Dolce Vita Homes

Summary of problems: 1) warranty issues not fixed and builder waited until deadlines had passed for us to file complaints before telling us nothing would be done; 2) landscaping not done properly and builder refuses to acknowledge a problem, refuses to take action to fix the situation, and won’t return our landscaping funds unless we sign a blanket release; 3) items promised by the salesperson were not included and we later had to pay extra for them; 4) misleading promotional information seemed to indicate our properties would be part of the Holmes Approved Homes program; 5) promise of “highest quality materials” not fulfilled.

Several issues were noted on our 1-year warranty inspection. The builder assured us all issues would be resolved, so we did not file a warranty claim under the ANHWP. As soon as the warranty period expired, the builder informed us all issues were either resolved or the builder declared them to not be issues and said they would do nothing further. We were left with no recourse since the warranty had expired. Later, we discovered several of the issues had not been fixed. We filed a complaint through the BBB and some of those issues were then fixed. Recently, one of my tenants informed me at least one of the issues on the warranty report had still not been fixed. The builder’s representative was there when the tenant told me this and the rep said nothing about having the item fixed.

We had added a landscaping allowance to the purchase of the property. After possession, the builder informed us we had no choice but to use their “preferred” landscaping contractor rather than choosing our own. There are several issues with the landscaping, especially the “install” of the patio. The landscaper ignored our requests to have the issues fixed. When we contacted the builder, they claimed it wasn’t their problem because the contract was between us and the landscaper. The builder and landscaper later visited the properties and declared there were no issues and that the landscapers had fulfilled their contract. The photo below shows the patio: no gravel base was installed to stabilize and level the blocks (so they sink when you step on them and they sit unevenly, creating a tripping hazard), no landscaping fabric was used, no sand was put between the blocks, no edging or border was used, and the blocks were placed haphazardly and unevenly. The patio is obviously not properly installed. However, the builder refuses to acknowledge there are issues and continues to hold our landscaping funds so we have no leverage to convince the landscaper to fix the issues. We included this issue in our BBB complaint and after a VERY long debate, the builder finally agreed to return our funds to us. However, they returned them to our lawyer along with the demand we sign a blanket release before we could have the funds. Since that release could potentially be interpreted to limit our ability to address all issues with the property rather than only gagging and limiting us regarding the landscaping issue, we could not sign the release. The builder then demanded the return of our landscaping funds to them. As far as we know, they may have released the funds to their contractor without our consent. Regardless, without our funds in our possession, we have no leverage to convince the contractor to fix the issues.

Saleperson said items were included as standard in our package and later denied this. We had to spend thousands of dollars on “upgrades” for items we were led to believe were included in the package. We hadn’t noted the items on any of our pre-sale documents or notes because we were told they were standard. Company owner said “houses can’t be built on conversations.”

Likewise, promotional material both at the showhome and on the documentation for our specific properties mentioned the “Holmes Approved Homes” program and seemed to indicate our 3 properties would be part of the program. We later discovered they were not. Part of the reason we chose this builder is because of the added assurance of quality and high standards associated with the Holmes Approved Homes program.

Literature on the properties also promised they use the “highest quality materials” but: a) our interior doors crack at the latch if someone so much as sneezes on them, b) the carpet underlay is of average quality (so our carpets looked ten years old after only a year), and c) the builder installed discontinued appliances (most of which had to be repaired within the first 18 months, and the repairs are incredibly expensive because the appliances are discontinued). (Incidentally, the appliance repair company said often appliances are discontinued only because they are lemons.)

We would not recommend this builder to anyone. In fact, hearing their ads on the radio makes me cringe at the thought other unsuspecting customers could endure the same experience.

we bought a house from Dolce Vita Homes and it has been a problem ever since. windows were installed inside out, with the screen on the exterior rather than interior.

i complained about it on our first year but Cory, the after sales guy, said that since i supplied the windows it was built that way, thats ***, though i supplied the windows, installation error is theirs. I will never buy a house from this builder and will advise everyone not to buy from this *** builders.

Terrible quality, terrible warranty work, terrible customer service After sale. The sales team was lovely, very helpful and caring.

They assured us we were buying a quality product backed by mike Holmes . We were told their sound proofing of the duplex shared walls was excellent and above code-the mike Holmes was. What a flat out lie. We can hear our neighbours normal speaking level conversations word for word.

Lord help you if you end up with partiers in the other half of your duplex. So many deficiencies, too many to list.

