Highland Homes Reviews

It was clear it was wrong but was told my Highland Homes and the Survey company (who denied this) that because I didn't get a picture of the guy next to the incorrect pin I'm wrong. No one told me I had to do this? No one from Highland homes was here during the re survey? I even called them while they were here to be ignored. This is a very unethical company who apparently can just lie when something is done incorrectly (GET PHOTO PROOF WITH THE PERSON) really sad to spend so much on a home to realize they along with all the trades seem to be against the home buyer. DO NOT BUY FROM THEM.

Evidently, I did not sign the documents on a quick enough timetable for her, resulting in her decision to sign the contract on my behalf and move forward without my consent. You can see quite clearly that is the case as she removes my access to the documents as of 9:58 AM, signs on my behalf at 10:00 AM, and then she signs at 10:01 AM. I do still have all the screenshots of this situation as proof. In either case, I let that go and we still proceeded with the home-building process. I had completely lost trust with Jennifer, so we moved forward with working with another individual on her team.

Fast forward to 6/25/24, we were experiencing AC/electrical problems in our home. Unsure of the root cause at the time (AC or electrical), we had company Rideout & Sons come out to take a look. They "found wire from the main panel to condenser disconnect is shorted - will come back and run new wire to outdoor panel. Ran new high-voltage wire from outdoor panel to the condenser. Replaced bad contactor and breaker." In discussions with Rideout, it was an electrical issue behind the wall from the breaker box to the AC unit, which determined the root cause was an issue with the initial construction/electrical wiring of our house. Rideout also indicated that this particular issue could have led to a house fire.

We have since discussed our recent concerns with Highland Homes; however, they have indicated they are unable to assist d/t the warranty stipulations. Based on the interactions that I have had with this company, it seems there is an overall lack of integrity as well as inability to resolve concerns in a timely and respectful manner. I would not recommend using Highland Homes for your home-building needs.

During my second walkthrough I was being lied to when repairs found in the first walkthrough were identified and in my home inspection report. Warranty is terrible to deal with. They don't want to fix anything, If it will cost them any money. Warranty issues submitted are either never addressed or take weeks and months of contacting warranty to get it fixed. They blame contractors at times and several contractors told me they would have started months ago. It should NOT take 6 months for a guy with a ladder and caulk to show up. Highland has contractors available to close their selling homes!

This is my third new house and I work in the business. This is the worst builder I have seen. A few issues this house has or had:

- Toilets had flush issues or water holding issues

A recent timeline: On October 5th 2023 Warranty was at my house with the siding company. They were supposed to start the following week. So I delayed my vacation. They never started. On November 1st 2023 The team consisting of managers, who ignored my house being built properly, showed up to look over the siding and leak areas. November 29th more managers and a water intrusion company and the same siding company from October showed up. Someone damaged the paint on the kitchen cabinet. Still no repairs, updates or responses to communication attempts. No actions other than words. Over 15 months since I closed.

Another issue is that when we turned in a request to install a new 6' PVC privacy fence (in the backyard) they want it installed on the property line (both sides of the backyard). The problem is that there is a utility easement of 5' on both sides of the backyard. Therefore we moved the fence in from that utility easement of 5' and they denied our request for the fence. You should not install anything somewhat permanent on any utility easement! We learned that years ago through experience! If you are looking to purchase a new home in the Ocala area I would recommend that you pass up this builder! There are many other great builders in the Ocala, Florida area.

My primary concern revolves around the AC system's inability to adequately cool the entire house, with a particular emphasis on the master bedroom. Despite submitting multiple warranty requests and receiving numerous visits from Strada Services, the appointed HVAC company, the problem remains unresolved. On eight separate occasions, or more including July 26th, 2023 Strada Services has attempted various fixes, including adjustments to the attic, vents, ductwork, and insulation, but unfortunately, none of these efforts have proven effective in resolving the cooling issues.

During my investigation, I discovered that my 2005 square-foot home is equipped with an undersized 2.5-ton AC unit, whereas industry standards dictate that it should have been fitted with a 3.5/4-ton unit. It has come to my attention that Highland Homes made the switch to Strada Services from a previous HVAC company due to increased material costs caused by Covid. Intriguingly, homes completed before this transition, including my neighbor's property at 107 Eagle Summit Dr Riskin FL (a 1715 sq ft home), were fitted with correctly-sized AC units (3-ton) model number GSZ140361LB by the previous company, while mine model number GSZ140301KG and some other homes in the neighborhood are grappling with the same issue.

The consequences of this undersized AC unit have been substantial. My utility costs have skyrocketed when compared to similar-sized homes in the area, yet my house remains uncomfortably warm, with the temperature rarely dropping below 77-79 degrees Fahrenheit, even when the AC runs 24/7 on the lowest setting. The master bedroom, in particular, lacks proper cooling, compelling me to rely on additional fans to seek some relief from the stifling heat. Also causing molding and rusting on the air handler due to constant condensation.

As the summer progresses and humidity rises, the situation worsens, making the house unbearably hot. Having to resort to using portable air conditioners in other bedrooms as a makeshift solution is far from satisfactory, especially for a home of this size and caliber. Despite my consistent efforts to communicate these concerns to Highland Warranty Technician, the issue remains unresolved, significantly impacting the quality of life for my family and me. In light of these persisting problems, I urgently request the following actions to be taken: I request the immediate replacement of the current undersized 2.5-ton AC unit to a suitable 3.5/4-ton unit that matches the size of my 2005 square-foot home. Highland Homes has already had about 18 months to solve this.