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Palm Harbor Homes review: Lies and cheats 22

K
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2:50 pm EDT
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Palm Harbor Homes in Brooksville, FL, took our money and played bait and switch. We bought one of their 2-story homes and it was to be placed on top of what was to be a custom designed ground floor garage. Before the garage was completed, the Brooksville office where we bought the home was closed. The nice salesman we were working with was no where to be found. We were later told the company was closing their satellite offices in FL due to financial problems.

From that point on, Palm Harbor Homes treated us like dirt by the people we now had to deal with in the Plant City office. No one cared about us at all. They refused to come to the jobsite to see our lot or the home they were now making all of the decisions on. We quickly discovered that everything had changed, and that the people in the Plant City office did not intend to give us what we had paid for. I asked them for the phone number of their headquarters in Texas, and they told me that TX wouldn't talk to me and would just refer me back to them. I feel that the people we encountered in the Plant City office are mean, liars and cheats, and they seem to really enjoy being dishonest and hurtful to the good people who trusted Palm Harbor Homes and who paid good money for their homes. These are horrible people; learn from our mistakes and never buy a home from Palm Harbor Homes!

Our custom home went from really nice to really cheap once the Plant City office took over. We are in the middle of fighting tooth and nail for everything we originally paid for when we designed our custom first floor garage...things we were told we were getting before we wrote the check.

Our building lot is right on the water; we designed and expected the home we were putting on it to be something we could be proud of. The contractors on the job tell us that Palm Harbor is spending as little money as possible on our home, and that we are not getting a quality job. We are completely disgusted.

One example: The Palm Harbor Plant City office has cheap $8.00 exterior lights set to go on our waterfront home. We requested and paid for nautical looking motion sensor lights that were originally suggested to us by the salesman who sold us the home. He told us that was what we were getting before we wrote the check. The list goes on and on...every day is more stressful as Palm Harbor Homes continually tries to cheat us.

Another example: After a rain storm the middle level was heavily flooded in the center of the house. Palm Harbor Homes said that it couldn't have been the roof, and still hasn't sent anyone out to fix the leak. We had planned to put down wood floors...now we are thinking that ceramic tile is our only choice because we know we have a house that is wet after a rain and we have no idea how long or how many floods it will take to get Palm Harbor Homes to fix it...

There are a couple of people with the company who are trying to help us get what we paid for, but they are also fighting an uphill battle. They are disgusted with the people in Plant City as well, but everyone if afraid to rock the boat too much for fear of being fired.

Please beware of this company and steer clear. Our home is way behind schedule. We've had to cancel our summer vacation. We would never purchase a home from Palm Harbor Homes, and would never recommend them to anyone.

22 comments
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Sherry Fogleman
INDIANTOWN, US
Nov 11, 2022 11:49 pm EST
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2015 Purchased PHH for $110,000.00 Cash., The unit was set and ready as of May 13th, 2016..

The main Structural Problem is the roof.. there are already soft spots and leaking..

The first answer from Palm harbor Homes Plant City Florida was call your Insurance Company.

We lost shingles during Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, which we DID NOT have strong winds in Indiantown Florida we were very lucky. However due to the shingles not being properly attached they have blown off and caused leaking in vulnerable spots.

Second response they will not send anyone to check the roof,, so we are filing a litigation claim suing for a new roof.. These homes look nice until they fall apart in a short period of time.. AC was always a problem flooring soft in places and carpet rolling where flooring was not properly attached.. DON’T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THIS JUNK BECAUSE THEY TAKE IT AND DONT WANT TO FIX ANYTHING..

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d p1
, US
Aug 17, 2018 8:13 pm EDT

Fleetwood Builds PalmHarbor homes.
CAVCO owns Fleetwood and PalmHarbor.
CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor Own TDHCA.

TDHCA is; Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
The state of Texas and TDHCA is allowing CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor. To build low quality, unsafe and unhealthy homes for Texans.
TDHCA inspectors are NOT recognized building inspectors.
TDHCA inspectors hold no recognized building inspectors licenses.
Many TDHCA "inspectors" were past employees of Fleetwood/CAVCO and PalmHarbor.
"Friends enforcing Friends" theres an idea.
The state of Texas and TDHCA is allowing this conflict of interest.
I bet some of TDHCA's management have also worked for the mobile home manufactures. Now They work for TDHCA as managers, enforcing codes and regulations with no recognized schooling and/or licenses.
"What a Joke"

Mobile Homes are only temporary housing. They don't build a mobile home that will last any longer then 20 to 25 years at the best.
After that the home needs to be demoed or a total rebuild from roof to underpinning.

