Seems that Consort Doesn't Want the Word Out

Seems that Consort has blocked me from comment on their Facebook page. Apparently the truth about their business practices as related to my lot, my home, and my situation is difficult for them to swallow. No worries, I have this blog--and other avenues for publicity. In my opinion, Consort is just one more greedy and unscrupulous corporate entity in a string of greedy corporate entities seeking to make a quick buck. From the financial industry to the mining industry to oil/gas companies, to builders and construction--greed and deception are the motivators. Corporations seem to be driven by these mantras: How can we make the most buck? How can we make the fastest buck? How can we pull the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting buyers? How can we do the minimum and make the most? How can we take advantage of the building boom (now over) and build as much as possible, as quick as possible, with no thought or duty to ethics or quality. (I heard that bonuses were given to the home contract workers--painters, e.g.--for finishing as quickly as possible.)

It's the corporate entity versus the little guy.

Where are the good business practices? Where is their concern for my damaged home and lot--and related permanent LOSS OF VALUE? While they rake in the profits, I've lost the comfort of home, and the security of a good and wise investment.

Greed is NOT GOOD, Consort.

Again, homes built on a drainage route??

What a Lost Lot Looks Like

These photos--some from October of 2009 and some more recent--illustrate what is occuring on our lot. Unfortunately, they don't do the problems justice. But, nevertheless, it's worth documenting so that potential buyers understand that when Consort tries to sell them a lot along this line, Consort is, in my opinion, attempting to sell a lot--and an entire stretch of land--that should NEVER be built upon.

Photos show the backyard, as well as the adjacent lots where the same pattern of drainage exists--also visible is a drainage sewer.

The photos with the painted stakes (white in some, white with orange streamers in others) illustrate a shelf created. From the top it drops suddenly about 15 inches straight down, as though pulled from underneath.

Let's follow the route of the natural drainage

Seriously? Consort wants to just "fill this in" with a little more mud? They're either incompetent, unethical, or both.

Here we see the street (near the tennis court), several lots down. Notice that the buckling in the street and sidewalk? Yep, that follows all along the straight line of the lots up to and including our property--and beyond. This isn't a "one lot" problem as Consort seems to think--this stretches all along the line.

Beware, or you'll suffer value loss as well.

Consort Doesn't See This As a Problem

WOW! Look how well plastic tarps keep out water. Seems that lessons in topography, gravity, etc are needed for the good folks at Consort.

Consort Homes ignores the very real issue here...flooding on adjacent lots can't be remedied by plowing over with soil. This is a natural drainage route--and it will continue to be one long after Consort tries to convince people that filling ditches with mud will do the job.

First, Consort can't fill these ditches with mud because the water NEEDS an outlet--and conventiently, there are drainage pipes and sewers located further down the empty lot line. To fill these would compromise the drainage needed. Second, if the lots around our home are built upon, and Consort attempts to artificially raise said lots under development, our lot will become the lowest point, and thus depository for water and further erosion. IF, however, Consort decides not to raise the lots next to us (let's face it, they can't raise them as the manhole and sewers will be covered up), the issue of soil erosion from underneath the surface will continue--until everyone loses property value.

*If you were to follow the path of water in this photo you would see it follow the contour of our lot and adjacent lots. A good rain and we might just have a pond in our lot too.

A Consort Home Fireplace, The Story

The images just below are of the living room fireplace. Notice the ice and frost?! These photos were taken in the winter, and Consort asserted that all we need to do to remedy a frost and ice-covered fireplace is "close the flue." Uh huh. First, the flue was indeed closed. Second, I've lived in many homes--and have never seen an open flue lead to ice and frost. Third, this didn't occur in Year 1 of living in the home (we're now in Year 2). And, fourth, after a severe drop in our land do to issues stated in previous post, a host of gaps developed between walls and floor and sides of fireplace and frame. These gaps, in the winter, cause a tremendous draft of ice-cold air.

Next up, pictures of the master bedroom walls in the winter--also covered in frost and ice.

Consort--the Green Builder! Again, Consort refuses to acknowledge the sinking soil in the rear and the shifting this has caused. One of their remedial ideas was to simply place a tarp next to our property--to keep away water. GENIUS!! (Heavy sarcasm.) How about compensating for loss of value? How will this home ever be sold to a new owner?