Complaint Review: Ideal Homes

I entered into a contract with Ideal Homes on June 2nd 2005. They had purchased a lot for me and included it in the price of the home for a "land/home" package. Their salesman knew that the lot needed a well, which wouldn't be drilled until the end of 2005. They fired the sales rep shortly afterwards.

In late July the home was placed on the lot.

In September 2005, the in home lender ordered an appraisal on the property to be paid from my loan. The title report and loan papers were also processed.

In November they called to tell me the well would be in soon and I needed to sign some more papers. When I arrived, they proceeded to have me sign a "new" contract "because we don't have the original". When I gave them a copy of my signed contract, they said, "oh, well the salesman wasn't authorized to sign it".

When I stated that the salesrep was an employee at the time the contract was written, therefore he was authorized, they then said, "oh, well, we just want to make the contract simpler". They wanted just the house on the contract. Then they presented me with a separate contract for the land, at a much higher price. They had found out my land was worth a lot more!

I refused to sign the new contract and my attorney wrote them that they were to follow the original contract. On December 3rd, they mailed me a check totaling the amount of my earnest money, trying to cancel the contract.

My attorney sent it back and told them we would sue. I filed complaints with the Office of Manufactured Housing, and the Arizona Department of Real Estate. Both are investigating the complaints. I also filed with the Better Business Bureau. I found out they have 8 complaints in the last 36 months!!

My attorney and their attorney are back and forth on negotiating, but Ideal Homes just keeps going higher with their price. I've contacted a reporter with the local news and he's going to do a story on it. I'm even planning on picketing. If I have to, I'll have to come up with the money to sue, but I would rather they just follow their written promises.

Lorrie
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.