In a nut shell Mobile Homes built in Texas, are junk.
TDHCA and the state of Texas is allowing this.
They know low income people can't afford to sue TDHCA or mobile home manufactures.
So why not rip you Texans off, you deserve it because you can't afford justice.
LMAO at Texans, you folks deserve to be ripped off.
Because your poor, stupid and don't mind having your children future inheritance ripped off.

TDHCA, CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor and the state of Texas will never challenge me. Because they know Im right.

dp.

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d p1
, US
Aug 17, 2018 8:08 pm EDT

Fleetwood Builds PalmHarbor homes.
CAVCO owns Fleetwood and PalmHarbor.
CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor Own TDHCA.

TDHCA is; Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
The state of Texas and TDHCA is allowing CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor. To build low quality, unsafe and unhealthy homes for Texans.
TDHCA inspectors are NOT recognized building inspectors.
TDHCA inspectors hold no recognized building inspectors licenses.
Many TDHCA "inspectors" were past employees of Fleetwood/CAVCO and PalmHarbor.
"Friends enforcing Friends" theres an idea.
The state of Texas and TDHCA is allowing this conflict of interest.
I bet some of TDHCA's management have also worked for the mobile home manufactures. Now They work for TDHCA as managers, enforcing codes and regulations with no recognized schooling and/or licenses.
"What a Joke"

Mobile Homes are only temporary housing. They don't build a mobile home that will last any longer then 20 to 25 years at the best.
After that the home needs to be demoed or a total rebuild from roof to underpinning.

In a nut shell Mobile Homes built in Texas, are junk.
TDHCA and the state of Texas is allowing this.
They know low income people can't afford to TDHCA or mobile home manufactures.
So why not rip you Texans off, you deserve it because you can't afford justice.
LMAO at Texans, you folks deserve to be ripped off.
Because your poor, stupid and don't mind having your children future inheritance ripped off.

TDHCA, CAVCO, Fleetwood and PalmHarbor and the state of Texas will never challenge me. Because they know Im right.

dp.

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JandK Hill
, US
Jul 04, 2018 6:52 am EDT

My wife and I started this nightmare back in February. The details are far too long and extensive to drag everyone through but suffice to say that after pulling our business twice then getting lied to enough to go back because we actually loved the house, the “regional” manager Jeremiah Stakes getting fired because he couldn’t tell the truth no matter what and then blamed us for all their mistakes. We proved were totally on them and just more lies from them. **Side Note: keep a binder with every scrap of paper that these liars give you. It’s amazing how much you can prove they are full of crap just by looking back on your notes and SHOWING them they are liars.
Got that lying piece of crap Jeremiah fired, The Vice Pres. Sean (I can’t tell the truth either) Sexton** (Yes that really is his name) is absolutely ZERO help either. When you call him with an issue, 99% you are wasting your breath and won't even hear crickets for the return call that doesn’t come. If by some miracle from a higher being occurs and you do actually get a single call, he will talk the same crap just to shut you up. Sounds good at the time because you're so frustrated that almost anything make sense but, IT'S A LIE TOO. Then there is the “contracting” company for your utilies. My wife did 99% of everything to get the 911 Address (which we still don’t have) because, if I may quote Sharron from Weaver Construction, “There is nothing that can be done”.
Now, I’ve done construction, for a bunch of years, the county knows you, they know your reputation, and they know if you’re a crook. When the reputation is bad, they know you're a crook and you don’t take care of your customers, you get ALL your permits PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. Then to find out Weaver Construction was charging for things they hadn't done, or {RICE GOUGING for anything they had done (I do believe that these practices are ILLEAGAL).
I wanted to give my wife this house because she fell in love with it. I like it a lot as well. This to the point that I/We ignored all the red flags to get it taken care of. That is on me. I firmly believe that if everyone here started compiling all the issues, we could well put this shady company in the ground. Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss any further actions to be taken.
This type of business should not be supported nor encouraged. They should be the ones to worry about how they are going to make it happen for the customer. All this combined to make an experience that was supposed to be filled with happiness and joy, to one that if I could, I’d put EVERY SINGLE one of them through exactly what they have put my family through.
This is the absolute worst company I’ve ever dealt with. The truly sad thing about it is they simply do not care. To them, you are a nuisance that has to be tolerated so they can get paid.
This will be fantastic on the back end when it all comes around and they can pay for the stress and money they caused not only my family but all the others that have posted on here. I will make it my mission to see this company put out of business and the media attention they get will be nothing but bad. Don’t walk people... RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN from these CROOKS.

