The list of reasons why purchasing a new home makes sense range from tech and environmentally friendly features to the fact that in a new home, everything is just that — new. And when every feature is new — from the windows or the paint on the walls to drawer pulls, light switches, toilet bowls, thermostats and closet shelving — nearly every item is backed by a brand-new warranty.
While warranties for some features, such as appliances or finishes, may vary from builder to builder, California new-home owners can rest easy, given the Right to Repair Act, which went into effect in 2003 following California State Bill 800 (SB 800). SB 800 outlined specific practices for the warranty and repair of new homes. While the law has seen several amendments over the past 15 years, it still does what it set out to do; it ensures rights and responsibilities for both new-home buyers and builders.
Builders want their clients to love their homes and live in them for many years, problem-free. For that reason, most stay in touch with their buyers on a regular basis. They keep lines of communication open and inform owners of their desire to ensure they are happy in their home for the long term.
But what happens when the unexpected occurs? Even with the highest-quality construction, a floorboard might begin to squeak; a slow leak may form in a window; a dishwasher may seem not to heat up properly; a corner of carpet may lift slightly; a hinge may come loose on a cabinet; or rainwater runoff from the roof or gutters may puddle in an inconvenient spot.
“Typically, new home repairs are covered under SB 800 and the Right to Repair Act, but we also have separate Fit and Finish warranties,” said Linda Hebert, sales and marketing consultant for Alamo-based Kiper Homes, which has new homes for sale in Lathrop and Discovery Bay. Overall structural warranties, she added, are included standard for a full 10 years. Hebert explained that there is no deductible for warrantable repairs.
So-called Fit and Finish warranties, offered individually by a builder, may include damage or malfunction beyond normal wear and tear to parts of the home such as cabinetry; paint; interior or exterior finishes and trim; flooring, and so forth. Appliances, meanwhile, are, of course, covered by their standard manufacturer warranties.
“Our builders stand behind the homes they build,” said Hebert, noting that Kiper Homes follows up with each new-home buyer several times during the first year and encourages people to reach out with any questions or concerns during their time in the home.
“We tell our new-home buyers that any time they think something needs attention, even if they’re not sure if it’s warrantable, they should call us,” she said. Kiper Homes, she explains, wants its homeowners to be 100 percent happy with their home. If they can address something for them under their warranty, they will do so as quickly as possible. “We want to be able to repair anything that goes wrong, but we have to know about it, so we make a point of telling our homeowners to just call.”
Kiper Homes provides its wide-ranging, one-year Fit and Finish warranty for aspects of the home not included under the 10-year structural warranty. And, when it comes to the sale of model homes, Kiper provides new-home buyers with extended warranties for appliances. Doing so offsets the time period during which the home was shown to the public and appliances or certain other features may have been used or not used for up to a year.
Of course, while most builders will remain in contact with new buyers and want to address any issues, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to share any concerns with the builder. Likewise, it’s important to know that some damages may not be covered. Such damages might include normal or excessive wear and tear during a reasonable period of time; damages resulting from disasters not under the control of the builder or the homeowner; fire not caused by structural issues; or the homeowner’s failure to report an issue in a timely manner.
The best way to understand what is covered under the warranties for a new home is to ask. Equally important, however, is to ask if new-home warranties are managed by the builder or by a third-party company. In standing behind the integrity of their product, your new-home builder should want to explain their practices around warranties.
