Great Southern Homes
reviews and complaints

Business Response Good afternoon BBB, and thank you for this information regarding a concern w/ one of our Great Southern Homes (GSH) homeowners. As always we are very conscientious about situations or concerns / issues that our homeowners have including this one for *** (***). We have been working on their issue with one of our area landscapers (Advantage Outdoors) who had this yard / drainage concern on schedule for this week Monday and Tuesday but due to the substantial rain this week we at GSH and Advantage had to postpone. Previously on 5.11.20. we at GSH assessed issue with our area Customer Relations & Warranty reps John Davis and Scott Jones along w/ Advantage in regards to the concerns and cutting in a new swale to help w/ the flow of water away from the foundation. This should alleviate the problem. Now that the rain has subsided for hopefully a couple of days, we at GSH along w/ Advantage hope to get started on this repair as early as possibly Friday May 22nd or the earlier part of next week (May 25-29). Our area rep John Davis has reached out to Mr. to discuss the delay and getting it rescheduled / restarted but *** has not yet gotten back to us at GSH Thank you! Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes (803) 760-5720 Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) GHS come in my house and worked on the yard last Friday. It's necessary some weeks to confirm if the improvement done has solved the root cause. Let's Measure the work efficacy for 30 days, if the problem has solved, I will close the complain. I really appreciate all support to fix it.

Business Response Good afternoon BBB, we at Great Southern Homes (GSH) certainly apologize for any delay in getting a response back to you, However we were working with our roofing subcontractor and reaching out to the homeowner to assess their concerns. After an inspection was done by our original roofing subcontractor, International Construction Services (ICS, Inc.) it appears they were able to find a few issues that have been the cause of this homeowner's (Ms.) concern. Per ICS, "We are going to be replacing the shingles we found holes from pump jacks". Even though technically the standard warranty coverage per SC LLR and standard builder coverages has been expired for quite some time, as a courtesy we are going to go ahead and handle this issue for the homeowner. Thanks and I hope this will take care of her concern at this time. Thanks and have a great day! Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes 803-760-5720

Business Response Great Southern Homes ("GSH") is in negotiations with these homeowners to amicably resolve all outstanding issues, including SC LLR complaints made by the homeowners. GSH has attempted to schedule with the homeowners for corrections to be made; however, the homeowners have refused GSH and its vendors/subcontractors access to the home to make the appropriate repairs. GSH remains committed to using its best efforts to resolve this matter. Thank you! Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes (803) *** Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The last email I received from warranty was on June 10th. And the last email from GSH attorney was June 24th. I've sent 2 emails and 1 text to 2 different people with no response. If that's negotiating then I must be confused. If you want to fix it all that's great! Go ahead and start with the run off issue. Just remember, water runs down hill. You must have forgotten that the last time you tried to fix it, a year ago. The Egyptians and Romans figured it out thousands of years ago. This is easily rectifiable, fix all the problems or come up with a viable settlement. Keep your word, show some integrity and we can part ways. If you don't have anyone qualified to work on a home, which I suspect you don't, then say that. I am more than willing to fix it myself. We have been more than accommodating and patient waiting for GSH to fix it. Almost 11 months since the first meeting. Times up. What we won't accept is a low ball buyout and the opportunity to rent our home back from you after we've lived in a construction zone for 10 months. Just so you can avoid fixing the drainage issue abd resell the house. Business Response Good morning BBB, Please note that Great Southern Homes ("GSH") attorney and GSH directly have been in regular communication with Mr. throughout this entire process and will continue to attempt to negotiate a resolution in this matter. On June 22nd, Mr. even stated in an email to GSH's attorney that "Sorry for the delay. We need to work everything out before we agree to anything." Again, GSH has attempted to schedule with the homeowners for corrections to be made; however, the homeowners have refused GSH and its vendors/subcontractors access to the home to make the appropriate repairs. GSH remains committed to using its best efforts to resolve this matter.

