Consort--Can't You Even Get This Much Right?

So, I'm watching the new sod installation across the street. Finally, it seems, Consort agreed to replace the dead sod. Funny thing though (well, not funny--sarcasm), they're only replacing about 50% of the dead grass/useless sod. It looks like they're leaving about half of the front lawn--dead and dry as a bone--there for all to admire. Again, this is their M.O. The minimum, the cheapest, the easiest, the fastest FOR THEM. Not the best for the the homeowner, but for Consort. Do they really think half a dead lawn is an improvement?

*Update* Confirmed by the sod installers that Jeff has directed them NOT to replace the full front of the lawn. I hope to God that Jeff is there on his knees replacing it--as it WON'T COME BACK. Neighbor, I'm willing to help you with the legal issues here--and finding an attorney. This is PATHETIC. Even the sod installers seem perplexed as to why the rest wasn't replaced.

Honestly, Consort--can you EVER do the right thing? What kind of advertisement (Pepe/Petras, isn't this a concern for you?) is this for YOU? You really think it looks good for potential buyers to see that you can't even lay down sod for a new owner--and sod over the entire lawn? So 50% is what you deliver, Consort? Not 100%? Maybe you should put that in your advertising: We promise 50% satisfaction.

We have repairs to be done at home, but the hell they'll be done by Consort. This lawn debacle is just another affirmation of their pledge to cheap and easy. This seems to be the only thing that they do with any steady commitment--crappy and half-way work.

Shame shame. Pitiful.

Is Consort Trying to Conceal The Problems?

The holiday weekend is over, and more news about the shoddy, unethical builder, Consort Homes. What's new? I have to wonder if Consort is attempting to conceal the issues with the lots along this stretch--sewer to sewer, from one end to the opposite side of Paul Renaud.

Just a few days ago, I was working in my lawn when I had the opportunity to meet the person who purchased the market home under construction two lots to our north. She complemented me on my landscaping, and we started a conversation about the lots--and the problems on mine, as well as along the entire run. She was more than surprised to hear of this--it seems Consort didn't tell her of the issues. No shock really, they haven't exactly behaved with integrity. I may be wrong, but I believe that there is a "duty to disclose" by the seller, once they are aware of critical issues. I'll be putting my law degree to work and looking into this.* (This post is written by the daughter of the homeowner.)

For now, back to the market home purchaser--I showed her the drop in our lawn, she connected the dots to the sewers, I showed her the drainage duct to the south, explained that Paul Renaud had buckled, that the sewer pipes were abou 18 feet down. She asked if it was a grading problem--I explained, "oh no, it's not the grading, it's that these lots likely should not be built upon, especially in their current state." Take a look around, most builders do not sell land over these lines for homes, but rather keep them outside of the buildable area. I again reiterated the likely 18 foot drop. Consort, however, was/is greedy, and wants to squeeze as much as possible on as little land as feasible.

The new purchaser mentioned she would talk to one of the construction supervisors--I'll call him Jonesy for the purpose of this blog. What she doesn't realize is that Jonesy will say anything, lie through his teeth if need be, to sell the home, and convince the seller all is okay. Jonesy still maintains that ice inside my home is "normal", eg. I can only conclude that he is either inept or intentionally misleading.

My greatest surprise at this point? That Consort's legal counsel isn't advising Consort to behave within the BOUNDS OF THE LAW. I understand that as their attorney he has a duty to zealously represent his client's interest, but he also may not turn a blind eye to knowing falsehoods, misrepresentations, and guilty acts.

Not to mention INTEGRITY? ETHICS? I'm wondering if the Missouri Builder's Association would be interested in this case.

I'm still waiting for Consort to offer just compensation for value lost. I hope that the words in this blog, and our spreading the word mouth-to-mouth, will reach and protect potential purchasers. If they lose even one buyer, they lose an average of $250,000, maybe more. Maybe then Consort will understand the gravity of what they've done.

Unethical? Gross Negligence?

Another thought occurred to me: Consort KNOWS now about this situation, they know about the problems with these lots, they MUST know that the land is poised to collapse further due to the depth of the sewer line and failure to properly prepare the land across a span of 10 lots, including the road known as Paul Renaud. They know that there are now homes on these lots at risk of structural damage. KNOWING all of this, they continue to offer these lots for sale? It's too late for compacting--and the know it.


