Darrell Kellum Inc

I sold the homeowner a new home on [redacted], [redacted] on September 20, 2013 and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on November 7, 2013. Prior to the homeowner moving in a walk through was done with both the listing agent as well as the selling agent. Any...

items identified on the punch list were rectified.
I was contacted by the homeowner’s Mother on 02/17/2014 about issues I had not been made aware of prior to this date. These issues consisted of two doors sticking; the concrete slab on the front porch settling and the hall bath tub needed re-caulking.  It was brought to my attention that the back yard needed re-grading however the ruts were caused after we closed by the fence company the homeowner had hired to install a fence and they did so when the property was extremely wet. In addition to the ruts from the fence company, during this same time the homeowner had a sidewalk and rear patio poured and thus more ruts from the concrete trucks.
The front porch has been re-poured, the Master Bedroom closet door re-replaced and the Master Bedroom door repaired. In addition the brick sill on the front porch has been replaced and the house, shutters, porch and steps have been power washed. . The baths have been re-caulked and the screens installed.
I feel the problem in this situation began with a lack of communication between the homeowner and me.  When the homeowner’s Mother first contacted me about the ruts from the fence company she wanted me to fix, I explained to her that I would be glad to fix but wanted her to know I had nothing to do with them. She quickly became irate and belligerent.  I informed her then that I would prefer to deal with my client and not her.
I have been in touch with the homeowner and as mentioned previously, every item has been taken care of with the exception of a sticking bedroom door and a closet door that needs adjusting.
Finally, as stated previously, I believe the issue all along has been the lack of communication between my client and me.  Now that this has been resolved, I see closure
on all issues.

Review: I purchased a home from Darryl Kellum Inc. in December 2013. I have contacted [redacted] on numerous occasions regarding “punch list” items on my new home. I have spoken with him on the phone, sent text messages, and left voice mails. As I said, I have spoken with him but that is only after numerous attempts to reach him. [redacted] most of the time does not respond. Even if I do speak with him, he never does what he says he is going to do.

Since I was having no luck in being able to resolve any of the punch list issues, I asked that my mother act as my representative and assist me in trying to contact [redacted] and schedule the repairs. This was due to fact I work in Richmond, Monday-Friday, 35 miles from my home, I work in a physician’s office and I do not have any flexibility to take time off from work.

My mother contacted [redacted] on Monday, February 17, 2014. She explained that she was going to be staying with me for one month in order to assist me in getting the punch list items resolved. She asked that [redacted] come to the house and go over what items needed to be addressed. [redacted] did come that day to my home and go over the items with her.

Items reviewed - a)concrete front porch was settling and pushing concrete up b)screens not installed on house c)master bedroom bathroom door would not shut d)master bedroom closet door - was defective - splitting apart at bottom of door e)both bathrooms - the vinyl tile at base of shower and tub needed to be re-caulked - it was separating where floor and tub met

Feb 17-18 the following items were taken care - a)bathroom vinyl re-caulked-this was done to my satisfaction b)master bedroom bathroom door was looked at - he was not able to adjust it that day - he said it would have to be removed and have some cutting done on it in order for it to shut - he would have to come back for that c)master bedroom closet door was glued and heavy duty clamps were put on it to hold in place tightly while drying - he indicated if that did not work - he would have to replace - this was not to my satisfaction and I requested that the door be replaced - which he said would have to be done on another day d) he said he does not normally install screens in the winter due to the weather damaging them - he would install in the spring e) [redacted] and the concrete sub-contractor looked at front porch, determined it was defective and would have to be taken up and the concrete re-poured. He would schedule this and let me know .

Week of Feb 24 - there were numerous messages left for [redacted]. No return phone calls. Finally he returned a call, remaining items were addressed again. Wed, Feb 26, the concrete porch was jack hammered up. Friday, February 28 the front porch was re-poured. There was concrete dust all over the porch, siding, shutters from the concrete removal and re-pouring. My brick sill under the front door was removed. There were concrete truck tire ruts in the front yard now from where the concrete truck had backed in the yard to pour the concrete.

