Homeowners in dispute with builder, post neighborhood signs

Brian Seals

Friday, Dec. 18, 1998 | 11:53 a.m.

A dozen homeowners in eastern Las Vegas's Yorkshire Point have gone public with their complaints against Pulte Homes, posting signs in their yards to protest delays in repairs of their new homes.

A Pulte spokesman said the company stands by its warranties and will fix the problems if the work is covered by the warranties.

The problems are generally fixable items that aren't uncommon to new residential developments, the Pulte official added.

But homeowners say the problems aren't being taken care of in a timely fashion.

Mike and Gail DiBenedetto closed on their house in mid-September. They say they immediately began having problems with an overflowing toilet. Plumbers visited three times, and the DiBenedettos say the plumbers found a rock was clogging the line.

DiBenedetto said he is also unhappy with a small crack in the wall of his new home where the wall and ceiling meets near the living room, and points to bathroom mirrors dotted with dry paint. And he says that although the toilet has been fixed, the flooring has been damaged from the overflows.

He said the homebuilder is a large corporation insensitive to its customers' needs.

"It's unbelievable how they treat people," he said.

Neighbor Cindy Taylor tells a similar story. She says her cabinets have scratches, the range over her stove is barely hanging on, there is paint on her carpeting and other problems. After moving in in mid-October, the problems are still not fixed, she said.

"This is my first house. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bought this house," she said.

Some 12 residents have posted signs in their yards telling prospective customers to come talk to them before they buy in the neighborhood.

David Beck, director of construction for Pulte's Las Vegas division, said the company will fix all problems covered by warranties.

"We have a team in place actively doing service," Beck said.

Beck conceded that repairs have not been made in a timely fashion. He said a person that was in charge of rectifying such situations is no longer with the company.

DiBenedetto faxed a list of problems various residents have to Beck on Monday, and Beck said the problems would be addressed.

Whether the signs in the yards will remain there until the problems are fixed is in question. Beck said neighborhood covenants and restrictions forbid such signs and the residents will be asked to remove them.

There are about 120 houses in the development, which is situated off Hollywood Boulevard.