Admin

Richmond American Homes: What Do You Think?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty - Denver Southlands

Richmond American Homes Has Some Explaining To Do

Back in February I discovered that my furnace is seven years older than my house. You can read "I Can't Believe What My Builder Did" .  I tell the story of how I discovered that my furnace is from 1993, when my house was built in 2000.  At the time I didn't expose that my builder is Richmond American Homes because I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, and give them the opportunity to make it right.

year furnace was manufactured

I just received a letter from Richmond American Homes that basically says they will do nothing for me.  They say "At this time, Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc. (Richmond) is unable to accomodate your request as during this time frame in which your home was built there was no requirement of the manufactured year of the furnace.  The only requirement was that it needed to be a new furnace.  A furnace-manufactured date would not be relevant as manufacturers have furnaces that are made, and stored until sold.  In addition, the extended warranties were not offered on your unit until the year 2006, and this extended warranty would have had to be purchased with the manufacturer at that time."

This is Richmond American Homes!  It is not some small time builder that can't back up their product. 

They say the requirement was for the furnace to be "new".  Seven years old does not seem new.  It may not have ever been installed in a home, but sitting in a box for seven years does not mean it is still "new". 

Is it just me or does this seem wrong to put in a seven year old furnace into a brand new home?  It really doesn't seem like they plan to make it right!  What do you think I should do?

Show All Comments Sort:
Jeff Jensen
The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

That is pretty disappointing.  Think of all the technology changes and efficiency improvements during those seven years.

Apr 24, 2012 08:22 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

If I had a home built for me (new), I would expect that all appliances would have been new as well, and I would have been very annoyed to find a nearly decade-old appliance in my home.  I would have insisted they give me a new one - and I wouldn't care if it hadn't ever been used either.  

Apr 24, 2012 08:24 AM
Karin Lundeen
Keller Williams Realty - Denver Southlands - Centennial, CO
Realtor Centennial Homes For Sale

Hi Jeff~  I am really disappointed in Richmond.  I really thought they would do something to make it right!

Kat ~ Goes to show yathat you need to have an inspection on new builds!

Apr 24, 2012 08:26 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Richmond American is not my favorite builder.  I had a friend buy new with them and two years into living in her new home her master bathroom had been leaking due to debris in the plumbing that had caused some sort of water backlog.  Long story short, her family room ceiling ended up on a family heirloom Persian rug. The debris in the plumbing?  A fast food cup.  And Richmond American was just as accommodating to her.  

Apr 25, 2012 01:50 AM
Karin Lundeen
Keller Williams Realty - Denver Southlands - Centennial, CO
Realtor Centennial Homes For Sale

Hi Chris Ann, Wow!  That is terrible1  Cleary the cup was there from construction and they should have done more!!!  I have been fairly pleased with them until this and I think this is wrong!  I'm not done with it!

Apr 25, 2012 11:16 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Karin, this is really bad practice and puts egg on Richmond's face!   Shame on them!

May 12, 2012 10:02 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Karin,

I would not take NO for an answer.  There is someone in the company concerned about their "PR", and I would knock at the CEO's door, or get your local TV consumer advocate to take up the cause...A

May 15, 2012 08:20 AM
Greg Parrish
First California Mortgage - Greenwood Village, CO
The Mortgage Money Man - FHA/VA Conventional Home

Classic "weazel" out of taking responsiblity for onces actions. With a response like that it makes you wonder about the other itmes they installed.

May 29, 2012 11:01 PM