(How would I make my case that they know? Well, Mr. Ed Petras, "Pepe," is a fan of this blog--so there is no denying that they are aware of, and seemingly indifferent, to the very real issues here. Should anything happen, on my lot or elsewhere, there will be no pleading ignorance--they know.)

How is it possible that Consort is (1) Constructing a market home directly over this sinking land as I write this, and (2) Offering these lots for sale knowing, or should know, about the risk of property loss, damage, even, God forbid, injury?

Greed? Lack of business ethics and integrity? Lack of regard for legal concepts? Carelessness and stupidity? All of the above is my guess.

Jackpot--FINALLY, Someone opens up the sewer!

Consort, GO TO HELL. Mr. Petras, and all construction managers lead the charge down. I've just had a landscape architect at my property, and finally someone who understands the situation. FINALLY, someone who opened up the sewage line in order to assess the depth, and related drop, and if my lawn was finished sinking. The expert's assessment? THE LOT ISNT EVEN CLOSE TO THE END OF ITS DROP...in fact, it can be expected to finish dropping after it reaches the depths of the sewer line: 18 TO 20 FEET!!!!!


Did you hear that Consort? PLEASE TELL ME HOW IN THE HELL I AM SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH A HOME BUILT ON A LOT THAT WILL SINK UP TO 18 OR 20 FEET?! My theory regarding irreparability has also been confirmed. At this point, it is a lost cause. Consort was grossly negligent in their failure to properly compact not just my lot, but the entire string of lots--even to the street--under which rests the sewer line. The entire back stretch of these lots should have been compacted in stages all the way down to the 18 to 20 foot level.


Consort was correct that compacting was missing--but what Consort failed to admit was that it is impossible to remedy the situation as it would require compacting to 18 feet along the entire stretch, and thus destruction of existing built lots, as well as the destabilization of the homes. Consort knows this and has deliberately concealed this information.


Another point, as the lot further sinks, we can reference the well-known theory that nature abhors a vacuum. As a void continues to build below, it is obvious that the soil from the entire lot will shift, thereby impacting my home. I believe it already has. The house, indeed, may not have any "structural damage" YET (the issues I now have inside could be the fault of shoddy construction), but it will!


I've begun notifying my neighbors of the situation--and this blog--and will continue working to get the word out--whether by fliers, signs, ad space in local papers, and/or local media assets.

Garbage: Indicative of Consort's Practices

Something else of interest re: Consort Homes: While driving around other subdivisions in development, I notice a general cleanliness, attention to detail, tidiness to the area--a lack of construction garbage, in other words--with respect to the empty lots and to the areas surrounding. Here, in Countryshire, Consort seems oblivious to these very same things.

Here in the areas under construction at Countryshire, there is harmful debris next to homes--from large pieces of wood to nails to metal stakes-- surrounding open lots, and refuse laying next to Dumpsters--but not in them.

This is but a teeny tiny bit of what I have been dealing with for two years. At one point, I had to call a construcion manager to my home to load up over 20 boxes and Tyvek, in addition to related construction refuse found on my lot and those neighboring. I've had to pick up no less than 100 roofing tile bags left out after the men finish work. I've had to pick up scraps of roofing from my deck. I've had pieces of siding blow across the street and strike my car. I once collected no less than 10 boxes in a single morning from the side of our lot--all under the observation of your men building a house across the street. No one made a move to pick them up themselves, no one has apologized.

A construction manager himself has driven up and down the street countless times, construction refuse clearly evident, and not made a move to dispose of it--instead, he often blamed the construction refuse on another builder, several streets away. As I look out the window across the street, large pieces of plywood and drywall sit on an empty lot, just waiting for another wind gust.

All of this is indicative of Consort's approach: sloppy, fast and in a hurry, not attention to detail. And, as a self-touting "green builder," I wonder how Consort justifies canisters of chemicals left out on the lots to drip into the soil (isn't this an EPA violation?).

We have a neighborhood FULL of children, young and old, and family pets. I don't even want to think about what might happen to any of them if they are struck by debris or exposed to chemicals from canisters leaking into the soil, or crawl into a dumspter left wide open from the side, or struck by electrical cords left dangling from roof tops overnight in a storm.

