If Builders don’t meet our guidelines, HOME of Texas can and does terminate memberships!
Not every Builder is able to attain Membership with HOME of Texas.
We hear people say all the time that they don’t have to worry about their builder. He’s been around “forever” and he has plenty of money based on the office in which he works and the truck he drives. The problem is… what if things aren’t as rosy as they seem on the outside? There are numerous factors to consider.
Chances are very good though that your prospective builder is not simply going to hand over his financial statement for you to review. So how do you determine if your prospective builder has prepared properly for any storms that may be lurking ahead? More importantly, what happens to you if his business goes under and you have problems in that house he just built for you?
If the Builder has committed to providing you with an extra layer of protection in the form of a HOME of Texas written and insured new home warranty as part of his customer service program, then he has provided HOME with proof of his stability. Furthermore, he agrees to update that information with us annually.
It wasn’t so long ago that the building industry suffered a substantial economic downturn… to put it mildly. Some builders weathered the storm while many others did not. Without a HOME of Texas New Home Warranty, the homeowner could be left holding the bag and paying the bill if defects arose!
However, if your Builder was a HOME Builder Warranty Member during that time but sadly his business couldn’t survive the downturn, and your home was properly enrolled with HOME, then your warranty is still in force for the entire warranty term. If your builder goes out of business or can’t take care of warranted issues for other reasons, HOME’s Insurer is obligated to do so.
HOME…
Successfully mediates issues that are more or less “differences of opinion” by pointing to our clearly written Standards Section with guidelines based on standard building industry practices.
Effectively deals with the occasional builder who is reluctant to perform required warranty repairs on behalf of homeowners frustrated by an apparent stalemate.
Educates homeowners on what is reasonable within the scope of industry-accepted workmanship.
Steps up when necessary to perform a builder’s obligations if, for some reason, the builder was unable to do so himself.
In our experience, administering warranties on over 3 million homes, we have learned that the root of many disputes is miscommunication. A misunderstanding develops over a specific and sometimes simple issue and before you know it, tempers escalate. HOME has an established process in place to assist both homeowners and builders in the resolution of warranty issues. Often, having that third party as a buffer is invaluable in getting issues resolved without the need for costly litigation.
Bottom line…
HOME’s Warranty Resolution Department and when necessary, our Insurer, are there – for the entire warranty term – to assist homeowners and builders alike in accordance with the warranty and standards spelled out in the book provided for the property.
