Why we need a Homeowner's Bill of Rights: Stories from Washingtonians (Part IX)

Welcome to the ninth installment in our special series counting down the hours remaining until Friday evening's 5 PM bill cutoff deadline, when this year's Homeowner's Bill of Rights legislation will expire unless voted on by the state House of Representatives. Each post in this series features stories from homeowners who have been victimized by negligent construction.

These are stories of Evergreen State families who have, through no fault of their own, lost their life’s savings, their health, their ability to finance their children’s college education, and their prosperity because there was a defect or problem with the workmanship of their home.

Countdown Clock: 5 Hours, 32 Minutes Remaining Until Cutoff

Senate Bill 6385, if enacted, would give the same rights that condo owners already enjoy to homeowners. It provides families with a recourse if their most valuable investment is damaged by contractor negligence. Under current law, homeowners get stuck with the bill for shoddy workmanship. There is no warranty, no protections in place to help those who have been victimized.

We urge you to join us in calling on House Speaker Frank Chopp to bring SB 6385 to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. If SB 6385 gets to the floor it is sure to pass - and Governor Chris Gregoire is ready to sign it.

But it has to make it out of the Rules Committee first.

We continue our countdown with Jamie's story.

I moved into my finally finished Reality Home a hundred and eighty days after they poured the foundation on March 25th, 2005.

We were very excited and happy to be in our new home. Then the problems arrived several months later. The dry wall company, which is owned by one of the owners of Reality Homes did a poor job on our sheet rock.

We had ridges all over our ceilings and on the walls. We fought, fought, and fought with them to fix it and they just finished with it September 2006.

We also have many squeaks in the floor and they have been out several times, but nothing is improving. They will not even call us back now. Twenty months after moving in, we are still left with things to be fixed. My recommendation is not to build with Reality Homes and pay the little extra money and go with a another builder.

Here's how to get in touch with Speaker Chopp:

District Office:
444 NE Ravenna Blvd, Suite 106
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 729-3223

Olympia Office:
339C Legislative Bldg.
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7920

Toll-free Hotline: 1-800-562-6000
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-635-9993
Email: chopp.frank (at) leg.wa.gov