Imagine buying your dream home—only to tiptoe through it, quite literally, because your bedroom floor sounds like it might cave in. That’s exactly the situation Emma Odotei found herself in after purchasing a newly built house in the Atlanta area. Her story, while frustrating and all too familiar, raises a serious question: What happens when builders don’t follow through on their promises?

In an era when buying a home is already one of life’s most stressful experiences, consumers like Emma are learning that it’s not just about curb appeal—it’s about accountability behind the walls and underfoot.

The Sound No Homeowner Wants to Hear

From the outside, Emma’s house looked perfect. But inside, every step across her bedroom floor told a different story—snap, crack, pop. It’s such a problem, Emma isn’t even sleeping in her bedroom, choosing instead the more stable flooring of a secondary room.

Emma says the builder, who also acted as the selling agent, had promised to hire a contractor to repair the noisy floor before she moved in. That was six months ago. Since then, she’s received a whole lot of foot-dragging… and not much else.

A pair of contractors showed up just before Christmas. Their instructions? Screw down the subfloor—through the carpet. But after assessing the situation in person, those contractors said the carpet needed to come up entirely to do the job right. Their professional advice, however, was ignored by the builder.

“They didn’t follow through,” Emma said. “Usually agents do what they say they’re going to do. But for these two agents, that seems to be a stretch.”

Buying a home is already one of life’s most stressful experiences, and consumers are learning that it’s not just about curb appeal, it’s about accountability (Source: DALL-E)

 

When Promises Are Broken—and Corners Cut

Unfortunately, Emma’s experience is part of a broader pattern. Many builders and seller-agents operate with minimal oversight, especially in booming housing markets like Atlanta where the pace of construction can outstrip quality control. And when corners get cut, it’s the homeowner who pays the price—sometimes literally.

Trying to save a few bucks by instructing contractors to make superficial fixes isn't just a slapdash move—it’s a potential liability. Flooring issues like Emma’s can point to deeper structural concerns that, if left unaddressed, could affect everything from home value to safety.

In this case, it took outside pressure for the builder to act. When Emma wasn’t getting results, she turned to TrustDALE.com. After repeated attempts to contact the seller were met with resistance—including a formal request to cease communication—our team kept pushing, professionally but persistently.

Ten days later, Emma had a new floor.

The Takeaway: Persistence Pays, but It Shouldn’t Be This Hard

It shouldn’t take a consumer advocacy team to get a builder to honor their word. But sometimes, standing up for your rights means knowing who to call and not backing down.

Here are a few tips for buyers dealing with post-sale issues like Emma's:

  • Get it in writing. Always document promises made during negotiations, especially if repairs are part of the deal.
  • Don’t accept shortcut solutions. If a contractor says something isn’t up to code or best practice, listen—and insist on the proper fix.
  • Know your rights. Georgia law offers consumer protections against deceptive business practices. Consult an attorney or a trusted advocacy resource if you feel a seller has misrepresented something.
  • Escalate wisely. If initial communication fails, consider involving a third-party advocate like TrustDALE who can help facilitate resolution.

Final Thoughts: Fixing More Than Floors

Emma’s story ends on a good note, but not every homeowner is so lucky. It’s a reminder that even in today’s competitive real estate market, doing your due diligence—and demanding follow-through—can make all the difference between a dream home and a daily frustration.

If you’re facing a similar situation and feel like you're being ignored, you don’t have to go it alone. Visit TrustDALE.com to connect with resources that can help you hold businesses accountable—because buying a home should come with peace of mind, not creaking floors.

Have you ever had a builder or agent fall short on a promise? What did you do about it?