Defectively constructed new KB Home: What the Boom Built
Hundreds of thousands of people are finding almost-new homes need many thousands of dollars in fixes because of construction defects. See link at the end for the full WSJ article!

We have had so many problems with a defectively constructed new KB Home that we requested on numerous occasions that they buy it back and make fair restitution. They have ignored our requests so we were forced to create a website to bring attention to the need for Home Lemon Laws. www.akbhomesucks.com. We have these laws for cars, but not for our homes, that are a much more costly investment. We also allow other homeowners to submit their stories to http://lemonade.akbhomesucks.com .

We had popping and cracking noises going on in our KB Home too (WSJ). They tore up the upstairs floors several times and completely replaced a lot of the boards. There were two inch gaps under some of the ‘Base Moulding’ or skirting boards. Due to the cracks 24 bricks long in steps, on both sides of the house and up the front, the water logged land subsidence in the back garden and the twisted door frames upstairs, we concluded the house had moved and changed shape. Much of the exterior brickwork is crumbling and cracking and the patching KB Home attempted is already cracking. The multiple leaks in the house have led to black mold.

Most recently the air conditioning unit broke down for the third time in three years and we sat in sweltering Texas heat for twelve hours, waiting for it to be fixed. A KB Home customer service manager had extended all warranties on the house for a further two years because of the major issues, so they called someone out (only after he was called out on it with an audio recording). It took two different repair men to several hours find and troubleshoot the problem and they finally told us the unit was never wired correctly (overloaded circuit to CPU ~ burning Hot, crossed wires, wrong transformers, etc.) and one of the dampers was not attached to any power source so it never functioned properly (remained permanently closed ~ no air flow, never opened). We experienced very high electricity bills, despite the fact that KB Home advertised and told us and other home buyers they install energy efficient systems. During the repairs, we found more black mold growing in the A/C air conditioning unit. This KB Home has uneven distribution with blown in cellulose insulation, some large areas have no insulation some areas have snow drifts of 6″. The average insulation  is less than 3″ causing energy to be lost through the attic and competing with the air ducts cool air. Many problems with the attic including no heat is allowed to escape through this house’s attic, the roof underhang sofit’s are completely covered up and are mismatched. No one at KB (CSR’s) has ever gone into the attic to have a look around?

Because of the major construction defects with the house, KB Home customer service managers told us they cannot guarantee anything was built correctly, or that any repairs or warranty work they have done will last. They told us they have worked on a lot of homes, but none with as many problems as ours. They admitted they should have been there to supervise the work. We have spent more than three years with our home being constantly invaded by workmen, as everything kept collapsing or leaking all around us.

The letter below is one of many sent to Jeffrey Mezger who has failed to respond, ever. It was copied to state and federal representatives. It was also sent to President Barrack Obama, but no response was received. It was sent to the FTC as KB Home is under a consent order, but it has not been enforced.

Forbes published the following list of KB Home board members in Their World’s Biggest Companies and Executive Compensation (from SEC data reporting) and the multi-millions of dollars they collectively earned each year during the housing boom at the expense of victimized new homebuyers like us:

Stephen F. Bollenbach
Chairman of the Board of KB Home. He was the Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Hotels. Also current Director, Macy’s, Incorporated ~ Cincinnati , OH Department Stores and Director , Time Warner, Incorporated ~ New York , NY
Ron Burkle
Kb Home Board of Directors & Founder and Managing Partner of The Yucaipa Companies.
Timothy W. Finchem
Kb Home Board of Directors & Commissioner of the PGA TOUR.
Kenneth M. Jastrow II
Kb Home Non Executive Board of Director.
Robert L. Johnson
Kb Home Board of Directors & Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies.
Melissa Lora
Kb Home Board of Directors & Chief Financial Officer of Taco Bell Corporation.
Michael G. McCaffery
Kb Home Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer of Makena Capital Management.
Leslie Moonves
Kb Home Board of Directors & President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation.
Luis G. Nogales,
Kb Home Board of Directors & Managing Partner of Nogales Investors, LLC.
Jeffrey T. Mezger
Kb Home President and Chief Executive Officer & Kb Home Board of Directors. 16 years of Service.

________________________________________________________________________

30th January 2009
Dear Mr. Jeffrey Mezger:

This letter is to serve notice that the conditions under which we purchased our KB Home on 17th October 2005 have proven to be misleading and financially devastating to our investment. This letter is in no way intended to be a formal demand under the Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA) but to give KB Home the opportunity to enter into a buy back agreement with us within the next 30 days.