Now, when I made the construction manager aware of these issues I received an extremely rude, inappropriate, and unprofessional email from the construction supervisor (Mike), telling me that all of "this" was "none of my business." I said it then, and I'll say it again now: OH BUT IT IS, WHEN IT REFLECTS ON PROPERTIES, WHEN IT VIOLATES ORDINANCES, WHEN MY YARD IS COVERED WITH GARBAGE, WHEN IT CAUSES RISK OF HARM--IT CERTAINLY IS.

Consort has been reminded, regularly for two years now regarding this problem. Deaf to customer concerns?

**Mr. Petras, as Director of Sales and Marketing I would think this would interest you, or no? Actually, Mr. Petras, I would think all of what I've been writing would be of interest to you--sales and marketing, and those PROFITS PROFITS PROFITS depend on the court of public opinion, do they not?

Word is Getting Out--Thank You.

Word is getting out about Consort's practices re: my home and property, and my related blog. From realtors to local business to potential home buyers--this blog has been shared with at least 700 people! Let's keep going and spread the word--if each person can share this link with another 20, we can reach 14,000.

The more realtors and potential buyers who know about Consort's practices related to my land, home, and surrounding lots-- and their subsequent unwillingness to compensate me for value lost as a result of their acts--the better. We all know that grassroots movements have the power to grow--and grow quickly.

I'm still aghast that Consort has made no effort to reach out to me regarding my lost property value. I know you (Consort) are following this blog, how in the name of God can you ignore what your ineptitude, lack of ethics, negligence, and/or malfeasance has wrought on my property/home value? Have you NO shame? Such callous behavior again speaks volumes about your business model.

Friends, when you come to this page you need not comment, BUT PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG! Help spread the word. Thank you to those who already have.

I'll be sending out mailers/flyers soon, and posting information on local bulletin boards (Dierberg's, Schnuck's, etc). The community has a right to know that Mr. Petras and his fellow Consort employees will seemingly do anything to protect their profits. Again, what Consort offered was pitiful. Put some dirt on my dropped land and fill some cracks with foam. I'm sorry Petras and others, this is a slap in the face. You know it, I know it--my property will never be the same, there is no real way to "fix" a natural drainage route running to sewers and ducts. My home value is lost--permanently.

Oh, and Green Builders?!?! Not with the cracks, water, insufficient insulation, and mold forming in this house. Readers, please note, this home is only two-years-old!

Consort Homes Ignores Further and Continued Damage to Lot/Property

For five hours now, Consort's bulldozers have been grading the lot adjacent and two over from mine. (The latter is for the "market home" that they seem to be building in a hurry in order to cover up that pesky drainage route, flooding, and pond issue.)

It's important to mention, that they're grading--not digging. The vibrations--strong enough that lamps on my second-floor are rattling and shaking, dresser knobs clanging, dishes and glasses shaking in the kitchen cabinets, and floor vibrating like an earthquake leaving even the beds shaking--seem to be FURTHER destabilizing my lot and lawn:

A new crack, visible in my basement, has suddenly appeared in my foundation. The cracks on my lawn have widened, and the lawn seems to have further broken off at one of the "shelves," and sunk more steeply in the same area since this grading and severe ground shaking started.

I'll be ordering signage today, or making my own, for my lawn--making it clear that the lot is in danger, is falling, and warning others of the sudden drop on the lot, as well as sinkage.

One more thing, Mr. Ed Petras from Consort Homes is reading this blog, and sadly (but not too surprisingly) there has been NO ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF CONSORT TO REACH OUT AND ASK HOW THEY MAY HELP, HOW THEY MAY COMPENSATE FOR OUR LOSS. Mr. Petras, is this how Consort operates?

Click for Larger Images

A quick note to let readers know that clicking on an image will allow you to expand the same--and there's nothing quite like seeing the ice-covered fireplace close-up, or the land splitting and cracking under the mulch, or....etc etc etc. You get the idea: Consort screwed up big time and with total lack of remorse and willingness to compensate me for value lost, continues to try to pass off lots that are, in my opinion, unfit for building.

But don't take my opinion, see for yourself! A picture is worth a thousand words....

