MLS Custom Homes

Be very wary when using this builder and clearly document your purchase. I agreed to purchase a $185,000 condo in West Branch, IA. The condo was not completed but realtor.com had about 24 pictures representing the interior and all finishing of the home. As the home was nearing completion, the builder substituted brown vanities in all bathrooms and brown railings near the steps when all the pictures clearly showed white. We had indicated we wanted white interior. Unfortunately the contract was not clearly written, only specifying white in the kitchen. The listing agency Lepic-Kroeger Realtors agent (listed as Kari Juhl or her representative) were very rude to our agent from the beginning and provided snide comments when we questioned the substitutions. The builder's agent said he was within his right to provide "similar" finishings. I felt this was almost a bait and switch tactic. We were expected to hand over $185k and be satisfied by sight unseen construction which did not match the pictured construction represented on realtor.com. Brown is not similar to white; it is the complete opposite. As a result, we lost confidence in this builder and listing agent and backed out of the deal. We lost $1500.00 earnest money by doing so. Additionally, the builder and listing agent were unwilling to compromise until the very end. I would have accepted white paint. At that point, I didn't feel they were in any way customer-focused and chose to walk away.