When you buy a new house, you expect no problems...right?
It's what Jim and Anne Bower expected when they bought their first new house in the northwest Valley. But when they moved in, they noticed a problem right away: The freezer door could not open fully.
The problem was much more significant than it sounds. It meant drawers couldn't open all the way and couldn't be removed for cleaning. They also worried that their granite countertops and freezer handle could be damaged by the constant bumping when opening.
On the other side for the fridge, they say wood cabinets could not open fully enough to allow for sliding shelves.
The couple said they went to the builder William Lyon Homes for help. They said they were encouraged, but eventually told it would not be fixed.
And they let me know.
Other Coldwater Ranch homeowners also let me know of similar issues "causing damage to our hardware."
Another said they were told to "buy rubber stoppers or our counter was going to crack."
We took the Bower's situation to William Lyon Homes.
The builder said "Our Warranty Service Department addressed this issue with Mr. Bower; we even received a ruling from the Registrar of Contractors. We understand that Mr. Bower is not happy with the decision, but we feel this issue has been resolved and have no further comments to make."
But the Registrar of Contractors handles construction defects, not the Bower's issue.
They call it a design flaw and said there's a simple solution — It's a solution one neighbor said he did get.
The owner said the builder "moved my pantry cabinets and refrigerator over about four inches and added a larger spacer to the left of my fridge."
And that solved the problem.
We asked William Lyon Homes why they would take care of one owner, but not the Bowers.
The builder said, "Our only comment would be that the two situations were not the same."
Ask about "design" flaws and similar issues being covered when you buy a new home.
And make sure anything said verbally, is put down in writing.
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