  On July 5, 2022 the Purchaser spoke to the Sellers' Retail Sales Manager. The Purchaser
  indicated they wanted to use the Linwood plans and have their local builder purchase the
  materials since it would save them money. They were looking for a refund on their project.
  

  As a goodwill gesture the Seller offered to refund the production deposit less $10,000 for
  permission to use the Seller's Intellectual Property on a one-time basis for their own local build.
  We believe this to be an extremely fair offer, since under the Purchase Agreement the Seller is
  entitled to withhold the full production deposit as estimated liquidated damages on the cancelled
  project.
  

  If the Purchaser proceeds to cause or allow a building to be erected using the Sellers plans
  without paying a fee and receiving the Seller's permission it will be a breach of Linwood's
  intellectual property rights and we will seek an appropriate remedy which may include an
  injunction as well as damages.

  *************************
  Chief Financial Officer
  Linwood Homes Ltd.
  

  Customer response

  09/02/2022

   
  Complaint: 17703760
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Linwood Homes is still not being accountable for their actions, (or lack there of) and embezzling of our money ($99,200.00) without equivalent production of product. The timeline in ***************************** response (which she took three weeks to respond to) shows irrelevant information to this claim, most likely for confusion, untrue statements about events that took place and distorted statements on who initiated discussions via email. My family and I were the ones asking for updates and them falling on Linwood's deaf ears with no response, time wasted and no resolution. We did not want to cancel the contract "to save money,"-the lack of communication, extreme delays, over promising and under delivering and clearly the time wasted on Linwood who breached the contract have been the reasons to want to move forward on our own. Our disappointment with Linwood continues and their lack of care for the customer in all ways is contemptible. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************** and family

*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. ↩