Occasionally we will highlight a section of the warranty book just as a reminder of how things work or to demonstrate protections built into the warranties. This time, we thought a reminder of all the various warranty options available to you by virtue of your RWC membership might be helpful.
Let’s start off here: http://www.rwcwarranty.com/builders/whats-covered/. As an RWC Member, you have choices galore!
You can have a warranty with Major Structural Defect coverage or a warranty with coverage on Designated Structural Elements. You can have coverage that includes workmanship, materials, mechanical systems and structural components or you can pare it down to one that just covers structural components. You can stick to the traditional FHA/VA approved 10-year variety or customize it with a warranty that mirrors your state’s statutes.
That covers the “new home” variety of warranties. But we know that many builders out there do much more that build new homes. They remodel, they convert commercial structures into condos, they may build a detached garage and on and on.
That being said, check out the RWC Menu of Choices at rwclive.wpengine.com/builders/warranty-options/
- RemodelerWarranties with options to fit the job (and in states like Indiana & Minnesota, to meet state statutes as well)Commercial Warranties
- Conversion Warranties
- Building Systems Warranties
- HUD-Code Manufactured Home Warranties
- Appliance & Systems Extended Warranties*
- 1 Year Renewable Warranties
- Commercial Insurance Products (GL, Builder’s Risk, and Contractor’s Equipment)
*Available in select states only at this time.
We’re working hard to meet the needs of our Membership. If you have a need for a warranty and we don’t have a product to meet that need, let us know and we’ll look into it. We’re always on the lookout for ways to better serve our Members!
Building homes is a very complex thing. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that over 3,000 components are used in constructing a house. The single most problematic component for Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) is the foundation, a wall of concrete block resting on a footing, supporting the full weight of the house, its contents, and inhabitants. This component is arguably the most important component. Why then is it the most problematic?
When designing and constructing a concrete block (CMU) foundation there are many very important elements that need to be considered. The single biggest dynamic that we are faced with is resistance to lateral movement. The forces that laterally impact CMU foundations should be considered when using this method of foundation construction. Steel reinforcement, introduction of pilasters, solid grout along with rebar in hollow cores and attention to backfill and soil types go a long way in constructing an adequate foundation wall that can resist lateral forces.
There are external factors that can affect CMU foundation performance. The height of the backfill along with the type of soil (clay, shale, sandy, expansive, etc.) may have required special attention when it was placed. The installation of perimeter drain systems whether internal or external will be evaluated. Is a sump pump installed and has the homeowner been proactive in using and maintaining the system? If the system is day lighted, is the line clear and does it function properly? Hydrostatic pressure created from over saturated soil has tremendous weight that can test the limits of the foundation wall if a potential water condition is not mitigated.
When a claim is made to RWC, a fact-finding inspection is ordered. A licensed professional engineer is scheduled to visit the home and assess all aspects of the condition reported. RWC will contact you and ask for any documentation you have regarding the construction of this home. If upon review of the fact-finding inspection report in relation to the Limited Warranty applicable to the home, the condition of the defect meets the specified criteria for coverage, RWC is obligated to take action. In most instances the mode of foundation movement is lateral and our responsibility is to restore the load-bearing function of the foundation wall. The engineer will evaluate the unbalanced fill condition as he evaluates the foundation wall. Any actions that the homeowner may have taken regarding landscaping, patio installation, modifications to the downspout locations or re-routing of the downspouts along with overall grading and drainage that may have been modified after the home was delivered by the Builder, are noted and taken into consideration.
During this phase of the claim, RWC will again reach out to your company. As the Builder, you have the most knowledge about this home. You have been intimate with this structure from the first idea that a home should be constructed until settlement changes title to your buyer. We understand and respect that you are most knowledgeable. We rely on your expert knowledge and ask that you provide us with the details regarding how this foundation was designed and built. This will include requests for drawings and details regarding any service orders or warranty claims that you have dealt in the first two years of the homes life. Anything that you can provide to us so we can carefully evaluate every aspect of this covered condition.
