Hendry County's largest home building company, having built hundreds of new homes in Port LaBelle says they are experiencing "issues related to materials, services, and labor to build and complete our homes," as new complaints are posted on Google Reviews.
Drone Photo by Don Browne - New Heartland Home under construction
A slew of apparent new home purchasers last week received emails from Heartland Homes notifying them of large price increases. One post on Google Reviews by Yanelys Avila a week ago said:
"I signed my purchase agreement 5 months ago, the house was supposed to be built in 12 months but as of right now the construction hasn't even started and to make everything even worse last night I got an email "no even phone call" informing me that my purchase price will be increase for almost $40,000."
She warns other, "Please be aware, the price in the purchase agreement is not a warranty that it will be the actual price you will pay, they may increase it to their convenience at any time even when the agent at the moment of signing ensures you multiple times that the price in the agreement is the final price. By the way, it will be almost impossible to communicate with an agent there after you sign, you are better off driving there to ask a question which is very inconvenient when you live hours away from LaBelle."
Sarah Ortiz said in a Google Review , "We signed a contract on 2/25/22 for one price which we were promised a locked in rate. Now 2 and a half months later we are getting our first communication from Heartland Homes for an increase of over $30,000 and when we contacted them about the rate change, they told us they can not predict if prices will increase again or not. Now does that sound like a locked in rate to you? After Jessica and Martha expressed that we were purchasing at the perfect time because they knew rates would be going up…… We have contacted a real estate attorney to review whether this is an unethical business practice. We were sold false pretenses that our future home would cost a certain price and that’s obviously not the case. WOULD YOU PURCHASE A HOME IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL PRICE WOULD BE!?!? I’m extremely disappointed in the communication and false illustrations that they have provided thus far. Furthermore after speaking with Tiffany who couldn’t answer most of my questions as a consumer, she told me that I had only 2 weeks to give them an answer as to whether we would proceed with the next step forward? After further review we have found that we were not the only ones sold under these false pretenses. My husband and I are getting attorneys involved."
Adrian and Melody Rivera posted:
"My in-laws signed a contract on June 26, 2021. They were told that the house would be finished in 9 months. Yesterday, May 4, 2022, like everyone else under contract with Heartland Homes, we received an email stating that there will be a price increase due to material prices, among other reasons.
"The price increase is $60,000! The email indicates that only 24% of the house has been completed, which has already been “under construction” for 11 months. At this rate we don't know when the house will be finished. No one sent us updates on the house, updates on progress, or updates on possible price increases. All we got was an email about a 60k price increase and have a nice day.
"We are so devastated with the lack of communication and professionalism that this company has shown. My in-laws are heartbroken that this was going to be their dream home and they would continue to build their family. We look forward to pursuing a resolution with Heartland Homes, but at this point we are all very frustrated and beyond furious with the way this has been handled."
Hearland Homes Responds
Heartland Homes responds to the complaints with a post saying "As everyone is aware, inflation continues to take a toll on our current economy and the construction/home-building industry has not been excluded. We all have been paying higher prices for fuel, groceries, and the remainder of our daily needs, along with finding fewer items on the shelves or waiting for items to arrive longer than normal. Heartland Homes has and continues to experience these same issues related to materials, services, and labor to build and complete our homes. We have consistently fought to obtain materials, reduce costs and hold our scheduled time frames since the end of 2020, and we are continuing the same thru the first quarter of 2022.
Heartland Homes has experienced significant delays in government agencies, material deliveries, contracted services, and finding new members to add to our team. Often, we find these areas to be inconsistent with deliveries, approvals, or providing the services needed on our scheduled dates.
We are living and working in unusual and inflationary times impacting our personal and business lives. Heartland Homes takes this decision seriously and with regret but feel there is not an alternative solution to the delays and changes in cost we are currently experiencing. Each of our customers is important to us to continue forward and build a quality product."
Walk Away And Forfeit Deposits?
It is not clear if customers with a contract would lose their down payment if they don't agree to pay more, or if Heartland Homes will cancel the contract and try to sell to another buyer at the higher price.
UPDATE: Management responded to one Google review in May saying, "Yes, we are returning the deposit of anyone who cancels their purchase due to the price increase. We are trying to be as fair as possible and certainly understand that this isn’t the customer’s fault." Luis Perdomo, wrote on his review that his son contracted to buy a home but the price was later increased by $40,000 but he was able to get his deposit back, but allegedly Heartland has customers sign an agreement if they get their deposit back, they can't sue Heartland. Perdomo said that buyers should read Section 8 in the contract carefully as it allows Heartland to increase prices at anytime if Heartland's costs increase.
Another Google reviewer said they would post documents regarding their contract. Heartland responded, "While we understand your frustration, threats won’t resolve the issue."
Heartland has been responding to an increasing number of one-star Google reviews by saying, "Heartland Homes has experienced significant delays in government agencies, material deliveries, contracted services, and finding new members to add to our team. Often, we find these areas to be inconsistent with deliveries, approvals, or providing the services needed on our scheduled dates." As of this update, June 4, 2022 there were 107 Google reviews and a star rating for Heartland Homes of 3.7.
Who Is In Charge At Heartland Homes?
Heartland Homes of Florida LLC is owned by Dwayne House and Kevin Berth. Career Financial Corp, owned by Dwayne House, Kevin Berth and Barbara Willard buys vacant Port LaBelle lots at a discount from market values, Heartland Homes builds for a home buyer on the lot, and when finished the deed is transferred from Career Financial to Heartland Homes who then transfers the home and lot to the new owner.
Heartland Homes "borrows" a general contractor's license from Anthody Felix Laquidara of 5408 SW 6TH AVE, CAPE CORAL, Florida. Lacquidara also "lends" his general contractor's license to ARELLANO BROTHERS FRAMING COMPANY and PAINTS & COATINGS, INC both companies are at 17660 East St, Fort Myers, Fl
We signed our Contract 12/21 and revived an email in the late night hours so professional stated our increase was 56k I see they select certain Clients increase was more than others why? So they picking and choosing who they throw the cost to this what happen when they bring in Big Wall Street in they rather lose Guaranteed money for hoping and wishing they could triple there profit now with over 400 Families backed out there contracts very good business Heartland
ReplyDeleteI signed a contract in September of 2021 they did not do anything until may of 2022 too and when I checked on the lot In September of 2022 All that was there was a slab and really bad block work For the outside walls and yes they tried to get me to sign a $40000 raise In contract price These people are regular scam artists Or like mobsters of old New York
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