New home builder doing a bait and switch with cabinets- HELP!! (Tallahassee: sales, construction loan)

[brytegirl]

We are doing new construction and signed off on cabinets for the entire home with kraftmaid and paid additional $$ to upgrade them etc.

Upon visiting the property today, we found the builder put in kitchen kraft which are way cheaper than kraftmaid. We paid and signed off on kraftmaid.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this?? Did email my atty but it's late and was wanting some advice.

Many thanks in advance!!

[UFGators]

I hear about mistakes like this all the time. The most common answer is that the builder messed up and fixes it right away. I have been shocked by some of the mistakes a lot of this builders make. Keep a close eye on any options you order and check them all! I wouldn't think an attorney needs to get involved until the answer form the builder is "I won't change them". Contact your sales rep first and then go from there.

[brytegirl]

Thanks for this. We met with the builders right hand man yesterday and he gave us some lame excuse that this all slipped through the cracks and that we should have been notified that the brand was switched. This kitchencraft looks cheap to us and this house has exceeded $999K. That is why we were a little upset to say the least..

They are trying to "fix" this somehow with doing some custom work to the doors and replacing the strips that feel like melamine or the kraftmaid's viraguard.

I will update as soon as I know more!
Thanks!

[ave1024]

That's BS. Tell them to rip out the cabinets you didn't order and install the ones you did.

[Meezermom]

Tell them to remove the cabinets they put in, and put in the ones you paid for. DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS - and if they don't you DO need to get an attorney involved.

[Bocabilly]

They NEED to remove them and replace with what you paid for. Look at your invoices and punch lists. Show them. If no results contact the Construction Industry Licensing Board in Palm Beach County or Tallahassee.

[StreetSmarts]

who is the builder? probably just a mistake/oversight by the superintendent / builder rep.
my 2 cents.

[UFGators]

Originally Posted by brytegirl

Thanks for this. We met with the builders right hand man yesterday and he gave us some lame excuse that this all slipped through the cracks and that we should have been notified that the brand was switched. This kitchencraft looks cheap to us and this house has exceeded $999K. That is why we were a little upset to say the least..

They are trying to "fix" this somehow with doing some custom work to the doors and replacing the strips that feel like melamine or the kraftmaid's viraguard.

I will update as soon as I know more!
Thanks!

I would be pretty upset about this. I know how long it takes to pick cabinets and then they change manufacturers on you. I initially just thought they forgot to put in the right ones. If you are okay with the compensation they provided you then ok, but I would be asking for the moon and making them calm me down.

[City Guy997S]

My last house was brand new, built by a national builder and we had 3 issues prior to the closing:

1. Cracked ceramic shower pan- they caulked it, I told them I wanted it replaced prior to the closing which required removing shower enclosure/re-tiling the walls but a cracked pan is a leak waiting to happen!
2. One bathroom cabinet draw didn't match- I told them to replace the whole vanity if they can't get a better match.
3. Broken microwave, they wanted to get a guy to repair it, I told them to replace it with a new one and stick this one in someone else's house.

I held firm and they made the changes I requested. Other than that it was a great house!

In the cabinet situation, tell them you want the cabinets you paid for......period, end of discussion.

[Occifer]

The only viable reason the builder has for not installing the cabinets you contracted for is if the cabinets were discontinued. In that case they should have contacted you and had you select new cabinets. If the cabinets you selected and paid extra for are still available, you have every right to demand specific performance from the builder.

If you have a construction loan and the bank has not paid the full balance to the builder, let the bank know about the issue and they will withhold further payments until the problem is fixed. The builder will definitely not want to rip out the cabinets because that's a huge monetary loss for them. That still doesn't change the fact that you're entitled to the cabinets you paid for, not just the refacing of cheap cabinets with more expensive doors.