**Update. The house has been sitting empty on my land going on 2 weeks. The finish crew are scheduled for July 5th and from what I have seen, while inspecting the house, all I can say is, That crew better by in the top 1% of finish crews. There is so much wrong that it will be almost a complete remodel. Then we can talk about no vapor barrier in the walls and the front windows are crooked, there is a sag on the front right of the primary (front) door that is quite concerning.

A word of advice, DO NOT do the structural sign off until you look at everything!

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Dwanoreck
, US
Oct 31, 2017 11:02 am EDT

I bought a Palm Harbor home in 2004. It has been nothing but issue after issue. I live in South east Texas. After hurricane Rita I found out they are nothing but Liars . They bragged on their construction how they use 2x4s in all their ceiling rafters. They are nothing more than a poor grade 2x2. With glue holding the sheet rock to the ceiling. Framing walls are also poorly built with no framed out corners and poor wood grade. Constantly finding rotten out places in the ceiling and floors. Windows were never set or caulked Please contact me if anyone hears of a class action lawsuit. If you are thinking about buying a Palm Harbor DON’T. Contact me I have been keeping pictures and documentation. They difantly figured out how to put lipstick on a pig by making the interior look breathtaking. It’s just a front for a poorly built pile of crap.

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nenskat@hotmail.com
, CA
Jan 10, 2017 2:24 pm EST

My wife and I bought a $172, 000 (paid cash) for a Palm Harbour Home from Millersburg Oregon through Al Shaw of Kodiak Homes in Cranbrook BC, owned by John Dalton who also owns Columbia River Homes in Castlegar BC. We can only say, BUYER BEWARE. Palm Harbour uses the cheapest material they can find, have a sign out front (we were told) day help wanted, so you know you are not getting a quality product, which lead to no insulation causing water lines to freeze. Al Shaw, the salesman at Kodiak Homes in Cranbrook promised us 4 - 6 weeks delivery and John Dalton, of Columbia River Homes in Castlegar BC promised the home would be set up in 5 - 6 days. We waited a total of 6 months before we could get into house, which failed inspection due to the poor plumbing job the set up crew did and no insulation under the water tank. As we complained bitterly as the home is not in out name, Joseph Stegmayer, president of Cavco which is the parent company of Palm Harbour, is sending their director, Norm Ball as well as the service manager of Palm Harbour, Mike Glaser, to our lot in BC to view this house from hell. To view pictures, go to Piss Off Customer and type I Palm Harbour, and since we have ads in local papers, got to Facebook: Trouble with Kodiak Homes. That will be an indication if you should buy this inferior product.

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Lakana
, US
Aug 30, 2016 8:32 pm EDT
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I have an update on the August 28th post about Palm Harbor. They called and the contractor will be here to take care of all the items
they need to do tomorrow. The contractor has dropped off all the drawers, hardware, door and railing. I did not think they would come through but they did. It took way over a month but they didn't dump me like I thought. It is only fair that I add this update to the August 28 post from Oregon and the Albany office.

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Lakana
, US
Aug 28, 2016 4:51 am EDT
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I have purchased a "custom" Palm Harbor home from Albany, Oregon. My choice based on design of home. I had selected my "custom" choices but they pay no attention to it and just mass produce the "cookie cutter" home. I have been waiting over a month for
these and other things to be fixed. The "cookie cutter" term is from the salesman explaining why the custom home did not have my selections. The tile grout is falling onto shower floor, the front door is jammed and can't be opened. There's a list of more. The city inspector failed me and said he could have me and my sick dog kicked out until these items were brought into compliance. The book I was given of names to contact when I need action hasn't been worth anything cause Tim does not return calls and frankly I would NOT purchase a home from Palm Harbor because all they want are sales...they don't value their customers once you've spent your money. They're off to the next "victims". If you have heard of the "good" reputation about Palm Harbor beware. The designs of their homes are good but if you think they value you as a customer you will be sadly disappointed. If you like not getting calls returned and having to have your salesman relay his conversations with PH and told repeated lies about it being taken care of "the first of next week" that turns into over a month because they are so busy...doesn't that make you know how they value their customers once you've purchased? If you like to be treated this way then you've been warned. They have squandered the good PR I would've given them, I would not buy from Palm Harbor again and do not recommend it...and so I wait and contemplate a lawyer next? Then there's the inspector ...