Business Response Good afternoon BBB, and thank you for reaching out to us at Great Southern Homes ("GSH") regarding this issue. As always we will do our very best to go above and beyond for all our homeowners to make sure that their issues are handled accordingly. In regards to this specific concern w/ Ms. *** ("***"), we have been working w/ her directly over the last couple of weeks in reference to her HVAC and mold issue. We at GSH have had our HVAC subcontractor Air Solutions HVAC out to home at least twice and have also had an independent mold remediation company, ServPro of Florence, to review ***'s issues regarding these concerns. After a few assessments and a mold remediation letter written up we at GSH have continued to communicate w/ *** so as to keep her in the loop w/ the next step in the process of attempting to find the overall issue and a resolution to that issue. After another follow up inspection at ***'s home on Thur 9/24/20 by Air Solutions, they were finally able to determine the cause of the mold issue that was adhering to her clothing and furniture but not to the walls. It was found that somehow the HVAC air return duct on the opposite end of the unit had been damaged by what appeared to be another subcontractor who had also done work in the attic, only allowing 60% of the air to pass through which was causing the high moisture level and allowing for mold growth on textiles but not on the drywall, paint or wood building products. Air Solutions immediately notified *** who let them know that she would be out of town the next couple of days but per Air Solutions, they would be returning to ***'s home next week to correct the issue and work toward a resolution on the previous mold growth concerns. Of course we at GSH will work w/ *** and Air Solutions on getting all of these repairs handled in an expeditious and timely manner. Thanks again and we look forward to making sure that ***'s issues are resolved ASAP. Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes (803) 760-5720

Business Response Good morning BBB and thank you for reaching out to us at Great Southern Homes ("GSH") in regards to this homeowners, ***'s ("***") yard concern. Based on our review of this homeowner's property and home w/ the information from their house file and emails into our GSH warranty inbox, the below is the findings in reference to their concern: - from our review of our warranty email from the McNeals closing in Oct of 2017 through the first of Feb 2018, we were not notified of any concerns regarding their yard and drainage issues although they had sent in a couple of items of concern that we had addressed (hardwoods, etc). - After about a week or so into Feb of 2018, *** reached out to us via email w/ some concerns about drainage after they had a large shed delivered through their yard into the back yard and was dropped and installed right in the middle of the back yard in the swale area of the neighborhood drainage plan which is designed to allow the water from the houses above to drain through their yard and flow out into the storm drains. - Their lot and home is located at the bottom of a fairly steep decline on the road which leads to the cul-de-sac just after their home which is at the very bottom of this road. - Between Feb and March of 2018, after a thorough review of their concerns, and as a courtesy, we at GSH had our area landscaper Saluda Hill install a massive french drain system to help *** w/ the water concerns at the back yard and side yard of their property. We at GSH did inform *** that one of the major issues that we saw and that was causing a large portion of their problem was the large shed in the back that was sat right in the middle of the drainage swale which was not allowing the flow of water from the houses above to move through their yard as designed and approved by the developer and county. - After this drain system was completed in the March of 2018, we at GSH had not been notified of any additional yard, standing water or drainage concerns by *** for over 2 1/2 years since the previously described work had been completed. - Since March of 2018, we at GSH have received a few other emails into our warranty inbox from ***, to include a long after closing survey, a one year courtesy review of minor concerns, and one year work completed, but there was never any mention of any drainage or standing water concerns that were brought to our attention at GSH during that time frame. Also since Feb / March of 2018 there have been record rainfalls (Fall of 2019 / Winter or 2019/2020) several heavy wind driven rainstorms, and not once had we at GSH been contacted about this being an ongoing concern regarding drainage or standing water. - Not until the end of July, the 27th, of last week, were we ever email or called about this being a concern until we received an email from Mrs. less than 24 hours before we also received the BBB concern that was emailed to us at GSH. Therefore we were not even given an opportunity to respond back to her email before *** decided to move forward w/ a BBB complaint against GSH. Therefore with the above provided information and not knowing what other yard additions or changes that *** has or may have made since Feb / March of 2018, we at GSH feel that this would be a homeowner maintenance concern at this time, especially with no prior mention of issues over the last 2 1/2+ years. It was also just recently brought to our attention by Saluda Hill landscaping that *** asked them to stop by for a courtesy review and that the Field Representative for Saluda Hill has explained to *** that the major concern or hinderance to any drainage was the large shed building in the middle of the swale in the back yard. Thanks again and as always GSH strives to go above and beyond to take care of our homeowners concerns. Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Thank you, BBB, for assisting us with a response from GSH. I disagree with GSH statement that they were not notified by us regarding drainage issues between Oct of 2017 through the first of Feb 2018. GSH was well aware of our concerns prior to Oct 2017 and up until Saluda Hill, whom they contracted to install the so-called courtesy solution to help us with our drainage issues on April 24th and April 25th of 2018 (stamped pic & videos of install). In addition, we are now learning from this response there was never an intent to solve the drainage issues that we brought forth from day one. Also, why would GSH install a French Drain just because no one contacted GSH are expressed multiple concerns? So clearly, someone from GSH was hearing from the ***'s I can assure you. GSH was privy to our home inspection documentation about drainage issues prior to closing on Oct 2017. The drainage issues were a grave concern for Mr. and he was not going to sign the contract unless the issues were resolved. During closing on the home on October 30, 2017, the manager Eddie was called and it was expressed that Mr. would not be signing a closing contract unless the drainage issues were resolved immediately. At this time, an Addendum was written to correct the drainage issues. We signed the home sales contract with the understanding the drainage issues would be corrected. At this time, during the closing of the contract would have been a good time for GSH to tell us that it was their design for water to flow in our property and there was really nothing they could do to really fix it. Instead, we are learning for the very first time from GSH written words in this response through BBB that this was their intended design for our property. Perhaps now we feel a conflict of interest. Perhaps we should have never used a GSH sales representative to sell our prior home and then to sale us a Great Southern Home. We distinctly expressed we wanted a swimming pool and a pool house or shed in our backyard to our Sales Rep. We had options to purchase other properties in this subdivision, but we were told by our agent (who work for GSH and who sold our previous home) that we could get all this and Lot 673 would be a good option to purchase for what we envisioned. If we knew that our property was designed for all other properties storm water to flow through the middle of our backyard, do GSH think we would have purchased this lot? There was never a discussion about lot 673 (1st custom built house on the side of the street) would be used for an easement before we purchased it, while we were purchasing it, or at the closing table when we were purchasing it. All along we were insisting that GSH correct the negative slope issue and drainage issues and GSH never once told us this was how it was going to be because it was GSH design. Why would anyone purchase a home at this price point if one cannot utilize the backyard! Yes, I agree we waited to contact GSH until sometime in Feb 2018 because we were told by the manager, Eddie, to allow time for the yard to dry up. We were told by him that a truck went through the yard and busted some underground pipes and we just have to allow time for it to dry up. We honored that from Oct 2017 signing until Feb 2018. GSH tried to patch work the drainage issues by installing sod in the back yard and sand on the left side for drainage and grading issues. Again, after this install we were told to allow for it to dry. There was little rain between Nov 2017 to Feb 2018 and the ground was still soak and wet so we begin to inform GSH again that the drainage issues were not resolved and we needed a solution. After multiple calls, GSH sent a field manager out in March 2018 and I expressed to GSH I needed a solution prior to the custom shed delivery in April 2018. GSH had Saluda Hill install the French Drain in April 2018 about a few days after the delivery of the storage. Saluda hill assured me that the storage was fine where it was and that we did not need to move it after I offered numerous of times and I even asked them to pay for the removal since it took them so long to fix the drainage issues after multiple calls about it. GSH did not want to be responsible for damaging the shed so they declined to move it and installed the French Drain around the storage building assuring me it would fix the drainage issues. We are not developers of large communities or civil engineers. We recognized a water issue and we brought it to GSH attention to fix it. We didn't know how to fix it and we did not know what we were dealing with. We did not know GSH design was to flow water through the middle of our yard until this response. Yes, GSH installed a French Drain on April 24th & 25th of 2018 and yes, we thought GSH were fixing the water that was flowing in our yard with the installation of the French Drain. After the install, the water continued to damage the yard and we thought eventually it would work. However, countless times of running back in fourth re-soding our yard starting in April 2019 and again April 2020 growing season for our grass type simply brought us to the conclusion the French Drain was not the solution for the drainage issue. We needed a professional opinion regarding the persistent drainage issues and we did not understand why the French Drain was not working to stop the water from flowing in our backyard. We really thought it was something we could ask around about to remedy so we consulted with landscapers and they started quoting $10K plus. We realized there may be something bigger that we didn't understand so we reached out to a Civil Engineer who says it's a developer's issue and a $18K to $25K underground pipe is needed through multiple properties to carry the drainage or storm water from the surface and a French Drain cannot do this. Yes, we waited because we really thought the French Drain would work for the drainage issue, we had concerns about since Oct 2017. We really thought GSH were fixing the issues we brought to their attention, but GSH really should have told us all along that they designed the property this way as GSH have stated herein. We reached out to GSH from Oct 2017 to April 2018 and