Video - Woman wants tougher inspections

February 18, 2007

Woman wants tougher inspections

2/17/2007 3:55 PM

By: Kernodle

News 14 Carolina

FAYETTEVILLE -- A Fayetteville woman said her new home is

uninhabitable.

Hutchinson said mold and water damage has turned her home into

a health hazard. She blamed city inspectors and a private building

company for not doing their jobs.

At face value, Hutchinson's home is picture perfect.

" It was an investment a dream home. It was a sacrifice. It was my

future, " said Hutchinson

Her future came tumbling down just four months after moving in. She

found standing water in her new home's crawl space -- and even mold.

She still owns the home but can't live inside.

" I had diarrhea for six months. Dizziness, stumbling inside the

house -- which I had never had before, " said Hutchinson.

Hutchinson blamed the mold for her poor health -- she said she also

blamed the building company, Hornaday Construction, for making her

house uninhabitable.

She said poor grading and drainage caused her house to flood. She

also said the company refused to make repairs and honor a warranty,

meaning Hutchinson was forced to make repairs herself.

The company owner's attorney could not be reached for comment.

Hutchinson is also upset with city inspectors -- which reported the

house is up to code.

She and her neighbors with similar flooding problems lobbied city

leaders Monday to make changes to inspection guidelines.

The city issued this statement: " The issues present now are between

the owners and the builder. It is a civil matter and not related to

the quality of the work performed by city inspectors. "

Hutchinson disagrees and said she plans to battle the inspection

codes on a state level. She said at least four homes in her

neighborhood, built by Hornaday Construction, have had flooding and

mold problems.

Hutchinson has filed a suite against the construction company. Both

parties will meet in court in April.

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