RWC will be required to provide a settlement offer, or in some cases, make repairs that will restore the load-bearing function to the CMU foundation. We are not obligated to rebuild the foundation wall however this may be necessary dependent on the severity of the lateral displacement. Our efforts commonly involve reinforcement utilizing solid core grouting and rebar installation and more recently the use of carbon fiber reinforcement. This work is most often performed from the interior of the home negating the extensive cost of exterior excavation. It is important to recognize that this work will be accomplished in accordance with a sealed structural repair plan provided by a licensed engineer and the work will be certified at completion by the same professional. Remember, the Limited Warranty requires that the load-bearing function be restored, that does not necessarily mean that a wall that shows signs of lateral movement needs to be plumb when the repairs are complete.
RWC understands that you are truly professional Builders. When we have to deal with this significant structural problem we know you have done your due diligence throughout the construction process and you will be able to provide us with the important data we need to ensure a fair evaluation of the claim and an adequate repair when required.
Written by Don Sechler, RWC Warranty Resolution
The new home building industry saw positive improvements over the past few years and continues to be on the upswing. The nation’s vacant home inventory is becoming depleted and new homes are being built to meet the demand. Buyers have more confidence so not only are homes being built, but they’re being bought.
What are you doing to entice buyers and set yourself apart from your competitors? What kind of bells and whistles are you including in your homes that other builders are not? How are you promoting your quality and strength? What’s your response to a potential buyer when they ask, “What if I have a problem in my home?”
That’s a real concern for buyers. None of us can forget how difficult the economy has been in the past. Home buyers, especially want to be assured they’re getting the most for their money and that they’re purchasing a home from a reputable, quality builder.
By providing RWC’s warranty, you’re proving to your customers that if there’s a problem in their home, it will be corrected. We investigate all of our members. We want to be sure RWC members have a solid reputation, build a quality home, have financial strength, and provide excellent customer service. You don’t just subscribe to RWC. You earn your membership, so be sure to proudly include and display the fact that you’re an RWC member. Add our logo to your printed materials and media advertising and add a link on your website to our Homeowners page.
This will also help you compete against resale homes on the market. Most resale homes include a third party warranty. Quality, reputation, reliability, warranties and assurance are all very important factors in a home buying decision.
Have you ever had a difficult homeowner after the sale? RWC can help you there, too. Our dispute resolution process is extremely effective. We have trained individuals that assist you and your homeowner through a free mediation process. Mediation is efficient and effective. From time to time, a homeowner isn’t satisfied with the outcome. For those occasions, binding arbitration is available. Again, RWC’s staff assists the parties through this process. It’s not necessary for you to hire an attorney.
Now that homebuilding is gearing up again, be sure to emphasize your advantages. Don’t miss out on sales because you didn’t promote yourself adequately. In addition to your company’s profile information, be sure to advertise that you provide an insured, third party warranty from the nation’s largest warranty company. The benefits are numerous for your homebuyers and for you.
The online validation process launched October 20th, 2014 by Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) and HOME of Texas (HOME) is, by all accounts, a success! Billed as the next step in the home warranty companies’ modernization plan, the online home enrollment validation system streamlined the process to save time for home warranty members and their homebuyers.
Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC), a leading provider of insured home warranties to the building industry nationwide, and HOME of Texas, RWC’s Lone Star State affiliate, have been fairly busy lately enhancing the quality of their home warranty programs and the efficiency of their systems for members. This trend continued as RWC and HOME moved to an online process for home enrollment validation.
Previously, the process had buyers sign paperwork at closing. After RWC/HOME received the signed copy and warranty fee, a validation sticker on a postcard was sent via regular “snail mail.” Depending on how quickly RWC/HOME received the information back from the closing, how timely the enrollments were processed, and how quickly the mail was delivered, it could take several weeks before a validation sticker arrived in the buyer’s mailbox.
Now, homeowners can simply go online to confirm their home warranty coverage. For convenience, homeowners can either print their warranty documents or save these documents as PDFs on their computer. They no longer need to wait for any confirmation to arrive in the mail and are spared the hassle of having to request a duplicate if the original gets lost. Also, and probably best of all, homeowners will enjoy a much speedier confirmation of their new home warranty whenever they choose to login via Warranty Express to retrieve their documentation (warranty book, closing document with info including validation number, effective date of warranty, term of coverage, and any applicable addenda). What’s more, they are able to view the warranty book online that was issued for their home in the future.
For more information on Warranty Express and its benefits, click here.
