Whether it's because of shoddy building, poor materials or simple mistakes, a building defect in a new home is nothing to laugh about. More than 1,000 new homes are built in Bakersfield every year and the people who buy those homes expect a quality product. According to the Bakersfield office of the Better Business Bureau, only a few complaints have been filed in recent years against big Bakersfield builders like Coleman, Centex, Kyle Carter and U.S. Home. Most of those have been resolved to the satisfaction of the homeowners involved, records show. The majority of complaints to the California Contractors State License Board from the Bakersfield area are solved without legal conflicts, said Jeff Savin, a deputy registrar for the license board.
Contractors usually fix legitimate problems.
William Wilbanks, then the director of the Kern County Engineering and Survey Services Department, attributed the missed call by inspectors to staffing shortages. Most contractors can't afford to have such a black mark on their record.