Impact Design-Build, Inc.

Impact Design and Build (bought out by Heartland Homes, then bought out by NVR Homes) failed to dutifully honor a contract signed by me and my family.Impact Design's then owner, now manager [redacted] engaged in devious business practices. He was well aware that his company was not going to honor the terms of an agreement he and I legally entered into. He knowingly entered into a contract with me and my family when he knew he would not be able to hold himself to the terms of said contract. Once he was bought out, his company ceased all communications with both me and my agent. He refused phone calls, and would not return letters or e-mails. In itself not a huge deal, however, he held hostage my $20,000 builder deposit, and told me (through a third party) that he would build my house when he got to it, instead of on our agreed upon timeline. He refused to return my $20k for several months, and then, despite the fact that he is the one who reneged on our contract, he penalized me by taking all money invested thus far (~$7655 for surveying and clearing the lot,drafting plans, and for fees, interest and taxes) out of my deposit. I would have understood this being legal had I been the one to back out on the contract, but I feel that his actions were unreasonable, possibly illegal, certainly unethical. I even generously offered to split the costs with him, an offer that was summarily refused because it was going to cost his company money. Further, his company's quote to us included made up and erroneous costs. As a specific example, I highlight a fabricated concrete quote which underestimated the amount of concrete required for the home's foundation and driveway by over two-and-a-half times, and a failure to adjust estimates to account for an increase from a 36-inch to a 48-inch refrigerator. These two "misquotes" added approximately $10,000 to the cost of the home, which would have certainly made us take pause to evaluate whether we felt the improvements were worthwhile. I specifically recall asking his onsite building manager about the refrigerator, and he told me "don't worry about it; we'll deal with it later". The problem with that is that the increased refrigerator size had a direct impact on the design of the kitchen, and is not something that we would have been able to adjust later. Had he done his due diligence, my wife and I would have passed on the option for the larger refrigerator, but instead, he allowed us to go final on a set of plans allotting additional space for it thus forcing us to go with the grossly more expensive appliance.I feel that his unwillingness to communicate with his clients In my opinion, this is the pinnacle of conceit, and evidence of his unprofessional conduct and his apparent personal disdain for his own clientele. Compounding our disgust with his actions are two additional facts. One, that in spite of the fact that we were responsible for one 24-hour delay in the lot transaction from him to our new builders, he expected us to pay all his interest on the lot...what about the additional three months of delays caused by him? Two, that he threatened just to renege on the final deal at the last minute if we did not pay that interest. Not only that, but that if we did not, he would just "build our house anyway". I would laugh if I weren't so disgusted at Mr. [redacted]'s shabby behavior.Desired Settlement$7655