NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — A Marine veteran says her dream home has been destroyed by a contractor who walked off the job.
Viridiana Ibarra-Wilkerson fought for the US in Iraq, two tours of duty, saving her money the entire time to buy a home when she returned. When she hired a local contractor to expand the second story, she says things quickly spiraled out of control.
“It’s left me with not my dream home, it's left me with a nightmare,” she said.
She planned to expand the second story to include an art studio, a therapy of sorts to help her deal with PTSD.
“If I have an outlet, where I can throw something on paint, or paper, that really, really does help,” said Ibarra-Wilkerson.
But soon after the beams went up... The dream began to unravel
Ibarra-Wilkerson said the town’s building inspector say the contractor did not follow a permit filed with the city and never actually picked it up.
She said holes in walls and seams led to water damage during a rain storm. She told FOX25 that when she questioned the contractor's work, he responded with insults.
“Calling us ignorant, calling us stupid...and that's it right there,” she said.
Last month, the contractor quit amidst the war of words, leaving Ibarra-Wilkerson with a half built home and no protection from the elements
“I have no upstairs. I'm sleeping in my living room,” Ibarra-Wilkerson said.
She’s already spent nearly $30,000 and a new contractor told her to fix her home and continue the expansion, it would cost nearly $50,000, money she doesn't have.
“It is my life savings, it's everything that I've ever saved. And now it's like the money pit home,” she told FOX25.
Ibarra-Wilkerson said her home owners insurance will only cover a portion of the damage and repairs.
FOX25 contacted the former contractor and he denies he caused any water damage and said he stands by his work. The state says he has no record of any previous complaints and police say there was no criminal wrongdoing.
Cox Media Group
