Question about House Designer

hmp2z

Disney Bride, Mom to Molly, Moose, and Hannah (all
Joined
Mar 9, 2002
Messages
1,656
I have a question for you all - wanted some opinions. We hired a designer in Florida, to create blueprints for our home that we'll be building in Clermont. My husband wanted to hire a designer there, not here in NC, b/c he thought they'd be able to design the plans to the local codes.

Anyway, we hired her in November, b/c she was recommended by a builder toward whom we were leaning strongly. She cashed our check in early December, and told us she would have a draft for us by early January. In early January, we called her, and she said she'd have something for us by the next week. Then the next week. Then the next week. She never called us - we always had to call her.

Finally, I called her on February 3, and said that we should just cancel our agreement and we'd find someone else. That very evening, she sent us the draft of our plans. Great, so we did some revisions, went back and forth twice, and then she said she was done on February 10 and would mail us the blueprints. She sent us the invoice for about 2/3 of the balance (last few hundred remaining until we get the electrical plans), and said that she'd send those blueprints right out to us.

I mailed her check on Monday, and called to ask whether she'd sent us the plans. She didn't call me back. I sent her an e-mail, and she finally replied today, saying that she was going to put the plans in the mail today.

Meanwhile, our entire construction is delayed now because she's a month and a half late getting us the plans! I don't even know if she really put the plans in the mail or not. Would you give her a date, and tell her that if we haven't received the plans by X, then we'll stop payment on the check? Am I being unreasonable? I know that she's busy, but she won't return calls or e-mails, sets herself deadlines and then doesn't follow through or even let us know that she won't be meeting those deadlines, and I am having trouble believing that she's really put the plans in the mail. We've paid her almost $2K, and so far have gotten nothing but a few, belated, faxed sketches.

Any thoughts for us?
Cheers!
Heather W
 
I really dislike doing business with unreliable people. I would give the plans until Wednesday to show up and then put a stop-payment on the check. Another thing to think about is if she came recommended buy the builder, what are the chances that this builder isn't just like her and won't get things done on time?
 
hmp2z said:
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Meanwhile, our entire construction is delayed now because she's a month and a half late getting us the plans! Any thoughts for us?
Cheers!
Heather W

First off I am really sorry she has taken so long.Everything will work out for you in the long wrong.

Secondly, If you are building in clermont-Just wait for all the delays that are coming your way. :)

Honestly, the one thing I have learned since moving to the clermont area is that everyone works on their time - not normal time. Everything takes forever.I would compare it to Island time.

We are building a custom home at the moment. I cannot wait for it to be done and I know everything we have gone through will be worth it but I will not do this again.

I look forward to reading how your building goes. By the way, we love Clermont and are so happy to have moved. I am sure you and your husband will to.

edited to add: Was this the architecht (sp?) or engineer?
 
Thank you for the replies; this is the designer - she's not an architect or an engineer, just a designer who came recommended by the builder who'd also been recommended to us. I just don't know why she tells us one thing, if she means something else!
Jennifer, who is your builder? The one who'd been recommended to us was Domigan Homes, but I actually don't think that we're going to go with them. Our personalities are meshing much better with another builder, who happens to be a green builder which is great b/c I'm all about saving the environment :)
Thanks again!
Heather W
 



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