Getting them to fix any is like pulling teeth. You have to phone constantly, get the run around, when they do come to fix it they do a half bleep job, leave a big mess and get out as fast as they can.

Spent several extra dollars on stone work which was poorly done then spent a year and a half getting the run around only to have the VP tell me the case was closed and nothing would be done. Lie after lie from 4 different service reps only to end up with nothing.

My garage collets water at the door and forming a little skating rink in the winter only to be told that this was in the acceptable limits. My drive way had to be lifted as it too pooled water at the sidewalk edge. Several cracks have started to appear inside the house around window sills and drywall joint. All this after the VP stands behind the quality of work by his trades.

In the end I just gave up and this is the case with several of my neighbors just getting the Dolce Vita run around. Great sales team lousy warranty follow up.

We sold our home to purchase a duplex. It has now been 7 months and NOTHING.

THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE up the 20k deposit they took.

We have been assured by legal council that we are perfectly in the safe zone.

They promised us SO MUCH, AS THE TIME WENT ON WITH EACH MONTH WE WERE ASKED TO GIVE UP "this that and the other"

There was always some reason that the home was delayed.

Now we have to fight for our money.

I don't think it is reasonable to expect someone to wait for 18 months in a horrible rental when we were told originally 8-10 months.

How could we trust them now?

I would think twice about using them for anything but already built spec homes.

We have had nothing but horrible customer service from Dolce Vita Homes. For example we have been in our home for nearly a year and a half and during this entire time we have had a large amount of water pooling up against our founation due to improper grading. Repeated attempts to get this problem rectified has only resulted in lots of excuses from Dolce Vita.

I have a house built by them and have had all kinds of issues. They have horrible customer service and claims to be a top rated builder. The sales and marketing manager is useless there along with the sales representative.

Save your money and buy with another builder to save yourself from future head aches. With such unprofessionalism within the company causes such concern. Especially when they seem to pass the blame within each other.

We signed an agreement to build a house with their estimate of 8-10 months. We went out and got a mortgage rate hold for 10 months. As nearly 4 months went by, they did not start construction on the home and we began to worry.

When we asked for updates they claimed the city was holding them back and that they would start the next day (but they never did) nearly two months went by and little construction took place. We again began to worry, but they told us they would have no foibles finishing within the 10 month promise ( we were 6 months at this point and only the foundation was poured)...

Another month went by and we really got up in arms as nothing was being done. The vp of the company stated they were doing a wonderful job and that they know what they are doing and our bank would extend us if necessary because our bank was so in love with them...

Finally after another month (month 8) of inactivity, we complained, and they finally admitted they would not be able to complete the home within the 10 months. We were at risk if losing our great mortgage rate and thus wanted to discuss our options. After much argument, they gave us only one option --- take your deposit back.

That was great and we were happy. That was more than a month ago and I have been chasing them down for a timeline or even a vauge idea of when we might receive our funds.

We cannot move forward and have mere months to utilize our preferntial mortgage rate. I would not reccomend them, they were horrible to deal with, unprofessional, and kept promising on things they had no intention in keeping their word on.

We bought our home in November 2010. We had 4 outstanding builder issues since the walk through.

One of the major things was our driveway being sub-standard and we finally got it replaced after 2 years! But only after going directly to the President! They have come to our home more than 10 times to "look" AGAIN at the same 3 things that are still outstanding...we will try going to the President again to see if he can get the long-outstanding deficiencies. We are going to take legal action if these items are not fixed properly.

In the past, they have come and done a half *** job and cheapest way to fix things. Our back French doors leaked for a year (improperly installed french doors waited 1 1/2 years and warped the hardwood but they shrugged their shoulders and never mentioned again.

I would NOT recommend Dolce Vita they build a nice home, but their customer sucks! I will NOT be building with them for the simple lack of bad customer service!

It has been 3 months since the water leakage complaint went into the head office of Dolce Vita homes in Edmonton and they finally sent someone out. .

. with a great fight I might add. I am currently 7 months pregnant in our 18 month old home and today we found substantial amounts of black mold in our ceileing due to a leak from our master bath shower. it has been one gigantic headache and struggle after another with Centrex/Dolce Vita homes and even now I still have to fight with them about something that is potentially life threatening.

Thumbs down on all aspects of Dolce Vita's so called "sweet life" it's bitter, black and spreads like a fungas. .

. oh wait it is!