The good news about warranties

Most new-home sales in California, even resale, include some form of a home warranty that, on its surface, is intended to protect the buyer, especially given that many resale homes in California are being sold “as is.” But, when buying a brandnew home, how can you know if your home warranty will include what you need it to cover?

The fact is, with new construction, not only will your warranty be sufficient, but it is required by law. The

best way to understand the warranties available to you is first to conduct some basic research and then to ask your builder’s sales agent some key questions.

But first, the basics. The state of California’s Right to Repair Act, which took effect following California State Bill 800 (SB800) and has had many amendments since, spells out a number of required and recommended practices for warranty and repairs to new homes within a designated time period after sale. With all the amendments to SB800 since 2003, new-home buyers are automatically covered for structural damage. Even the tightest-sealed windows in homes built by the highest-quality builders may experience a leak when the sideways, 50-mile-per-hour wind-rain-and-hail season arrives. Less dangerous, but still inconvenient, is that even the best-laid hardwood staircase can develop a squeak between boards in the first few months of ownership. Meanwhile, a coolant or water filtration issue might arise with even the highest-grade refrigerator, unbeknownst to the builder.

The good news is that, under SB800, overall structural issues are covered under new-construction home warranties that protect the original new-home buyer for a decade after purchase; that’s more years than the average Northern California family lives in their primary residence.

But what about that cabinet hinge that isn’t allowing the soft-close feature to do its magic or that leaky faucet? What about those quirky squeaks in the floorboards that show up seemingly out of nowhere or those doors that swell in warmer or more humid weather?

The even better-than-sb800 news, for newhome buyers, is that most builders also provide supplemental warranties to their buyers.

Alamo-based Kiper Homes, among others, provides buyers with separate Fit and Finish warranties, which may cover elements such as paint, cabinetry, flooring and trim, interior finishes, and more. And while appliances are covered by their manufacturers’ warranties, most builders care enough at least to want to know when their buyer experiences an issue with a new appliance.

“If a buyer is dealing with something that they’re not even sure is covered under warranty, we want to hear from them,” said Linda Hebert, sales and marketing director consultant for Kiper Homes. “We want them completely satisfied with their new home and we want to help them navigate the repair process or take care of it ourselves if it’s under warranty.”

For other builders, such as Vacaville-based Blue Mountain Communities, a Customer Care Package focuses on supporting homeowners and ensuring peace of mind both before and after the purchase of a new home. Blue Mountain’s Customer Care Package includes a mix of homebuyer warranties, homeowner orientations, customer care follow-ups, energy-efficiency guidance and much more.

Likewise, Roseville-based Tim Lewis Communities, which has communities in the city of Alameda as well as at River Islands in Lathrop, provides a proactive commitment to addressing known and unknown needs at its new homes.

“As part of our commitment to five-star service we will schedule post-closing warranty visits at 15 days, 4 months and 11 months,” their Warranty Service statement explains. “We want to ensure all of your warranty needs are addressed. Your customer care representative will explain our process of scheduling and completing prescheduled visits.”

Remember to ask your builder. In doing so, be sure to learn who will be conducting any repairs related to a Fit and Finish type of warranty. Depending on the builder, it may be the builder themselves or a trusted third-party contractor. Either way, every builder’s best advocates are their buyers. They want their new-home owners to be thrilled with the product and experience of living in their neighborhoods.