Home warranty can be frustrating - part 2
 

I finally received this letter from home Warranty after refusing to pay the $85 to Tri County Landscapes for inspection of yard for drainage. Tri County was called on 4/6/16 because Warranty would do nothing until Tri County did their thing. I suppose I should be pleased that home Warranty finally did respond after Tri County’s urging. The letter is dated 8/4/16 and the visit to our house was in June as I was back in Ohio all of July.

“Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you last month to inspect your concerns about drainage. Our investigation confirms that the grading of your property is consistent with the Master Grading Plan. The Villages cannot offer warranty service for diminished turf health in the swale areas as this is the responsibility of the homeowner or his/her lawn maintenance company.

I am enclosing the Empire Turf Owner’s Guide that may offer some helpful suggestions on maintaining turf in these moisture prone areas. Thank you for your inquiry.

Ronald G. Hess
Project Manager”

The Tri County person didn’t feel that gutters would solve the problem. When talking to Mr. Hess during his look see, he observed areas that were not draining. I would be happy to replace the grass at my cost if they correct the drainage. Maybe I should ask to see the paperwork of his investigation to help me find answers to prevent moisture prone areas. What are your suggestions?

Just walk down the block and look at our drainage issues to see how far we got. We did get about 50% improvement by having the yard core aerated and top dressed a few times (at our own expense, of course). Rumor has it they are putting French drains in all new construction over by Pine Ridge.

We had a similar problem with the area between out 2 houses being very wet. It turns out that the irrigation was to blame. My neighbor was over watering due to incorrect settings on the controller, and I had a broken sprinkler head. Jim Baumgardener was very helpful in finding the problem. I was sure that there was a broken pipe. You might want to check both irrigation systems.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice but that is the first thing everyone (Tri County & Warranty) checks. Our next door neighbor is with us on this one and is hoping for a solution.

This is called obfuscation....

And one should eschew obfuscation.

Since irrigation was checked, did anyone suggest cutting back on irrigation in this area, using different spray heads or eliminating some heads completely?

If that was looked at, then you and your neighbor are probably looking at some form of auxiliary drain, a French drain or some form of buried porous pipe to a lower part of the lawn.

I do not know if the master gardener would be able to help in this matter. It might be worth taking detailed pictures and asking them for some help. They might have some other ideas.

I know some folks who persisted and the Warranty Department installed French Drains between the houses.

:clap2:

Today, I am paying the $85 “service charge for inspection of yard for drainage” to Tri County Landscapes. It’s a scam in that warranty will not respond until a Tri County person visits your property. I say visit because that is all they do. They give you no paperwork, analysis of anything other than a bill.

My letter to Mr. Hess has been ignored and I thought I was being nice!

Dear Mr. Hess,

I received you letter of 8/4/16 discussing the drainage issues around my house. As your visit to my house was in June not July, you may be thinking about the wrong house. As you didn’t take pictures or any measurements of the property during the visit in June, I am a little perplexed that anyone would know that the grading is correct. If you made measurements after that first visit, I would request to see those measurements to present to people who can correct the issues.

Maintaining turf is not the issue but having soggy ground for extended periods of time is. I will be happy to provide you with pictures of wet ground that isn’t draining. As I would like to resolve the draining issues, any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

I love the Villages except for shenanigans like this. I will pray that your house as well as mine survives Matthew without damage.

We had an area between our houses that would only grow weeds and was wet and muddy. We decided that even weeds were better than nothing and maybe getting some vegetation there would help the problem. We stopped spraying weed killer between the houses and let the weeds grow and even fertilized the weeds, we just mowed them along with the rest of the lawn. Eventually it all filled in with a mix of weeds and grass and the drainage problem was solved. Now grass has taken over and it looks good.

I do, too. You know...the wheel that squeaks the loudest...

