A Leon County family claims that a contractor abandoned their home incomplete and their land in ruins, leaving them out more than $270,000.
House Nestled Away In Texas Rural Area
Mark and Jeanie Haas had long desired a house nestled away in a rural Texas area where they could entertain family and friends and enjoy the benefits of their labor.
Since hiring Luis Carrillo, proprietor of LC Custom Homes in Buffalo, in September 2021, Mark, a crippled marine veteran, and Jeanie, an accountant who is currently suffering stage five renal illness, claim their dream house has turned into a nightmare that has been nonstop.
The Haas family reportedly gave Carrillo a list of 11 projects to do, including a new house construction, new HVAC and generator installation, new property fence, underground fuel storage, concrete work, and more. The family claims that, in total, they spent over $300,000 on the property, including the cost of labor, building supplies, and appliances.
The Haas family claims they decided to pay Carrillo up front because he was close by and came highly recommended. They claim that despite ongoing inflation, they felt comfortable with Carrillo and also wanted to lock in the cheaper cost of labor and materials.
“We made a $341,000 investment in this home. The real money we provided him was about $270,000, but some of it was spent on new appliances, furniture, the well, and the generator, said Mark.
According to Mark, the past year has been difficult for the whole family as well as for him.
Problems Extend Beyond New Building
The Haas family claims that the problems extend beyond the new building and have an impact on their present residence as well as how they relate to their children and grandkids.
“This hut is where we call home. He unplugged the gas pipes, and that’s why we don’t have heat,” stated Mark. “We are developing space heaters. When we flush the toilet, our sewage is not well contained. The pipe over here is leaking raw sewage. We have hot electricity, which is the electricity lying close to you. There is 220 volts of power just lying around.
“When [our grandkids are] here, it’s quite risky. We can’t let them play like they used to on the porch because we’re worried they’ll get wounded, said Jeanie.
Bank Records Reveal
The Haas family’s bank records reveal that Carrillo received thousands of dollars in cash and wire transfers. They claim that in addition to returning the money they paid him, they are also repaying the construction loan they obtained in order to complete the job.
The financing is still in place even if the project isn’t complete, Mark explained. And I’m making a monthly mortgage payment of $2,500 that didn’t exist prior to his arrival.
Since finding out that Carrillo lacks an electrician or HVAC certification, the Haas family has complained to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
