Homeowner says contractor paid $270,000 but job not done

OAKWOOD, Texas (KBTX) – A Leon County family squandered more than $270,000 after a contractor left their home unfinished and disrupted their property.

Mark and Jeannie Haas always dreamed of having a secluded home in rural Texas where they could enjoy the fruits of their labor while entertaining family and friends.

Mark, a disabled veteran, and Genie, an accountant who is currently battling stage 5 kidney disease, hired Luis Carrillo, owner of LC Custom Homes in Buffalo, in September 2021, and have been on their side since. They say the dream house turned into a nightmare.

The Haas family outlined 11 projects they wanted Carrillo to complete, including building a new home, installing a new generator and HVAC system, new fencing around the property, underground fuel storage, and concrete work. The family says they have invested more than $300,000 in his property, including building materials, appliances and labor costs.

Carrillo is a local and was highly recommended so we chose to pay him up front. The Haas family said they were not only happy with Carrillo, but wanted to bring down the cost of supplies and labor as they see steady inflation across the country.

“We invested $341,000 in this property, some of which is now on new appliances, furniture, a well and a generator, but the actual cash we gave him was about $270,000. ‘ said Mark.

Mark says last year was a challenging year, not just for him, but for the whole family.

“I hate to sound clichéd, but it was hell on earth. My wife and I feel like we live in a landfill. “I had high hopes for the future,” Mark said. “I worked for 41 years. She is taking medications that have very harmful side effects.”

“It took a toll on our marriage. It took a toll on our physical health, our mental health,” Mark said.

The Haas family say the problem isn’t just limited to their new building, it’s affecting their current home and the way they interact with their children and grandchildren.

“We live in this cabin. There is no heating. He disconnected the gas pipe, so it’s incomplete,” Mark said. “We’re working on space heaters. When you flush the toilet, you don’t have proper sewage. Raw sewage seeps in from the lines here. We have electricity, the electricity next to you is hot.” It’s just 220 volts of power lying there.”

“It’s very dangerous when they’re here. We can’t let them out of the porch and play like them anymore because we’re afraid they’ll get hurt,” Genie said. Told.

“We’re just prisoners in our own house because of this man’s decision,” Mark added.

Mark says one of the most frustrating parts of the situation is what he says is the constant lies from Carrillo.

“The last time we met was in August when we had a meeting on this porch. “You’ve been working on this house for a year, and everything is unfinished, nothing has been done. did.

“His excuse is that I made a mistake and that I was bad with money. “We tried to get in touch, but he’s blocked us on the phone and is just a ghost. He won’t come here or talk to us.”

Bank records provided by the Haas family show thousands of dollars spent in wire transfers and cash payments to Carrillo. They say that not only have they used up the money they gave him, but they are paying off the construction loan they took to do the job.

“The project is not yet complete, but we still have loans,” Mark said. “And I have him paying $2,500 a month on a mortgage that didn’t exist before he got here.”

The Haas family filed a complaint with the Texas Licensing Authority after learning Carrillo was not licensed as an electrician or air conditioner.

“I asked him several times if he was actually certified/licensed to complete the Generac installation and all the electrical work that went along with it, and he repeatedly answered me yes. ‘ said Mark. “He said he got his license when he worked at the Limestone power plant, but that was proven not to be the case. It was just a few days later, so I hadn’t asked him about the air conditioning.”

KBTX made several attempts to meet with Carrillo to understand his side of the story, including two trips to Buffalo, Texas. We also requested a written statement, to which Carrillo replied: “According to my attorney, I have taken all the evidence and facts to the side of my history.” I can’t say, but I will do it as soon as the sheriff’s investigation is over.”

Mark and Jeanie say they just want him to take responsibility for his actions.

“We are not asking for special treatment, we are not asking for favors. “We just want what other Americans would expect under the exact same circumstances. No favors or anything. Right.” That’s it, that’s it, it’s just right.

“No one gave us this. Every day of life, and we’ve earned it, the same people who have been working for retirement for 40 years have their retirement checks taken.”

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