After purchasing a lot in a new neighborhood to build on, my husband and I toured the KC parade of homes to get ideas for what type of house we were looking to build. We met up personally with Kit and Gerry from Starr homes while on the tour. While initially impressed with their houses on the tour, we got into a conversation with them about what we were specifically looking for, and which of their houses we liked. We let them know that we were already working with a builder, we were just looking for the plans to build at that time. They informed us we could use their architectural services for a $400 fee (as stated on their website), and were then not under any obligation to use them as our builders. With this verbal agreement, we moved forward. After weeks of close work with Starr, we had our plans on paper! However, at that time, Starr told us that they now owned the copyright to the house that WE created with them, and that if we used another builder they would sue us. We felt pressured into using them as our builder since we didn't want to lose the plans, so we said we would build with them instead of our original builder. At that point, they added $30,000 to the price of the house stating that they used the wrong plans to bid it. Sensing something very shady happening, we informed Starr we were going with our original builders and that we would no longer require their services. We tried to pay the $400 for their architectural services, and they would not accept it. Months later, after getting HOA approval and permits from the city, days before we are to begin building, we have received a cease and desist letter from Starr Homes's attorney stating that we will be sued if we build that home that we created, or we can purchase the plans for $65,000. In my opinion, Starr homes finished product is not worth the headache it takes to get there.
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