Lennar Home Builders rip-off sold us a home with a cracked slab! Houston Texas

We bought a Lennar home that had been owned by a previous owner. The sales representative had discussed the CRACKED SLAB with them. These people moved in and within 3 months Lennar purchased the home back from them because of a skunk that died in the walls. Lennar Homes sold us this home with a new home warranty -- just as if no one had ever lived in it. They disclosed the skunk odor but they never mentioned the cracked slab. In fact the sales rep refused to allow us to see the house until they had replaced the carpet covering the floor.

After living in the house almost a year, we decided to get an inspector to check for warranty items. That is when we discovered the cracked slab for the first time. Our neighbors knew the crack was there but thought that the sales representative had told us about it since she had discussed it with the previous owners. When the tile was removed, it was obvious that the crack was there since construction because of the glue and grout inside the crack. Our cracked slab went across the entire width of our home. This was no small crack and it literally cut our home in two pieces.

During our 10 month FIGHT with Lennar we were treated very disrespectfully. We are living in one of Lennar's Active Adult Communities. We put our retirement savings into our home and would never have bought a home that had a cracked slab and we realize that it could be very difficult to sell our home to another buyer because of the repaired crack. We could never recommend anyone buying a home from Lennar unless they hire a PRIVATE Professional Real Estate Inspector before they close on the house and understand about the binding arbitration agreement that is in all the contracts.

When our construction foreman came over with a jar of glue and a putty knife to repair our cracked slab, we knew that we had better do a lot of homework on our own. We contacted every foundation repair company that would talk to us and we also got on-line and read the International Residential Codes (which is the MINIMUM standards that all builders are supposed to follow). Lennar has begun repairs on our home, but we have been through 10 months of the worst nightmare in the history of cracked slabs.

We want to warn everyone who is getting ready to purchase a new home to get an inspector to inspect your home before signing papers. In fact, it would be helpful to hire an inspector to check every step of the construction. Also be aware that the binding arbitration agreement takes away your Constitutional Rights to a jury trial if you have a problem with your home.

Ruth Pearland, Texas
U.S.A.