Wed, March 5 My mother contacted [redacted] for me to go over remaining items. She explained that she was only going to be in town 1 more week and would like to get the remaining items resolved. She expressed her frustration that it had been a long and difficult process to get the items resolved. [redacted] was not at all happy with their conversation, explained to her rudely that she was not his client and he would not talk with her regarding any of the issues and would only talk to me.

It was only a short time later, within the hour that he showed up at the house with someone to repair the bathroom door, replace the closet door, he installed the screens and he smoothed over the ruts in the front yard. He said he would be back the next day to paint the closet door and again said he would take care of the back yard. He put a piece of wood under the front door where the brick sill had been removed. I called him exactly when that wood was placed there, he said that when the weather improved he would be back to power wash the front porch area, brick steps, and to replace the brick sill.

I continued to leave messages and texts from March 14-Aprl 2. No return calls. My step-father called him on April 2. Spoke with him and asked that he get the front porch cleaned up and the brick sill installed. [redacted] asked if my mother was still in town and my step-father said she was not. [redacted] indicated that since she was no longer in town he would go and take care of the front porch and brick sill. He told my step-father that he would call me. As of today [redacted] has not contacted me. He did come to the house that day and did some clean up work. This clean up is not to my satisfaction.

On Sunday, April 6, someone showed up to replace brick sill. No communication at all. They just showed up on a Sunday afternoon.Desired Settlement: I would like [redacted], to correct the following items. I am requesting that front porch, brick steps, shutters, vinyl siding, railings that are covered with concrete dust, concrete splatters be power washed again. My front porch, brick steps and brick foundation were one of the nicest focal points of my home. I am requesting that it this area once again look like it did when I moved in.

Since the time of the punch lists, there seems to be a substantial amount of settling at the house. I had wanted to go over this with [redacted], make an appointment and have him come by the house and see what I am talking about, but he has not returned my calls. I have quite a few door jams with significant separation that needs to be caulked. This does not seem to be a normal amount of settling and separation in a new home. Also now my master bedroom door is not closing correctly - I can get it closed - but it will not lock and you can just push it open. I have noticed that where they painted the master bedroom closet door - I have double doors - the paint on the newly installed door does not match the original paint. Also the closet door when closed is loose, it does not close as tightly as the other side. I would like for [redacted] to make an appointment with me, go over these items. I am requesting that this appointment be at a time where I do not have to take time off from work.

Business

Response:

I sold the homeowner a new home on [redacted], [redacted] on September 20, 2013 and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on November 7, 2013. Prior to the homeowner moving in a walk through was done with both the listing agent as well as the selling agent. Any items identified on the punch list were rectified.

I was contacted by the homeowner’s Mother on 02/17/2014 about issues I had not been made aware of prior to this date. These issues consisted of two doors sticking; the concrete slab on the front porch settling and the hall bath tub needed re-caulking. It was brought to my attention that the back yard needed re-grading however the ruts were caused after we closed by the fence company the homeowner had hired to install a fence and they did so when the property was extremely wet. In addition to the ruts from the fence company, during this same time the homeowner had a sidewalk and rear patio poured and thus more ruts from the concrete trucks.

The front porch has been re-poured, the Master Bedroom closet door re-replaced and the Master Bedroom door repaired. In addition the brick sill on the front porch has been replaced and the house, shutters, porch and steps have been power washed. . The baths have been re-caulked and the screens installed.

I feel the problem in this situation began with a lack of communication between the homeowner and me. When the homeowner’s Mother first contacted me about the ruts from the fence company she wanted me to fix, I explained to her that I would be glad to fix but wanted her to know I had nothing to do with them. She quickly became irate and belligerent. I informed her then that I would prefer to deal with my client and not her.

I have been in touch with the homeowner and as mentioned previously, every item has been taken care of with the exception of a sticking bedroom door and a closet door that needs adjusting.

Finally, as stated previously, I believe the issue all along has been the lack of communication between my client and me. Now that this has been resolved, I see closure

on all issues.