A Babcock Ranch resident is raising concerns about a home improvement project and questions surrounding the community’s Certified Trained Vendors program.
Sandy Owens Cheetham told Babcock News that she hired Luxe Design for a project at her home and that she and her husband paid $3,075 toward the project. She said that within about 3 1/2 weeks, they became concerned about the progress of the project. After approximately eight weeks, she said the work had still not started.
Cheetham said she was told that permitting and engineering work were underway, but she questioned the status of the HOA application and later researched the company online, where she found complaints posted by other customers. Babcock News has not independently verified allegations contained in those reviews.
Cheetham also said she spoke with Karalynn Graves with the HOA. According to Cheetham, Graves said she had spoken with upper management and was awaiting a response regarding whether the vendor would remain on the Certified Trained Vendors list.
Cheetham said the experience raises broader questions about what the designation means to residents and what screening, verification or oversight is involved.
Babcock News has asked the HOA for clarification regarding the program, including whether licenses and insurance are independently verified, what training vendors receive, who administers the program, whether vendors are subject to ongoing review, and what happens when complaints are raised.
Babcock Ranch Communications Director Matthew LiPani provided the following statement to Babcock News.
We received your inquiry. Please see our statement below:
Certified Vendors, as described on the Babcock Ranch website, are vendors who have completed ARC (Architectural Review Committee) certification and training. This certification provides vendors with an understanding of the Master Association’s guidelines, processes, and procedures related to the Architectural Change Application process. The Master Association does not require vendors to submit licenses or proof of insurance in order to participate in the training or when Architectural Change Applications are submitted.
When complaints are received regarding a Certified Vendor, they are documented and reviewed by the ARC team. If repeated complaints are identified, management will evaluate the concerns and determine whether the vendor has violated any applicable guidelines or rules. Based on that review, a vendor may be removed from the Certified Vendor List.
As stated on the Certified Vendors page of our website:
“The information provided below is not an endorsement or recommendation, but rather a list of vendors who have completed ARC certification and training. Residents are welcome to hire any vendor of their choice; however, those listed here and on specific Guideline pages are Certified and Trained with the ARC.”
Regards,
Matthew LiPani
Communications Director, Babcock Ranch
Kitson & Partners
Babcock News has also contacted Luxe Design for comment regarding the resident’s account and the status of the project.
We will update this report as responses and additional verified information become available.
Babcock News Note: Statements and allegations in this report have been attributed to the resident who provided them. Babcock News has not independently established wrongdoing by any individual or business referenced in this report.
