Reality Homes - Creswell - Model Home Melton Rd, Creswell

We chose Reality Homes to build our new home after visiting their office in Creswell. The sales lady there was very helpful and was able to answer all of our questions. Unfortunately, it began to go down hill from there. We are onto our 4th project manager and are almost two months behind our "guaranteed" completion date. We still have flooring, counter tops, electrical, plumbing and all the finish carpentry to go. We were told our project manager would visit our site weekly, but with all the changes, that only happened in the beginning. Since May, they've decided to only come every two weeks. There are several issues that haven't been addressed and now they won't respond to our requests to update us on our schedule. Our construction loan matures in less than a month with little hope they will be done by then. We're still hoping they will do the right thing and complete our house soon and pay us the "guaranteed completion date" money they owe us. At this point though, it's very doubtful.

DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER THIS COMPANY. Reality Homes (RH) built 2 homes for us. At the time of the contract there were no negative feedbacks or BBB complaints. RH took both deposits with the understanding that they would build both homes simultaneously. After payment RH refused to build the granny unit at the same time of the main home. This cost us double in costs and took an extra year. Both homes were built using different methods and standards. We were forced to install a defective tub unit. They do not leave communication channels open for when on site problems arise. We were forced to accept an oversize skylight that is half over a bedroom and 2 windows that were incorrect. They threatened a hold up of 3 months if we wanted them corrected. So we have bedroom windows that go floor to ceiling. The flooring we were shown was replaced with vinyl tiles. The site managers do alot of threatening. Such as small things like our dog (We live on site) followed the site manager into the unfinished home and we were told our warranty would be voided. We knew the quality going in would be standard and not custom. Many aspects of the build was very poor. Phone calls are almost never returned. Our plans show vents out the roof and they installed 3 ugly vents out the side and blamed it on a scheduling error. We understand the COVID19 slow down, however our state was still building and construction was going on around us. RH left no manner of contact or general assurances during that time. We should have just paid a contractor from start to finish. We would have saved 80,000.00 and have a 2 better quality homes. The warranty means nothing. Added 1/10/2021 Two months of repeated calls to RH as to when the punch list would be finished. There are still holes in the wall the cabinets are not completely framed in. No response. The whole siding of the adu was stressfull. The crew included a 14year old boy. They Tyvek was installed improperly and RH ignored my calls. The overlap is backwards in places so that moisture can run down into the backing wood. During the summer the siding on the ADU buckled. Sections were not nailed down and expansion gaps were made throughout the siding. I could slide my fingers under the boards. The installers made 4 trips to repair. The product manufacturer came out and inspected. Some gaps were cut to mitigate. Part of the front peak was removed and replaced. Even though we were forced to paint prior to repair RH after replacement did not paint. Currently, on the main home a state inspector was called because there are gaps on the entire flooring. We are on our third repair for the shower stall. The floor buckled and I almost went through the glass doors. There is a small crack. RH will be replacing the shower floor next week with a different floor pattern as they can not replicate the original. Before the shower stall was installed I argued with the site manager and RH because the flaws were visible and I did not want it installed. They stated that It had to be installed damaged and repairs would come later. The response that the lot was tight makes no sense as we were told both would be built simultaneously at time of signing and payment. Both homes had different street access for Truss as one home is on 4th and the other on 3rd. Communication is poor and they could have explained this instead of not returning calls. We went through 5 site managers and several office personnel on the build. The response by the Reality Homes says that the homes came out beautifully but the respondent has never been to either of the homes and they have yet to complete the ADU punch list.

After this second experience we would not recommend or use Reality Homes. In 2010 we completed our first Reality home. While the process of home building is not without glitches, our overall experience was positive. We were happy with the quality of our home but especially with the rapid process. When we signed with Reality Homes in March 2019, we had no reason to expect any difference. Current poor reviews we attributed to unrealistic or inexperienced home owners. We were very wrong. We found that Reality Homes has redefined or developed their own vocabulary of terms that are understood very differently from typical industry standards. We fail to see how a 'custom' home can be built while the home owner is kept uninformed regarding several phases of the process. The term best applied to RH is 'obfuscation'. While they seem to be acting as a general contractor, they are not; as per their contract they are 'partners' with the home owner to build your home. If your expectations includes customer input, advocacy, communication and timely scheduling, find a real general contractor. Clients need to understand that their price per square foot does not include homeowner responsibilities. Neither will Reality advocate for the homeowner. DYI owners need to understand that they can only be involved in specific homeowner areas and stew in frustration for the rest. We found that RH excels in contradictions. The contractual agreement to not hold any RH personnel responsible for anything any employee says turns the project managers into little more then trained monkeys that make excuses and buffers the wrath of the justifiably irate and frustrated home owner. Because the project manager is the home owner's only conduit to Reality Homes, their process of once weekly visits, at best, builds delays into the project. In addition to their apparent policy of not allowing project managers any actual authority, their policies seem to include bullying clients, usually with threats of work stoppage (which carry a restart fee), delays in issuing work orders, 'bait and switch' tactics and redefining 'communication' to be one-sided appeals fronthe homeowner. The ethics of a company becomes suspect when such strong armed tactics are used in an attempt to control irate homeowners negative social media posts. Homeowners appear to not be the only frustrated individuals involved as the turnover of staff is alarming. The quality of the home is average and meets county requirements but the finish materials are rental grade at best. Workmanship is horrifying. Expensive upgrades seem to be of poor quality. There are some nice features that are impressive in the sales phase but executed with low end products or not realized at all. Some of the basic 'new standard' changes are apparently kept secret from their sub-contractors and took months to implement, then only after repeated insistence. Everything seems to be a fight. It seems surprising that there is apparently no vehicle to improve and change ongoing problems with their standard house plans. "Custom" in Reality-speak seems defined as 'outside of industry standard'; not necessarily in a good way. While Reality Homes seems to imply to their customer that 'custom' and 'quality' are synonymous, the finished product does not support that fantasy. Do not be taken in by the estimated timetable to the completion of your home. Reality has redefined the actual start time to begin at foundation, which was months after the first large payment and weeks, if not months, after county permits are issued. Your home may be completed according to county inspectors but do not expect to have a fully functional home. The punch list is to be finished in a reasonable time frame notwithstanding that these are issues you have complained about for weeks. The cumulative effect of dozen of problems, delays and irritations, combined with a combative corporate attitude made the process a nightmare.