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Bert Barkus
Chokoloskee, US
Jun 10, 2016 4:19 pm EDT

We tried to buy 2 in Ft Myers 2 times, and think god they never would get back to us.
My wife and spent hours with the same salesman, 2 times, and they still screwed things up.
Hours of changing plans to come up with what we wanted.
Didn't buy it because of their attitude, no calls back, etc. THEY JUST DIDN'T GIVE A CRAP!
Their attitude is terrible.
We went in nicely dressed in jeans, seeing we live in Everglades National Park.
We were treated like trash.
I personally could have bought everything in the center, but they didn't know that.
"Stay Away From That Place" The sales people are terrible as well as their units that I now find out.
Thank God I didn't buy the units.
Their on the east side of 41 in Bonita Springs/Ft Myers.

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marilyn webb
, US
Feb 10, 2016 9:02 am EST
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we bought a palm harbor home from seguin tx and had signed off on the one we wanted with the gm, and was even told we were getting a $1500.00 gift card from corporate and their energy package...THEN ALONG CAME SETH ROBERTS! he took over as the new gm..and screwed us to the wall..first thing he did was call and very rudely tell us there had to be some cut backs on our home AND we would not be getting the gift card..to make a long story shorter we did NOT get what we ordered...GOOD OLD SETH took away all good materials and gave us s... ...the list could go on forever..so if anyone out there thats thinking about buying a harbor home from seguin tx..&..seth roberts..be advised DON'T..and please dont be fooled by his "have a blessed day" there is no way that he's a Christian ..REAL.Christians dont lie and screw people out of their money!good luck

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Shunts4
, US
Aug 19, 2015 10:56 am EDT

Bought our home four years ago... Had ac problems from day one.. Now we need a whole new unit on a four year old home. The technicians are dumb and came out over 11 times to "fix" the issue but warranty ran out and now we are stuck buying a new unit. My shower leaks and has since we got the home.. Having to replace all the trim and shower doors. The trim in living room is pieced together since they cannot measure properly.. I have cracks in ceiling, walls and the foundation. Floor issues. The doors never closed properly so we had to replace the front door. Hone is junk. I called so many times and received no help at all. Then was told they went bankrupt and I couldn't do anything to force them to pay for their crap job on building this home. Now we are paying over 100, 000 for a home that looks like a trailer. They lied about the outside structure it's not as described to us. If someone finds a way to sue them I'm on board

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not happy in Ruskin, Florida
Ruskin, US
Jul 20, 2015 7:55 am EDT
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We bought a model home in Ruskin, Florida. The home had floor issues from day one and still does. When you submit you warranty list it takes four months to get the list done. Then you submit another list and another four months to get the work done. By the time you get your lists done the warranty is up and you are screwed. I would never recommend a Palm Harbor home to anyone. I still have floor issues. You should not walk on a floor and it bangs under your feet. All the windows were crocked and they were juried rigged, still not straight. A metal door to the outside was not straight, again juried rigged. You would think a model home would have all the bells, IT DOES NOT. My oven is not even a self cleaning one, I didn't think they made those any, more. JUST BEWARE OF THESE HOMES. All they do is take you money and then screw you in the end.

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don Umphress
Whitewright, US
Jun 15, 2015 10:05 pm EDT

I have a palm harbor home manufactured in Ft. Worth Tx. They are built very shotty. No caulking or insulation on inside of windows & the list goes on. I was almost electrocuted by a direct short in wire to furnace. Started to take out metal filter, it touched the Freon line from the A coil & it melted it. Had a two different licensed electricians check it out & both said the wire coming from the box had a short in it. When the electrician changed the wire it was discovered a brad drived into 220 wire had caused a direct short. Besides paying for the electricians I had to replace A coil & furnace elements. I have been a building inspector & these homes should not be sold.