Squeaky wheel should not be a problem.:wave:

Good luck with that, neighbor. I had a group meeting with the owner of the contracting company that built our house, the owner of our landscaping service, and the head of home warranty. Outcome---it was the other guys fault, it was no one's fault, it was a combination of issues etc,etc. Of course, nobody would fix it. At least they all left with wet shoes:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Vito and Rocco Are free after the storm.

They are available, but hardly FREE:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

South West Florida Water Management District is very interested in all thing related to water. Try them. Southwest Florida Water Management District

Get some estimates. Installing French drains in Florida is not expensive.
 

Around, around and around we go. Every time a new excuse and another suggestion for me to fix the problem. For me it’s kind of the principle of the thing and wanting straight answers.

The latest letter from Mr. Ronald Hess says and I quote:

“This letter is in reference to the reported problem with your northern swale area. Our position remains unchanged and The Villages will not be taking further action. The low lying area is from denigration of the turf largely contributed to time of over irrigation. I would recommend replacing turf in this area and to continue to monitor irrigation usage.

I have enclosed irrigation history for neighboring properties that you may find useful in making informed decisions. Thank you for your inquiry.”

My issue is with swale areas on both sides of my property as I have reported many times to Warranty and Mr. Hess. I specifically recall that we covered watering by all parties on his first visit. It didn’t seem to be a major issue at that time.

I feel like asking him to present the watering figures for these properties when they we under The Villages control before being sold. My house was irrigated by them for 10 months or more before being sold to me. I presented this issue to them within four months of my ownership.

I suppose it’s time to move on and enjoy being alive. I would encourage all new owners of new houses to examine this issue as it will cost the home owner to resolve if needed.

[QUOTE=twoplanekid;1301399]Today, I am paying the $85 “service charge for inspection of yard for drainage” to Tri County Landscapes. It’s a scam in that warranty will not respond until a Tri County person visits your property. I say visit because that is all they do. They give you no paperwork, analysis of anything other than a bill.

My letter to Mr. Hess has been ignored and I thought I was being nice!

Dear Mr. Hess,

I received you letter of 8/4/16 discussing the drainage issues around my house. As your visit to my house was in June not July, you may be thinking about the wrong house. As you didn’t take pictures or any measurements of the property during the visit in June, I am a little perplexed that anyone would know that the grading is correct. If you made measurements after that first visit, I would request to see those measurements to present to people who can correct the issues.

Maintaining turf is not the issue but having soggy ground for extended periods of time is. I will be happy to provide you with pictures of wet ground that isn’t draining. As I would like to resolve the draining issues, any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

I love the Villages except for shenanigans like this.


I see your frustration on Drainage. This is bbbbbb responding.
Over a period of three years, we came and did long visits and immediately we found situations very similar to what you have described. On one house we were minutes away from a deposit, and I wanted to evaluate the drainage further. I got total resistance and could see for sure, BUY it and then we would be stuck. So, a year later, we found another house, it had some problems or potentials and we found the same story, very close to a deposit, BUY it and be stuck. So we did not go through with that sale. Finally the next year we found a unit that seems to work. We have out of state friends who we told about the good things here, they came for their second visit recently and immediately on their own, without any negative input from us, they got the same story that if they bought with potential problems, they would be stuck with real problems. So, they are finishing up their rental and in two weeks will leave and go home and IF they return they intend to buy elsewhere locally.
Sorry but that is how it goes.
bbbbbb :MOJE_whot:

Hesitant to buy
 

Problems and lack of proper action to slve this problem encourages me to buy elsewhere.

[QUOTE=bbbbbb;1309752]Why locally?

Please understand that when I say moving on, I am not talking about leaving The Villages. I am talking about my taking care of this issue and not depending on Warranty to do anything.

[QUOTE=Bogie Shooter;1309773]According to our friends from out of state, buying elsewhere locally can be ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, well,,,,,,,,,,just elsewhere.
Locally is defined as in or around the local area. Let us say about within 20 miles? Perhaps I should say they will not be buying in the Villages. That is their choice. But we need to be where we can help them with personal items, paperwork, shopping, washing the car etc.

bbbbbb :ho: