The home we purchased from Champion Genesis was a modular home constructed (using the term loosely) in the Redman plant located in Arizona.

It was, although it did not turn out to be that way, supposed to be built to California code.  Part of the problem, to quote the General Manager of the Arizona plant was, “if we have 13 homes on the line and one of them is a modular, the workers on the line do not know the difference.”  This was an attempt to explain the difference in materials used in manufactured and modular homes during construction.  However, I do not believe that statement explains the shoddy workmanship and in fact makes one think that poor workmanship is applied equally to both product lines.  

The Jefferson II was purchased through Modular Home Pro of Escondido, California.  Unlike the house, the foundation was built to plan specifications by our sub-contractor and in fact was dead on the mark in every aspect.  The owner of Modular Home Pro recognized early on that the home was fraught with problems and was not built to code.  He pushed very hard to get Champion Genesis to do something about all the problems to no avail.  Modular Home Pro’s dilemma was that they needed to sell more Champion Genesis homes to stay in business and consequently could only send so many letters, make so many phone calls, before endangering their dealer status with Champion Genesis.  In fact, during this same time frame, Modular Home Pro purchased a Grande model Champion Genesis home to build and sell on spec.  When it arrived and was set on the foundation, there was a crown in the kitchen floor so severe that the floor had to be removed, the crown cut out and the floor rebuilt.  A third customer’s home built during this same period had to have most, if not all of the copper plumbing fittings re-soldered at a cost of more than $2900.  All three Champion Genesis modular homes were built at the same plant in Arizona.

Clearly, Champion Genesis marketing claims to build a great product with complete onsite inspections throughout the construction process.  If this were in fact true, then how does one explain the shear number of things missing or poorly constructed in these three homes.  Reading this blog in detail shows that inspections were, poorly executed, lacking in detail or never performed in the first place.

Tens of thousands of dollars were spent correcting the shoddy and incomplete work on the Jefferson II.  Weeks passed after a letter detailing some of the more obvious problems was sent to Champion Genesis by Modular Home Pro.  Finally, a first of its kind onsite inspection tour by the Champion General Manager and his EVPs acknowledged many of the problems in writing and a statement that they were not a licensed contractor in California and the extent of the repairs would require a licensed contractor.  Modular Home Pro kept Champion Genesis fully informed as to what work was being done to correct the problems and finish the home to meet code.  Finally after several months, Champion Genesis sent a letter to Modular Home Pro stating they had no intention of paying for the repairs and too bad about the enormous amount of time lost in the process.  Even though early on, Champion Genesis acknowledged many of the mistakes were made during the factory construction, it was many months later before Champion Genesis responded, which they finally did by stating in a letter that they were not responsible.

The Jefferson II is now complete and most all of the problems have been corrected.  It is a beautiful structure, no thanks to Champion Genesis.

Researching the Champion family of homes shows that complaints are very common.  These are major complaints from previous purchasers.  In the past, Champion managed through tremendous marketing to sell homes and it was nearly impossible for buyers to find out the truth about Champion homes.  The internet has changed all that and now potential buyers can avail themselves of the information from existing owners and previous buyers of Champion products.  Shoddy construction did not carry a penalty for Champion in the past, it does now.  Before, Champion would just wait, wear the buyer down by not responding and not correcting the problems, knowing full well that in the past the buyer usually got tired, never told anyone else about the problems and would finally go away, costing Champion Genesis nothing.  No money spent on repairs and no affect on sales.  The end result being more income for Champion corporate.

There is no doubt in my mind that Champion believes that eventually I, like most everyone else, will grow weary, tire and go away.  They see no reason to change their way of doing business, hey, it has worked all these years so why change now.  They fail to realize that the market place has changed and the buyers are better informed and not as easily fooled by the marketing BS.  Well folks, I am not going away anytime soon, I firmly believe that a handshake is a person’s bond and you are only as good as your word.  It is important that potential buyers know as much as they possibly can before making one their decision about which manufactured or modular home to buy.  What’s important here is that potential buyers have a glimpse of the truth, the photos, the entries and the comments from previous buyers of Champion products.  Potential buyers, unlike in the past, can now get the “rest of the story” and not just the Champion sales pitch.

The key to buying a manufactured or modular home is to do as Stephanie, who posted a recent comment said, RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH.

Finally, Cathryn, take into account the previous entries, comments and photos and
DO NOT BUY a Champion Genesis modular home and expose yourself to the Champion NIGHTMARE!