Metro Home Builders in Naples is out of business. Here's what we know.
Metro Home Builders in Naples has called it quits, leaving its customers in a lurch.
Customers have been left in limbo, with unfinished homes and unfulfilled warranty work. Some have taken to social media to complain and ask for help.
The locally owned custom builder is in the midst of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to sell off its assets and pay off its debts.
In an email, Naples attorney Gregory Champeau, who represents the company, confirmed the bankruptcy case is "in the final stages of preparation."
"It will be filed imminently," he said, declining to comment any further.
The company, owned by Alberto Hernandez, last operated out of a model home in Golden Gate Estates. The home – at 107 Weber Blvd., off Golden Gate Boulevard – is now owned by another local homebuilder, using it as a sales and administrative office.
Property records show Majestic Builders, established in 2007, purchased the home through an affiliate for $1.3 million in May. The custom builder only acquired the real estate, not the business, but it has faced Metro's angry customers, who have come to it looking for answers.
Rumors have circulated on social media that Majestic purchased the business and would make everything right.
'Nothing to do with Metro Home'
In a Facebook post, Yeney Andraca, an officer of Majestic Builders, explained otherwise, saying it had "nothing to do with Metro Home." Her company, she said, created "another entity" to do business out of the model home, using the name Metro Home Builders by Majestic.
Majestic's owner thought using a known name and location would be a plus, but found out differently when Metro's customers started unexpectedly showing up at the door, looking for "some answers" because they haven't gotten any from their builder.
"For us, buying that property has become a nightmare," Andraca commented.
Majestic is trying to help as many people as possible, while keeping its high standards, she added.
On its website, Majestic boasts that it has successfully built, managed and completed residential projects "to the maximum satisfaction of our clients." It has a 4.6 rating, based on Google reviews.
The company's owner William Andraca has more than 20 years of construction experience.
Customers complain of poor quality, warranty coverage
Metro Home Builders had been in business for nine years. It had a 4.2 rating, based on Google reviews, but most of the reviews are years old.
The latest review, posted 10 months ago, isn't flattering. In it, Dennis Kilcoyne complained of "very poor quality," and a lack of response, giving the builder one star.
"They may be cheaper, but you get what you pay for. Concrete was screwed up, walls were crooked, windows were ordered wrong, one thing after another," he lamented. "My daughter made the mistake of building a second home with them and it took two years with excuse after excuse."
In a Google review two years ago, Lynn Johnson described a much different experience. She said the builder stood out as "superior" for many reasons.
"Most important, we worked with a team that is honest and trustworthy. Next, the contract is clear and concise. There are no 'unexpected' additional costs buried within the contract. The Metro Home team truly takes pride in their work and has a strong work ethic. As a result, we have a high-quality home," she wrote.
The Better Business Bureau has received one complaint against the builder.
In April, a customer complained that she's not satisfied "at all." She described the warranty on Metro's work as "very poor."
"There are cracks throughout the house that we had to pay for to get corrected. Two other issues were to be addressed and denied as well. I would never recommend them to build a shed for me," she stated.
According to its website, Metro offered 10 years of "structural defect coverage for load-bearing components," such as walls and trusses, but only one-year warranties for defects in workmanship and materials, and defects in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and cooling, heating and ventilation systems.
ZoomInfo, a platform for business information, shows the builder had 14 employees, at last count.
State records show the owner's license as a building contractor remains active and won't expire until next August. No complaints have been lodged against him with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.
Word of bankruptcy spreads
News of the impending bankruptcy has sparked ire and concern in a private Facebook group created to share news and tips in Golden Gate Estates, among its rural residents. Some of the group's members have swapped personal stories about their dealings with Metro.
Reacting to the bankruptcy news, Ileana Fibla asked if anyone knew an attorney who could help, with a Metro home that's far from done.
"They left me hanging less than half done and owe me money ... any idea what to do?" she asked the group, getting one reply, in a private message, from another customer with an unfinished home, who has hired an attorney.
Several commented they aren't shocked, or even surprised, to see Metro go out of business, based on customers' bad experiences over the years.
Some questioned what led to the bankruptcy.
Henry Vasquez plans to complete his unfinished home as an owner-builder and offered a "PSA" for others in the Facebook group who might plan to do the same.
"If you were in the middle of a build with Metro Home Builders, check with Naples Lumber for your interior doors. In our case our doors, baseboards and casings were already partially paid" for, he advised.
Not all the reactionary comments about Metro were negative. Josh Sabillon said the builder completed his house in 10 months back in 2018-19, with "no big issues," and dealing with the owner was "smooth."
Finding other builders
Some of Metro's customers have already found other builders willing to complete their homes.
In a Facebook post, Zachary Kaye, whose family owns Kaye Lifestyle Homes in Naples, said it's helping three of Metro's customers get to the finish line.
Instead of thanks, however, he got a few jabs about the Kaye enterprise, in reply.
In the company's defense, Kaye pointed out that "47% of all homes we build are referral based."
"You don't build over 4,000 homes if you're doing shady things," he stressed.
Kaye Lifestyle Homes has a 4.7-star rating, based on Google reviews. Founded by Stuart and Jay Kaye, the company has been building "dream homes" in Southwest Florida since 1985.
Southwest Florida is home to hundreds of smaller, independent custom home builders.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Metro Home Builders in Naples calls it quits, some customers upset
