We purchased a home from Norfolk Builders in Huntsville Alabama in 2011. We had a punch list of over 100 items including multiple building code violations. We battled with them and have hundreds of emails to validate our claims. We hired a structural engineer Ph.D and an Industrial Hygenist and other professionals to help us understand the issues with our home. We begged and pleaded with Norfolk to fix the issues. Many of the smaller issues were resolved, but it usually took more than one contractor to come out. Many times with the fix, there was collateral damage and something else would end up on the list. We were treated rudely and with disrepect by most Norfolk employees and those that were not rude didn't seem to be with the company for very long. Our crawlspace was not built to code. One of the selling features that was a deciding factor in us purchasing from Norfolk Homes was the "conditioned crawlspace". The crawlspace was not installed properly and the drainage that should have been installed was not. The crawlspace floods and stinks. There is mold growing in it too and we have the expert reports to prove it. Norfolk agreed to fix it, and finally was going to fix it (and agreed in writing to fix it - we have the email trail) but we because we said we felt since we now had to have multiple sump pumps and a dehumidifier installed as part of the "fix" that we should also receive a paid maintenance agreement on the equipment - they balked.
Because we negotiated for the maintenance agreement Norfolk claimed their attorney told them to put the work on hold. (we know they never planned to do it and in the meantime they were packing up and leaving the state of Alabama) We were fearful of the continuing mold growth and advised Norfolk in writing that we were no longer seeking a maintenance agreement and wanted the work to commence. Norfolk will not answer our emails or respond. When we reach their project manager he keeps telling us they are "discussing" it and will get back to us. We keep asking, they keep ignoring. We have also discovered, through our structural engineer (Ph.D) that our brick was not installed to code and we face possible issues within the next 5 years. Besides they two big issues, here are some others.
Our yard was never graded correctly. (Norfolk attempted to fix it by dumping a dump truck full of sand on top of it the first summer we lived in the house (summer of 2012) - the yard was unusable, a big eyesore and mess. Needless to say the remedy didn't work. We had it evaluated by two landscape architects and the structural engineer (Ph.D) and the yard is still not graded to code (oh and their 2 landscapers agreed it is not to code either). Electrical outlets that we paid additional money for during the design phase, were not installed, when we complained and finally got them installed, they were installed incorrectly and had to be redone (our kitchen island ended up damaged from the worker's drill when he dropped it on it - one story of many like it). There were no junction boxes or pancake boxes installed, per code. When we complained we were told we were picky. Some of the bathroom fixtures were damaged and we complained and they were fixed and when we asked how could this happen in a new home, we were told "it's all about the price per square foot". We didn't even know what that meant. There were outlets installed in the middle of the wall (about 4 ft from the floor) just floating there - when we complained, we got the eye rolling like we were making a big deal about nothing. Our driveway had a gigantic crack in it, the brick had never been cleaned off, the landscaping was not planted properly (we actually dug it up, saved it and replanted it ourselves). I could go on, but I think I've painted a picture -
there are over 100 items that needed to be addressed on the list and it's taken us 2 1/2 years and we are still waiting for the major items to be addressed. The crawlspace (moldy), flooded and not in any kind of condition worthy of living over. The grading of the yard is all wrong and contributes to the crawlspace issues. Then there is the brick, and we have no idea how it can be fixed but the brick was not installed to code. Norfolk seems to have fled Alabama, but continues to work in TN and MI. We have read about very similiar complaints with Norfolk and their unwillingness to respond. They treat us like we are annoying them but had no problem taking that big fat check from us the day of closing. We have battled with them for years now and we don't deserve this. Their slogan is building dreams one house at t time - they don't care about anyone's dreams they take the money and run!! Oh by the way, when they do get a contractor to fix something they don't like to pay either - we had one of their contractors threaten to put a lien on our house if WE didn't get Norfolk to pay them. They weren't the only contractor to complain to us about payment, but the only one that threatened us. We want the work done but we don't want Norfolk to rip someone else off in the process either. A total lack of accountability and integerity - how do they get away with?