From the time we purchased our KB home it has had an excessive number of construction defects, some of which may be major that have not been corrected under the terms of the contract, warranty or the Federal Consent Order (FTC). The following problems have been on-going:-

External Cracks 24 bricks long, in steps on both sides of house – crack up front of house above garage-temporary patching. A lot of broken bricks used to build higher elevations.

Land subsidence and standing water in back garden – garden dug up for French drain – but water still sits there – KB Home executive stated I should have bought a two million dollar home if I wanted good drainage.

A/C unit broke down twice in one week in the height of summer, upstairs and downstairs controls wrongly wired. Took a month for parts and repair to be completed, resulted in very high energy costs due to constant running. System has never been fully functional.

Upstairs external deck railings collapsed. New railing full of screw holes that KB Home CSM advised were Knot holes. Railing still separating and posts split vertically.

Major Leaks in kitchen walls and ceiling three times so far – no guarantee from KB Home that issues resolved.

Patio roof supported by posts not fully on the slab, roof pulled away from house and posts were crooked. Roof lifted and posts straightened, then leaks began.
Ceiling and walls ripped out to find leak – repairs done several times before acceptable.

180 bricks removed above patio roof – discovered flashing never installed. Once corrected, house was re-bricked to such an appalling standard, they had to be torn out and re-done. During search for cause of leaks, determined Master bedroom window never sealed – bricks removed and re-bricked.

Holes cut in kitchen walls and ceiling. Noisy de-humidifiers brought in for two days and nights in attempt to dry out excessive water in the walls.

Leak from master bathroom toilet into living room ceiling.

Downstairs toilet removed three times due to blockages and suspected leaks
Plumber tunneled underneath the house from the front through to the toilet looking for a leak. Holly bush removed and replaced backwards. Earth mounded so high afterwards that when it rained, water ran into garage and damaged property.

Upstairs Master bathroom – toilet removed three times due to leaks and improper installation. Black mold discovered and live electrical wires under the tub. Tub creaking when you stand in it and tub separating from tile. Bathroom windowsill cracked and swollen with water. Floor creaking and squeaking – toilet was broken in half by workmen during repairs. KB Home replaced with “bone” color toilet by mistake, instead of white, does not match seat or other fixtures. Bathroom door distorted, no longer fit frame.

Upstairs floors creaking and moving when walked on, all equipment and furniture dismantled, removed and put back by ourselves in loft room, bedrooms, master bathroom and closet, so that floors could be torn up six different times. 9ft by 5ft piece of bedroom wall cut out to find cause, but not found. Walls damaged by workmen so had to be re-painted.

Loud ceiling cracks still occur when we are sitting in the living room and no-one is upstairs. Bedroom floor and bathroom still creak abnormally in places.

Carpets pulled up and re-fitted, heat glued, so many times they no longer fit and there are splits in the doorways and screws sticking up. Carpeting is ruined.

Driveway cracked down the middle – no re-bar underneath, none when re-finished – KB Home executive stated “no-one puts re-bar under concrete driveways”. Another KB Home CSM told us we don’t have to disclose any construction defects or issues to a prospective buyer, unless it is the foundation.

No weep holes originally placed in external brickwork.
No air hawks (air vents, low profile) originally installed in roof to allow toxic fumes to escape. Sofit’s are completely covered with cellulose insulation so there is zero airflow in the attic. The sofit’s are not even put in the same way on each end of the overhang of the house they are mis-matched.

We did a great deal of decorating and home improvement despite all the issues, most of which has been torn up at some point. It has been exhausting.

I have experienced major health issues from the excess water in the walls caused by leaks over a long period of time and toxic fumes. This includes Pneumonia, Bronchitis, developing Asthma, nosebleeds, acute rhinocitis and severe hives. I never even had coughs before I lived in this KB Home.

My family is one of many exploited and deprived of the full enjoyment of our home. We will no longer be subjected to further discomfort or paying for mistakes that were not of our making, but that of KB Home.

Attached is a list of our financial requirements that provides an equitable solution that will help make us whole and allow us to get on with our lives. We are awaiting your prompt attention and resolution to this matter.

Sincerely,

A KB Home Sucks aka LemonMeister

The Original WSJ Wall Street Journal Article was posted online on July 11, 2009. I heard about it when it was broadcast on the radio.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203872404574258531574049434.html