If you are looking for a builder to act as a responsible steward of your time, budget, and overall…read moreinvestment, we would strongly encourage you to look elsewhere.
Expectations and promises were set very high during the sales and planning stages, but the actual execution consistently fell short.
We encourage prospective clients to review the publicly available federal indictment, prior federal conviction, arrest history, and other court records concerning Kenneth Edward Asher and Asher Custom Homes before making a decision. We believe this information is relevant to anyone considering a substantial financial commitment and should be reviewed as part of the due diligence process before selecting a builder.
Significant items that would generally be considered standard, expected, or inherent in a high-end custom home project were either not properly contemplated, underestimated, or omitted entirely from the original budgeting discussions. This resulted in repeated surprises throughout construction. The disparity between the promises and representations made during the sales and planning stages and the realities encountered during construction were significant.
There was very little attention to detail or meaningful quality control throughout the project. Work completed by subcontractors frequently required correction, while there was no accountability for the trades and insufficient review of workmanship before it was accepted as complete. At one point, the owner attempted to portray personally checking on the project as going above and beyond expectations. In reality, project supervision is a fundamental responsibility of a builder, not an extraordinary effort deserving special recognition.
A credit was eventually issued related to some of these concerns. However, despite substantial supporting documentation, the six-figure credit we received represented only a third of the actual additional costs incurred.
On one particular occasion, a significant issue was brought to the builder's attention. The builder acknowledged both the seriousness of the issue and the urgency required to avoid potential future damage to the home. However, despite multiple follow-up attempts over a 30-day period, no action had been taken. We were ultimately forced to contact the subcontractor directly, only to learn that the builder had never contacted them regarding the issue. The builder then attempted to shift blame onto us for contacting the trade directly, alleging it was because payment was being withheld. In reality, payment was withheld due to unresolved workmanship concerns.
It is essential that a builder understands not only construction fundamentals, but also the proper installation and handling of premium materials and products. Rather than acknowledging a lack of familiarity or experience with the proper installation of certain products or finishes, work was often completed incorrectly and later had to be redone at additional cost to us.
During the final six months of the project, we conducted monthly site visits and provided detailed punch lists after each visit. Despite repeated assurances that the identified items had been addressed and completed, many of the concerns were either inadequately resolved or ignored entirely.
After reading the December 2022 Houzz review posted by another homeowner ("AG"), we were struck by the similarities between that review and our own experience. Although the specific facts differed, both reviews describe concerns regarding project oversight, quality control, accountability, communication, and the handling of homeowner concerns after they were raised. Prospective clients may find it helpful to read both reviews and draw their own conclusions.
Lastly, when we posted a review to Google Asher Custom Homes originally responded the same way they did in Houzz. When we called out the blatant lies and inaccuracies, Asher Custom Homes after being caught in a lie deleted the response. This is standard operating procedure for Asher Custom Homes. Because we believe prospective clients deserve the full context, we reposted the builder's original response so readers can compare it with our documentation and draw their own conclusions as to why Asher Custom Homes removed its response.