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bevosbuddy1
, DE
Mar 01, 2014 4:42 pm EST

Im 100% disabled. ..salesman in Austin took my life savings and then set me up to fail within a year. Oh and at these offices they have cconvienetly lost all of thier sales reps that were there 10months ago. Now I've lost 25 grand and am homeless for the first time in 25 years. I also have problems with water and molding smells. When i call for factory warranty work Fleetwood sent out under skilled and unlicensed workers out. In 10 months I've had people out 30 TIMES from different probs with the BRAND NEW CUSTOMIZED HOME.

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jans53
, US
Nov 05, 2012 6:46 pm EST

palm harbor homes are pieces of ###. Garbage, They have no technicians, warranty or otherwise. Their all fly by nites hired by Palm Harbor. I KNOW I bought one of their pieces of ### 3 years ago and have had nothing but trouble. they use the cheapest materials they can find. AND BY THE WAY i have done my research, IM IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM AT THIS TIME. WE CANT ALL BE WRONG. AND ENERGY RECIPIENT WINNERS, WHAT A.JOKE. THEIR HOUSES DONT EVEN QUALIFY FOR A GOOD CENTS HOME. I HAVE THAT IN WRITING. i WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE ANYONE OUT THAT IS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A PALM HARBOR HOME, DO YOUR RESEARCH.

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Worsemistake
, US
Sep 17, 2018 6:14 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of jans53

How do I join your lawsuit

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proudpalmharborowner
Farmington, US
Nov 02, 2010 9:24 pm EDT
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OH and they were not kicked out of AZ or NV, they pulled out and shut down all sales centers in those states versus filing for bankruptcy like EVERY other manufactured home builder in the market.
Once again do your research Palm Harbor is the only company with their own warranty technicians and they are #2 on the Forbes 500 for most trusted companies.

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proudpalmharborowner
Farmington, US
Nov 02, 2010 9:20 pm EDT
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There are not THOUSANDS of complaints against Palm Harbor.
If you do your research, Palm Harbor is the best built manufgactured home on the market. As far as manufactured goes, they use all of the top line material, like 100% American steel on their frames, OSB flooring, tongue and groove flooring.
And they are energy star recipient winners. If you look at site built builders, most of them have THOUSANDS of pending lawsuits.
Where people get it wrong is when they are upset with the site work.
Palm Harbor sells homes, not land improvements.
Whose decision was it to purchase the land?
Yours as the customer.
That is why PH makes the contractors carry a certain amount of insurance, so the customer can protect their assests and go after the installer or the general contractor. Do your research people.

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Stresster
, US
Apr 09, 2017 2:12 pm EDT

Hey..."Proud Palm Harbor Owner"...

Obviously, you are a troll FOR Palm Harbor.

Can't you keep your identity a bit more discreet...you are so ego...to please you god...Palm Harbor.

You mention..."OSB" board like it is something good.

Hey...It's cheap!

These awards they get are industry related...and SELF PROMOTED!

Yes...Palm Harbor is responsible for the land and its' improvemts.

They sell it as a package...It is Palm Harbor $$$.

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DannyV
, US
Jul 29, 2017 9:47 pm EDT

I'm living in a Palm Harbor home for six years now. $2000 in air conditioner repairs later... "PH doesn't warranty their HVAC systems" you'll probably say in their defense, but I didn't pick the fly-by-night manufacterer who is already out of business (so much for a warranty) nor did I pick the incompetent installer who screwed it up in such a way as to cause the first $600 repair after three years. "Quality" you say? Well, quality should also be in their people and the other businesses they choose to associate with and to do their work. And I haven't even gotten around to the other crap they had to come out and fix before I even moved in. Would I buy another PH home? Not in a million years. BTW, you need to learn to spell.

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swans89
Pleasanton, US
Jul 28, 2010 8:29 am EDT

We bought from Palm Harbor in Texas. It has been 2 years of a nightmare, and still going strong. When is someone going to file a class action suit? Search the net on Palm Harbor, there are thousands of people being taken by this company, and the government needs to shut them down!

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waterinthefuel1
Lafayette, US
May 30, 2010 12:24 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I'm in the market for a home and have contacted Palm Harbor. I was told they are cheap junk by others, and when compared, they are cheap.

Good review and I hope others heed your warning.

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