This review is intended to educate consumers who are considering building with Reality Homes. While our home is past the 200 day mark and is still not complete and has turned into a homeowners nightmare. While we have a story that may seem unbelievable to some it is actually a Reality for many who have chosen to build a home with Reality We have been repeatedly been lied to and taken advantage of throughout the process This is a SMALL list of things that have gone wrong. 1. No communication from Reality Homes despite our repeated emails and phone calls to get the foundation poured. Approximately a two month delay along with a market price increase in the amount of $8,000 because foundation wasn’t poured on time despite us meeting all of our requirements and being ready to start work. Seems like a good tactical delay on their part. No details given on what prices were increased 2. Extra concrete for foundation We also incurred an extra $1,260 fee for four additional yards of concrete on land that was laser leveled and compacted with up to 30” of gravel underneath the foundation. Oh did I mention that the concrete showed up without a pump truck on site concrete was spilled outside of the foundation forms and one truck was returned to Knife River’s batch plant because there was no way to finish pouring the foundation without a pump truck in the dark without lighting. The concrete clause in their contract is a scam. (Great Family Business Model take extra from your family to give to mine). 3. Sixty one days to frame a simple single level home. The framing crew didn’t show up on a regular schedule. The home could have been completed before the unusual snow storm arrived. Ok so we had some snow I’ll give them an extra ten days even though my wife and I shoveled the snow out of the house and off the partially completed roof. But after sixty one days the house was framed incorrectly failed and inspection and has caused problems for many of the contractors that followed him. The framers were called out several times to make repairs unsuccessfully. At our request and to the unwillingness of Reality Homes another framer was brought in to fix his mistakes which included cutting off siding, roofing trim boards etc that were already painted at our expense. The original framing crew didn’t frame the windows correctly some were crooked and the window reveal was off on most of the windows. We informed Reality about the problem at the time of framing but they choose to ignore the problem until the drywall and texturing was completed and the problem was more apparent. 4. There is no communication on scheduling for your home. You are not allowed to talk to the contractors and they aren’t allowed to talk to you. (this is how a family business remains successful by not allowing you to be involved) If you receive a schedule don’t expect it to happen, sometimes you will get a schedule with work to be completed with dates in the past and no materials even on site to do the work. 5. There is a lot of finger pointing going on at Reality Homes but no one will accept any responsibility. I have email after emails full of excuses. I have been in contact with everyone from our project manager, regional manager, Pre Construction Manager, Director of Finance & Development, Vice President, General Manager. Assistants and the best for last the Corporate Director of Construction who accused me of being a “BULLY ” for trying to get our dream home completed on time and built correctly. During a phone conversation he stated I was probably used to getting my way since I’m in “law enforcement” . This is definitely not a law enforcement friendly company. I’m sure they don’t mind taking our money as long as we wait quietly on the sidelines. UPDATE: 8/25/20 Still issues You can always share their post with hashtags like #dreamhomedisaster #realityhomes #customhomes #behindthescences #homesweethome #dreamhomemistakes #RHI #homebuilders #constructionsite #shadybuilders #builtonyourland #beware #realityhomesinc #momlife #notlefriendly #fairwayhomeswest

This is one of the most Shady business as I have ever came across in my life. They lie to their customers overcharged for products that are crap and stall in the paperwork process in order to charge customers with price increase charges. They tell you that it will take four to five months to build your home and then you're still waiting for it in a year. They are all Crooks! They treat their employees horrible and do not offer vacation time, sick days or holidays. They offer their employees to move up in the company and then never proceed with doing so. I would not recommend this company to either builders or potential employees. Stay away!

Our build took at little longer than expected. But the Project Manager was on top off it every step of the way and our home turned out beautiful. I would definitely recommend Reality Homes.

Beware of this company. Our project manager, #4 btw, cuz the rest never lasted with company, treated us so badly . Rude, condescending, and assured everything would be ok and fixed just to get us to sign off. Lies lies lies. Poor quality all the way around. Horrible communication, terrible subs. We hate our Reality Home. Terrible experience.

The sales team in creswell was amazing but that was the end of the bright spots, after our design went to actual design and plans it was a major headache they can't even fallow through with simple things delay after delay and then there's a price increase how convenient for them they ruined our dream home very shady company don't give them your a second thought find a better option .