PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Mike Jones and his wife toured the model, fell in love with the design and signed a contract with Ryan Homes to build their dream home in Pasco County.
But the dream clashed with reality after the couple moved in on Nov. 30.
"We noticed the power was going out when you would take a shower," Mike said.
There were also issues with uneven flooring and paint finishes in a couple of the rooms, he said, including marks and scrapes on the walls.
Mike told ABC Action News he spent all of December asking the builder to knock out the punch list.
"I complained several times to the guy who was supposedly the project manager," he said.
This homeowner is not alone, and it's not just his builder. General Contractors and builders across Florida blame the pandemic for supply shortages.
"We are experiencing delays from appliances to raw parts to materials," said General Contractor Brent Harper with Wood and Stone Renovations.
He told ABC Action News it is taking up to four times as long to get materials because of shortages related to COVID-19.
"We have things that come from Canada typically back-ordered due to the shutdown periods as well as just the high demand," Harper said.
By law, builders must provide a one-year warranty on new homes. The warranty covers many of the items the Jones wanted fixed.
After looking at pictures of Mike's house's issues, Taking Action Reporter Jackie Callaway reached out to Ryan Homes and asked about a time frame for repairs.
"All of a sudden, after talking to you, they called and said they were going to fix my problems," Mike said.
Ryan Homes has sent crews out to begin work on the Jones' punch list.
If you encounter a serious issue with your contractor, you can file a complaint with your county's building department and/or with state regulators at www.myfloridalicense.com.