it was extremely exhausting trying to get a solution for the presented issues. After the French Drain install, April 2018 through Dec 2018 we wanted to allow time for the ground to dry up so we did without complaining to GSH anymore and by then our one-year contract was up. During April 2019 lawn growing season we had to replace sod on left side and the ground is always very wet. In 2020 growing season just more of the same. Our lawn is washed away and continuous drainage issues, but now we are learning herein it's not a drainage issue and it's how GSH designed it. It took a professional Civil Engineer in 2020 after meeting with the Saluda Hill Rep to enlighten us that we should alert GSH, the developer, about this major drainage issue and that we have a mess here. Yes, we sent an emotional email to the GSH Warranty email box because we could not understand why the French Drain does not stop flowing water in our yard as we were under the impression it would and that is why it was installed. We recently learned that the work GSH did for drainage issues was not a solution. We were tired of restoring the same arears with sod during the growing season of 2019 & 2020. We are tired of walking on wet soil. We are devastated that our shed or a swimming pool can never go on this lot. Most of all, we just learned from GSH response that storm water will always run through our back yard and there was no real fix for this drainage issue because GSH designed it this way. So yes, we sent GSH an emotional email because every professional we have reached out to have given us a quote from $10K to $25K to fix the real drainage issues GSH pretended to fix or neglected to tell us this would be an ongoing problem for us because it's a design. We have been expressing to GSH all along the drainage issues and explained it the the best way that we can as a consumer because we know nothing about channeling water to send it where it should go. We just know its water and we don't want it flowing in our backyard. The property has not been modified, it's the same and GSH clearly stated herein that the yard was designed to flow water through it. We have no clue what to do but I can tell GSH we are desperate for a real solution. This is not a homeowner maintenance issue but it's clearly a developer's design issue and deceitfulness. GSH have stated herein that they intentionally designed the property this way and lot 673 did not come with a backyard but a swale to carry water through the middle of it. And this property cannot have a large 10 x 16 shed or pool in it. We are only asking for a backyard in which we purchased with our home. Can GSH, a notorious developer, kindly assist us with that? Regards, McNea Business Response Good morning again BBB and thank you for the follow up information in regards to this homeowners, ***'s ("***") yard concern. We certainly understand if *** has information showing where this was a concern that they had voiced before or at closing. However this information was not included in any house file documents that we show from that time frame (October 2017). We would not debate that whatsoever, but again would contend that this issue was fully addressed during the Feb / March time frame of 2018 and has not been brought back to our attention until now, and after 2 1/2 years have gone by as is stated in the below information from our prior response. - As of yesterday afternoon 8/4/20, I asked our Area Construction Manager to stop by their road and home to see if any changes have been made recently and to check on any standing water or drainage concerns. The following was his response: "Looks like they moved the large building shed recently to high side of backyard. They are currently adding a planter boarder around plant beds on each side of the house. At this time the lawn looks great, and I saw no evidence of standing water in backyard where the shed used to sit". Again we at GSH reiterate that had this been a continued and ongoing concern after the large drainage system was installed in Feb / March of 2018 that *** would have or should have notified us at GSH immediately. However there was no communication from March 2018 until now Aug 2020 as is restated in the information provided below: - After about a week or so into Feb of 2018, *** reached out to us via email w/ some concerns about drainage after they had a large shed delivered through their yard into the back yard and was dropped and installed right in the middle of the back yard in the swale area of the neighborhood drainage plan which is designed to allow the water from the houses above to drain through their yard and flow out into the storm drains. - Their lot and home is located at the bottom of a fairly steep decline on the road which leads to the cul-de-sac just after their home which is at the very bottom of this road. - Between Feb and March of 2018, after a thorough review of their concerns, and as a courtesy, we at GSH had our area landscaper Saluda Hill install a massive french drain system to help *** w/ the water concerns at the back yard and side yard of their property. We at GSH did inform *** that one of the major issues that we saw and that was causing a large portion of their problem was the large shed in the back that was sat right in the middle of the drainage swale which was not allowing the flow of water from the houses above to move through their yard as designed and approved by the developer and county. - After this drain system was completed in the March of 2018, we at GSH had not been notified of any additional yard, standing water or drainage concerns by *** for over 2 1/2 years since the previously described work had been completed. - Since March of 2018, we at GSH have received a few other emails into our warranty inbox from ***, to include a long after closing survey, a one year courtesy review of minor concerns, and one year work completed, but there was never any mention of any drainage or standing water concerns that were brought to our attention at GSH during that