After a fire destroyed their Moosup, Connecticut home, a television home improvement reality show approached a military family with an offer they couldn't refuse, but now wishes they had.
Annette Labonte is a stay-at-home mom to five children. Her husband, Luke, is overseas, in Afghanistan, with the National Guard.
On April 19, an electrical fire broke out on the third floor of their three-story Victorian house.
“Everything was a loss. The whole third floor was fire damage. Everything from the second floor to the first floor was water damage, smoke damage. We lost everything in the fire,” Annette said.
Annette and her husband got married in the house, which she calls their “dream house.”
“We wanted to stay in this house forever. We wanted to grow old in this house and it’s gone. What are we going to do?” she said.
The fire made headlines because they are a military family.
Local
Luke had to take leave to return home to help his wife and their story drew the attention of “The Disaster Guy.”
Produced by Leopard Films, the show is airing on A&E Network this season.
The production company was casting families for the home improvement show and Annette thought it was the answer to her prayers.
“They made it sound like it was going to be the best thing and then I figured it would be good for the kids because my husband, being deployed, it would take their minds off of it,” Annette said.
She signed a waiver for her family to be filmed and an agreement to gut the house. Annette said there was no formal contract.
The verbal agreement was, she was responsible for a $27,000 decorator’s fee that would also include all the furniture and appliances for the house, and of course, taxes at the end of the year, as with any prize.
Annette said she talked it over with her husband. After much hesitation, they agreed to do the show.
“It just sounded like a dream come true,” she said, but added that it turned into a nightmare.
The “Grand Reveal” was on June 22 and they moved back into their new house, with the cameras rolling.
Annette said she was overjoyed. Tears welled up in her eyes when she walked in.
She said the house looked beautiful, but just days after moving in, Annette said things began to go wrong.
It's been more than four months since the family moved in and every day, they're finding a new challenge.
Annette said the entire ordeal has taken an emotional toll on her, her kids and her husband.
She pointed out a wall with a crack in it, a crooked window, a door with a huge gap at the bottom, a slanted wall where a laundry room was built, a toilet tank cover that doesn’t fit, kitchen cupboards that are falling apart and wood paneling that doesn’t match the rest of the wall.
Annette also pointed out the most special part of the house to her: the grand staircase.
“This is the staircase that they were supposed to replace and, as you can see, even this beam here just wants to come right out,” she said.
She added that it was part of the agreement that the production company buy all the furniture and appliances.
However, she said, they left out the washer/dryer, living room furniture, dressers for every room except for one, computers for the kids and even curtains.
Cosmetics aside, Annette said her biggest concern is the safety of the home. She showed us a light switch she has taped over so her children won’t accidentally turn it on.
“This actually sparks blue electrical-like shocks. Sparks come out of this, we can't use it,” she said.
Last month, Annette learned the contractor, InStar, based in Troy, Michigan, put a mechanic’s lien on the house for $402,000.
A mechanic's lien is a way for contractors or suppliers to make certain they will be paid for services provided or materials furnished.
“These people, going to put a lien on my house after they're telling me it’s free?” she said.
NBC Connecticut News tried reaching InStar Services, Leopard Films Production Company and A&E Television Network. We made numerous attempts by phone and e-mail to give them the opportunity to respond, but they have not.
Officials from the local building department said InStar did have a license to work in the state of Connecticut and the building is safe for the family to live in.
Annette said she feels betrayed and what was once home sweet home, is no longer.
Her message to all involved in the show: “Don't you dare promise me and my family something and then leave all the pressure on me, and tell my husband and shake his hand before he leaves back to Afghanistan, ‘don't worry about nothing, worry about you coming home safe and worry about your soldiers and let your wife worry about your kids and we’ll worry about your home.’”
Annette said she has hired an attorney and is seeking legal action to get the lien removed and to have her home repaired.
