Myja L

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| map-marker Mesa, Arizona

Clayton Homes - Nightmare and it's not even over yet

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Updated by user Jun 02, 2022

On 6/1 I was notified that financing fell through via the mortgage broker. I contacted Clayton homes for a refund and was told there was no refund available for either the $1000 earnest money or the $2400 I paid for the utilities easement. I am out a year and a half,...

Updated by user May 04, 2022

Contacted Clayton to get an updated on 5/3/2022 - got a response on 5/4/2022 and was told the exact same thing I was told on March 16 (The contractor will be out next week to dig footings than we can order the inspection. We still have the stemwall to build, post...

Original review May 04, 2022
Secured pre approval in January of 2021, Made an offer on land and was under contract on 2/11/2021. Chose a home model and paid the required deposit and of $1000.

Property was not closed on until May of 2021..- was never told that Clayton would be purchasing the property under their company name. Received a price breakdown and discovered that the home I chose, while listed in the 80's was being sold to me at 106k. I still moved forward. In June of 2021 I was contacted and told the home I chose was no longer available and was being replaced with a smaller model.

I agreed but there was no conversation about a price differential. I took it in stride and continued. .I heard absolutely nothing until August 18 2021 when I was contacted to go out and mark where I wanted the well. I drove out to the property and marked where I wanted the well.

I was not contacted again until October 4th 2021 letting me know that the well company dug down 800 feet and did not hit the water table, I now needed to have a cistern placed and water hauled. In addition I was told that the home I had ordered would be delivered after all. After doing some research, I agreed. Asked for updated pricing due to all the changes on 11/15/2021 and received no reply.

Contacted sales manager again on January 4th 2022 and again, no reply. Drove out to the property on January 6th 2022 after no communication and low and behold they had delivered a home, no foundation work had been done and the house was in pieces. (I was supposed to be notified when the house was delivered.)
Was contacted January 15th 2022 and told that the neighbors wanted to be compensated for a utilities easement and the cost was my responsibility. on January 31st 2022 I was informed that the neighbor wanted $2400 for the easement.

I asked them to explore any alternatives, I was told that there were not any. On February 4th 2022 I was asked to pick up the easement paperwork at the Clayton office and take a check to the neighbors. I was not comfortable with that and told them that they needed to do that as the builder! I dropped a check off on February 25th 2022 to the office and obtained a receipt.
March 15th 2022 I contacted the sales manager for an update, No reply.

I called the office on March 17th 2022 and the sales manager immediately transfered me to the person who's supposed to be scheduling the work. She told me that it would be 60 days.
Drove out to the property on March 27th, the home was put together and there were metal posts in place under the house. I'm not familiar with foundation work but I'm sure I asked for a pier and beam foundation blocks instead of skirting (maybe that's the way it's done?) -
April 19th 2022 I was contacted by the Mortgage broker with revised loan documents. I contacted the mortgage broker who explained that they had not heard anything from Clayton since May of 2021 and that interest rates had gone up 2 percentage points and I needed to sign the revised documents.

I asked a few more questions and informed them about the easement fiasco. He asked for the receipt and cancelled check. I pulled both and found out that Clayton had endorsed and cashed the check that was made out to the neighbors. The mortgage broker said he was going to see if he could get my money refunded.
Contacted the sales manager on April 25th 2022 to inquire about completion date as my lease is expiring the end of May 2022.

I recieved no response. Contacted the mortgage broker on April 27th to see if he had heard anything, he stated that he had not.
I am almost a year and a half into this process, my lease is expiring and renews at a ridiculous rate, I have to give them 60 days notice regardless of whether or not I'm going month to month. I have no idea when the home will be done. so I'm not sure what date to give them.

I am a single mom with an autistic kiddo - I went in buying this land and home to give my son a peaceful environment outside of the City. I feel like I've been jerked around for almost a year and half. This is my first home buying experience and what was supposed to be an exciting thing to do has been very frustrating and quite honestly I am extremely uncomfortable with this company's ability to do the right thing.

I've done everything that was asked of me and am being treated like I'm asking unreasonable questions or like I'm out of line for being frustrated. I'm not even sure what to do at this point - reading all of these reviews make me really nervous about the quality of the home or the of Clayton to stand by their work/warranty.
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Loss:
$2400
Pros:
  • Floorplans
Cons:
  • Communication

Preferred solution: Refund for the easement, a price reduction to reflect the advertised price of the home at the time of purchase, a solid completion date, concessions for closing costs and reasonable/professional communication from the Mesa, AZ location.

User's recommendation: Think Twice

2 comments
Guest

Where are you? Sounds like my story.

Guest

I went for a tour at one of their lots today. I knew within 15 minutes of being there that I would never buy one of their homes.

Cracks in the walls, doors that were not hinged correctly. Ceiling cracks that were cheaply fixed, Roof seperating from the walls. Fixtures that were falling apart, Glue and sealant that could be seen. Even the sales office smelled moldy!!

How is it that people are still buying these things from Clayton? I couldn't drive away from there fast enough! While I know this whole process was fustrating for you, you certainly made out better in the long run by avoiding doing long term business with these clowns. Can't imagine the *** you would have faced once you signed that contract and moved you and your son in.

There is something better for you and your son. Hang in there God bless!

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