Norfolkhomes.com. Reviews
We purchased a home from Norfolk Builders in Huntsville Alabama in 2011. We had a punch list of over 100 items including multiple building code violations. We battled with them and have hundreds of emails to validate our claims. We hired a structural engineer Ph.D and an Industrial Hygenist and other professionals to help us understand the issues with our home. We begged and pleaded with Norfolk to fix the issues. Many of the smaller issues were resolved, but it usually took more than one contractor to come out. Many times with the fix, there was collateral damage and something else would end up on the list. We were treated rudely and with disrepect by most Norfolk employees and those that were not rude didn't seem to be with the company for very long. Our crawlspace was not built to code. One of the selling features that was a deciding factor in us purchasing from Norfolk Homes was the "conditioned crawlspace". The crawlspace was not installed properly and the drainage that should have been installed was not. The crawlspace floods and stinks. There is mold growing in it too and we have the expert reports to prove it. Norfolk agreed to fix it, and finally was going to fix it (and agreed in writing to fix it - we have the email trail) but we because we said we felt since we now had to have multiple sump pumps and a dehumidifier installed as part of the "fix" that we should also receive a paid maintenance agreement on the equipment - they balked.
Because we negotiated for the maintenance agreement Norfolk claimed their attorney told them to put the work on hold. (we know they never planned to do it and in the meantime they were packing up and leaving the state of Alabama) We were fearful of the continuing mold growth and advised Norfolk in writing that we were no longer seeking a maintenance agreement and wanted the work to commence. Norfolk will not answer our emails or respond. When we reach their project manager he keeps telling us they are "discussing" it and will get back to us. We keep asking, they keep ignoring. We have also discovered, through our structural engineer (Ph.D) that our brick was not installed to code and we face possible issues within the next 5 years. Besides they two big issues, here are some others.
Our yard was never graded correctly. (Norfolk attempted to fix it by dumping a dump truck full of sand on top of it the first summer we lived in the house (summer of 2012) - the yard was unusable, a big eyesore and mess. Needless to say the remedy didn't work. We had it evaluated by two landscape architects and the structural engineer (Ph.D) and the yard is still not graded to code (oh and their 2 landscapers agreed it is not to code either). Electrical outlets that we paid additional money for during the design phase, were not installed, when we complained and finally got them installed, they were installed incorrectly and had to be redone (our kitchen island ended up damaged from the worker's drill when he dropped it on it - one story of many like it). There were no junction boxes or pancake boxes installed, per code. When we complained we were told we were picky. Some of the bathroom fixtures were damaged and we complained and they were fixed and when we asked how could this happen in a new home, we were told "it's all about the price per square foot". We didn't even know what that meant. There were outlets installed in the middle of the wall (about 4 ft from the floor) just floating there - when we complained, we got the eye rolling like we were making a big deal about nothing. Our driveway had a gigantic crack in it, the brick had never been cleaned off, the landscaping was not planted properly (we actually dug it up, saved it and replanted it ourselves). I could go on, but I think I've painted a picture -
there are over 100 items that needed to be addressed on the list and it's taken us 2 1/2 years and we are still waiting for the major items to be addressed. The crawlspace (moldy), flooded and not in any kind of condition worthy of living over. The grading of the yard is all wrong and contributes to the crawlspace issues. Then there is the brick, and we have no idea how it can be fixed but the brick was not installed to code. Norfolk seems to have fled Alabama, but continues to work in TN and MI. We have read about very similiar complaints with Norfolk and their unwillingness to respond. They treat us like we are annoying them but had no problem taking that big fat check from us the day of closing. We have battled with them for years now and we don't deserve this. Their slogan is building dreams one house at t time - they don't care about anyone's dreams they take the money and run!! Oh by the way, when they do get a contractor to fix something they don't like to pay either - we had one of their contractors threaten to put a lien on our house if WE didn't get Norfolk to pay them. They weren't the only contractor to complain to us about payment, but the only one that threatened us. We want the work done but we don't want Norfolk to rip someone else off in the process either. A total lack of accountability and integerity - how do they get away with?