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Apr 26, 2020
How and who do I contact with a complaint on a builder?
I have had a drainage problem in the sides of my yard. The builder keeps telling me that the french drain is of specification. However, when I get a landscaper to come out, each one has told me that it is a drainage problem. the builder refused to alleviate this problem...

Mason Hearn of HomeMasons, Inc. PRO answered:

Jun 3, 2020

Not much info here to make a determination.  Drainage issues can be tricky.  Depends on what the builder was engaged to do (was the contract specific about installation of a certain system, or was it a performance specification?).  If the contractor is a member of a local chapter of a trade association, such as the NAHB or NARI, they typically have ethics panels who can look at the issue and help you determine what you should have expected of your contractor.  Likewise, if your state has a Board for Contractors.

So many people today resort to the threat of negative online reviews, but please be careful how you use those.  That may be unfair to the contractor if there are contractual stipulations or specs he was to follow, and he may have done as contractually required, so trashing him online may not be warranted and can unjustly ruin the well-meaning contractor's means of livelihood.

You may also discuss your issue by engaging a legal professional.  Again, hopefully that professional can review the agreement and determine whether there is cause for pursuit - what obligations the contractor had to you, and whether he has met those or not.

As committed industry professionals, we want to know that our peers are dealing fairly with their clients.  I hope that you can come to understand rights and obligations in this case and resolve reasonably to your satisfaction.  

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