BTW, the blue wall is the master bedroom wall--covered in ice.

More on Images Below--Ruined Lot

What are we looking at in the images below? First is a picture of the edge of our property on the north side. You'll notice a split in the mulch. These splits formed, and continue to form, ALMOST 12 INCHES DEEP, across the width of the property. They run in parallel lines, again tracking the large drainage route that you see in the subsequent photos. So, we have a splitting, falling, shelf-creating, flooding piece of property--value lost. Isn't that every home owner's dream?!

Also, you'll see that the ENTIRE width of the lawn is impacted. Consort's laughable suggestion that they might "fill in with a little soil," has left me wondering if they are truly this inept or perhaps just very greedy. Again, nothing can be remedied on this land--even an attempt (which would be unsuccessful because of the nature of all contiguous lots and large drainage pipes and sewers indicating a necessary drainage route) would necessitate the uprooting of thousands of dollars of landscaping.

Why is Consort deaf to our loss of value? Homes are an investment, as well as an emotional attachment. Homes are our refuge. However, when your home is the nightmare, you can forget about the refuge.

Next up, pictures of the drainage sewer on the land they are attempting to sell for homes. Later, a comparison to the way other builders treat these drainage routes. HINT: Not by building homes upon them.

A Welcome to Pepe

A warm welcome to Mr. Petras, Consort Homes Director of Sales and Marketing, aka "Pepe." And to all interested in learning more about what has happened with my lot and home, please read on. I will try to post pictures and updates daily, keeping this information fresh and up-to-date. Nothing like photos and video--what's the old adage?--pictures and video are worth a thousand words.

Mr. Petras, as Director of Sales at Consort, you surely must understand that this home has permanently lost its value, and will never be able to compete on the market with other similar homes, but those that do not have egregious lot damage or ice building on their fireplace and melting on to the hardwood floors, bedroom walls covered in frost and ice, a shelf on their lawn making it impossible to care for, gaps between floors and walls letting in 20 degree F drafts all winter, doors that have fallen askew in their frames and will no longer shut, bulging walls, ceilings separating from tops of walls, cracks coming out on the diagonal from windows, and flooded land and destroyed landscape design. Ha! Tell me this house and lot haven't lost value.

That Consort has not offered compensation for permanent loss of property value is astonishing and speaks volumes of Consort's practices--not to mention abject greed. Listen up, readers, offering to fill tremendous drops in land with "a little more soil" and a plastic tarp, and suggesting that the home owner close their flue to prevent icicles from forming on the home interior, is pitiful. This is a pitiful attempt to minimize the gravity of the situation, and loss of value.

When a flat lawn suddenly drops drastically down into the contour of natural drainage, creating a shelf, and then another shelf, a little bit of soil isn't what is needed. When streets are buckling down in this same drainage pattern--a little bit of soil isn't the answer. The lot line in question should have been treated as it is by reputable builders, and those not driven to squeeze every penny out of the land--by simply not building upon it.

Look around, folks. You'll notice that other areas have these drainage ditches and drainage sewers ON THE OUTSIDE of developed lots--not sold as usable land and property.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting pictures on how reputable builders handle these drainage areas. I can tell you one thing, they don't attempt to sell them as usable land for homes. Stay tuned....

Does *YOUR* bedroom wall have ice on it? Didn't think so.

Awoke in the mornings to ice forming almost one-foot up the master bedroom wall and shock to feel a carpet as cold as snow, despite the home thermostat being set on 74 degrees. Actual ice on the surface of my bedroom wall! I wasn't sure if I should cry or scream. The air blowing in the room--from the gap between wall and floor created after the lot fell--was so cold and so strong that it was necessary to line the wall with blankets. Ice formed nevertheless.

Consort dismissed this as an issue or as a problem. In fact, their lack of surprise and horror was mind-boggling. They offered to shove a little insulation on the attic side of the wall (shouldn't insulation have already been there?), but dismissed the notion that a gap like this between floor and wall was even a problem. What about the likelihood of mold growing as a result of the ice and condensation trapped in the dry-wall? Consort was similarly disinterested. Just offered more mud for the back lot. Hmmm. What about the house that is now off-kilter? Why has compensation for our loss of value not been offered?