time frame. Also since Feb / March of 2018 there have been record rainfalls (Fall of 2019 / Winter or 2019/2020) several heavy wind driven rainstorms, and not once had we at GSH been contacted about this being an ongoing concern regarding drainage or standing water. - It was also just recently brought to our attention by Saluda Hill landscaping that *** asked them to stop by for a courtesy review and that the Field Representative for Saluda Hill has explained to *** that the major concern or hinderance to any drainage was the large shed building in the middle of the swale in the back yard. Thanks again and as always GSH strives to go above and beyond to take care of our homeowners concerns to the best of our abilities and within reason. Joel B. H Customer Relations & Warranty Dept. Manager Great Southern Homes Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Thank you again, BBB, for assisting us with a response from GSH. Who purchases a $250-$270K custom home with no backyard to utilize? Our home was the first home built on this side of the street. GSH sales representative who sold us the home and property said it was idea for a swimming pool and shed in the backyard. These are the facts. GSH never informed us until August 4, 2020 correspondence that we had a "drainage swale which allows the flow of water from the houses above to move through our yard as designed and approved by the developer and county." We also have water from houses behind us that flows into our backyard. Again, who would purchase this knowing it is designed for gallons and gallons of toxin water to flow through it? GSH was aware of our drainage concerns before we signed the contract prior to October 30, 2017 on the day of closing and after. GSH and their contracted landscaping company, Saluda Hill, both approved with drawings for the 10x16 shed to go in the desired location in the rear backyard. Never was there a mention of a so-called swale until now. And now the same two companies blame the deceived homeowner for putting it in this spot during this correspondence. Neither company told us at the time we couldn't put anything in our backyard because we were not going to have a backyard with this purchase. With all due respect, our yard is a hot mess so I am not sure whom you sent by our property and the reporting about beds around the foundation of the home is irrelevant information. We removed straw and planted shrubs. Big deal. Again, no digging or modifications made. We are immaculate homeowners and take pride in what we work for and this is not to our standards. We are discussing the design of the grading. We have a health issue when feces, pesticides, weeds, debris and etc. flows in our yard in a diagonal fashion. It's simply unacceptable so as private homeowners we wanted to get to the root cause because we simply could not consistently watch our lawn wash away and shed investment get severely damaged any longer. We moved the shed because GSH contracted landscaper, Saluda Hill, came by our home because we asked for a personal residential quote to fix what GSH did not for us. Joe from Saluda Hill stated he would not quote anything until we remove the shed to the opposite side. We did this. We called Saluda Hill back and Joe has declined to assist or return any calls. However, they have consulted with GSH regarding the personal residential visit. Our shed is still in jeopardy because the drainage is also on the opposite side. And we were warned that we need to take measures quickly with the amount of water that flows through the yard. We simply do not have a backyard for our custom building to go in. This is really sad and heartbreaking. Meanwhile, since Saluda Hill did not contact us, we reached out to other Landscapers and finally a Civil Engineer because we needed to really understand the root cause of the drainage issue we were experiencing since 2017. After the Engineer reviewed the drainage pictures and ongoing concerns, he advised that we give GSH the courtesy to correct this as it's beyond a warranty issue and it's a developer's malfunction. That is the only reason we reached out. Most importantly, we wanted to reach out to GSH to at least let them know that we know they couldn't have intended this for us. But with the correspondence we have received, it's just what they intended and they have refused to take accountability. It has been exhausting doing business with GSH from start to finish. We watched them put the wrong brick on the home and had to notify them. They left off a massive architecture design which was on the blueprint plan for our dining room and we had to bring it to their attention. They forgot to put gutters on the rear of the home and we had to notify them. They put defective granite in the kitchen and we notified them of that. Massive drainage issues of course we notified them. However, it took us calling Richland County Storm Management for assistance and to speak on our behalf to GSH in order for them to even come out to attempt a solution for the drainage issue. Therefore, the French Drain was never a courtesy to help us out and it was only a gesture to shut us up. I could go on and on with issues. With this said, we expected the responses we have received from GSH. We are extremely busy people and this situation has caused us tremendous stress. We expected to move into our home. We did not expect to have to spend $18K to $25K to fix a drainage problem with our custom new home that GSH should have provided with our purchase. This is not a homeowner's maintenance issue and It's heartbreaking and sad at the responses GSH has provided to us. Simply unacceptable. We considered selling this home; however, we chose not to deceive someone into buying it with a massive health drainage issue. We are dedicated to fix what GSH would not. However, this concern with GSH will not end here. GSH is free to respond with the last word if they so choose, but as I have stayed it's been exhausting dealing with GSH and we are very busy people. Respectfully, Mr. & Mrs.