- November 23, 2024
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When contractor Carl Lilavois took a burnout reconstruction job in February, he thought it would be like similar pro-jects he has done in the past.
But the home at 3 Wood Cutter Way was in no way a typical job.
The house had caught fire in January. It started in one bedroom and traveled to the attic. The fire traveled through the attic into the back patio. It was a 90% rebuild.
The homeowners, two brothers, were not typical, either.
“They were the most cheerful home-owners I ever met,” Lilavois, of Dacom Home Accents LLC, said. “These two brothers lost everything. They had no insurance for their personal belongings — I was sensitive to that. I felt a lot worse than they felt. ... Either they covered it up, or they were the type of people that it didn’t hurt them.”
The permit to rebuild came through June 8. The process began soon after.
Lilavois, who has been a working contractor in Flagler County for the past five years, admitted that to rebuild a burned house is not the most joyous thing for him.
“In my heart, I know that it’s a place that has been completely destroyed,” he said. “But to know that I can take it from the ground and bring it up to a beautiful home for the families again, that makes me feel good.”
But the story has a sad, strange ending.
Reconstruction of the house went on hold in September when Lilavois found a sign from a real estate agent in the yard.
After researching, it was discovered that the homeowners unknowingly signed short sale papers.
The bank had taken over.
Because of dealing with unqualified inspectors from the bank, the house sat idle for a month, Lilavois said.
Then the bank was bought out. The buyout cost the contractor another two months of doing nothing.
“It’s a sad thing because we’re talking five months for a job that should’ve taken three-and-a-half tops,” Lilavois said.
The house recently sold on short sale for less than the cost of the renovations.
“We were rebuilding (the house) according to what (the homeowners) wanted,” Lilavois said. “And to know they aren’t going to be living in it anymore — it’s just so sad.”
