News Summary
Katherine Graff, a first-time homebuyer in Morganton, North Carolina, has encountered severe structural issues shortly after moving into her new home. Despite conducting due diligence, including hiring a professional inspector, Graff discovered alarming foundation problems and pest infestations, leading to a strained relationship with her builder and significant financial burdens. As she fights for accountability and better building regulations, her case highlights the urgent need for reforms in the home construction industry.
New Homeowner Faces Nightmare After Moving into Faulty Construction
In a shocking turn of events for a first-time homebuyer in Morganton, North Carolina, the dream of homeownership has rapidly devolved into a financial and emotional nightmare. Katherine Graff, who recently moved into the Saratoga Run development, is now grappling with significant structural issues and the unresponsive behavior of her builder mere weeks after settling in.
Structural Woes Discovered Just Weeks After Move-In
Graff moved into her brand new home in May 2023, optimistic and eager to begin her life in a house she thought was safe and sound. She had taken all the right steps to ensure her investment was secure, including hiring a professional home inspector and following recommended best practices recommended by experts. However, just a month after her move, her excitement turned to despair when she discovered carpenter ants invading her living space and alarming gaps in the siding of her home.
Concerned, Graff took it upon herself to inspect the crawl space, only to be confronted with even more distressing findings. She uncovered serious issues with the home’s foundation and structure, including misaligned pillars and visible gaps that raised immediate red flags about the overall integrity of her new home.
Builder Under Investigation for Negligence
Upon discovering these critical deficiencies, Graff promptly contacted her builder, Timothy Truitt of CMTT Properties and Belmont Builders. Unfortunately, her outreach was met with resistance, culminating in a legal warning from Truitt’s lawyer advising her not to communicate further. This left Graff feeling isolated in her plight, which ultimately led her to file a formal complaint with the North Carolina Licensing Board of General Contractors. An ongoing investigation into the builder has since been initiated.
Bureaucratic Response Leaves Homeowner Frustrated
In her quest for justice, Graff reached out to Burke County officials for assistance but was met with unsatisfactory responses. The lack of concrete action left her feeling disregarded, especially as she noted significant discrepancies between local practices and the stringent state building codes intended to protect homeowners. When county representatives stated they would merely “talk to the builder,” Graff was left with a sense of helplessness and neglect.
Burke County Manager Brian Epley clarified that the county’s primary role is to ensure compliance with building codes. However, he emphasized that the relationship between the homeowner and the builder is fundamentally a contractual one, illustrating a limited scope for county involvement in disputes.
License Issues Compound the Situation
Financial Burden and Emotional Toll
Call for Change in Building Regulations
As the investigation continues, many will be watching closely to see if adequate measures are taken to hold builders accountable and restore faith in the homebuilding process.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- WCNC: Burke County NC New Home Issues
- Wikipedia: Real Estate Development
- MSN: Charlotte Woman Pleads with Officials
- Google Search: Real Estate Construction Issues
- WBTV: New Homes Coming in Western NC
- Google Scholar: Disaster Relief Housing
- Morganton: Chipotle Building on Real Estate Market
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Real Estate
Author: HERE Charlotte
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