RWC’s been around for over 30 years and we have 3 million home warranties under our belt. We think we know a thing or two about the home warranty industry and we don’t really lose sleep over what “the other guys” are doing. That’s because our home warranty programs are so successful that we don’t have to copy them. But we always get a chuckle when we see those other guys “copying our homework.”
Take our name for instance. There’s one competitor out there that tries to get leads by pretending to be “Residential Warranty Company.” Nice try. There’s only one RWC and we’re it. When we run a membership drive…the other home warranty companies run membership drives. At RWC, we strive to innovate…not imitate.
Want a home warranty company that’s been around for a while?
RWC’s been in business since 1981. That’s 33 years of experience…without name changes, company buyouts or corporate restructuring. Just us…for 33 years and counting.
Want a home warranty company that’s experienced and not a “newbie” when it comes to warranty resolution?
RWC’s administered more than 3 million home warranties. Not every home has claims but when issues arise, don’t you want a company behind you that truly understands what they are doing?
Want a home warranty company that’s on solid financial ground?
RWC’s new home warranties are backed by an insurer that has been rated “A-(Excellent)” since 2001. Think about what our housing industry went through during that time frame and in spite of it all, our insurer maintained its exemplary rating. What’s more, neither RWC nor any of our Principals have ever been under supervision or receivership. In fact, our insurer boasts a surplus equity of over $100 million dollars. Ask the other guys what skeletons are in their closets!
Want a home warranty program that gives you choices?
RWC issues over 80 different types of warranties. From the standard FHA-approved variety to the customized state version to the specialty warranties for remodelers, building systems manufacturers, commercial contractors, and even detached garage builders, RWC has what you need.
Want a home warranty company that provides you with FREE FULL-COLOR marketing materials?
RWC wants the warranty program to work for you, not only for risk management, but also as a marketing tool. Check out our full-color warranties and we think you’ll agree.
Want a home warranty company who’s willing to let you be rewarded for your own good claims experience?
RWC’s exclusive Incentive program has rewarded builders with over $20 million in incentive distributions!
Don’t be fooled by the “pretenders.”
Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve - the best value for your dollar, and that’s RWC!
So go ahead and look at the other guys. We’re patient. We’ll wait for you.
RWC…We’ve Got Warranties NAILED!
Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) and its affiliates, HOME of Texas and MHWC, continue to make strides in streamlining the application process for builders joining the group’s elite builder warranty programs. The latest step is to eliminate the inspection requirement* for homes being ‘grandfathered’ (homes that are either under construction prior to membership approval or completed, but not occupied) into the program. Previously, the home warranty companies required that up to 3 homes be inspected prior to membership approval at a cost to the builder of $150 per inspection. By eliminating this requirement, RWC, HOME & MHWC are able to save potential members up to $450 in inspection/application costs.
Joining RWC’s elite builder warranty program is the best way for today’s builders to deal with customer service and risk management issues. Offering a wide variety of unique home warranty options, RWC understands that just one warranty rarely meets everyone’s needs. RWC's “menu” of warranties and services creates comprehensive coverage and effective risk management for the greatest long-term stability.
RWC’s mission is to provide a level of security to builders and their customers and has devoted over three decades to that purpose across the country. Being able to provide a variety of services to members is the result of much hard work and due diligence along the way. RWC has established itself as a rock solid leader in providing home warranty protection. When a builder becomes a member, they benefit from 30+ years of leadership and experience that is unrivaled in the warranty industry.
*Homes over $1 million in sales volume may still need to be inspected. Prospective members may contact the home warranty company for further details.
Residential Warranty Company, LLC is one of the nation’s oldest and largest providers of written insured builder warranties. Builders seeking options in coverage, sensible home warranty protection, and assistance in dealing with customer service, choose RWC. In business for over 30 years, RWC has warranted over 3 million homes and its Insurer is rated “A- (Excellent)” by A.M. Best. An extensive “menu of choices” in both home warranties and general liability insurance is available, enabling builders to reduce their liability and increase the marketability of their homes.
Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) - an innovator in the warranty industry and the nation’s leading new home warranty provider - recently exhibited at the 65th Atlantic Builders Convention presented by the New Jersey Builders Association on March 26 – 27, 2014.
Jana Watts, Senior Account Executive for RWC, was in attendance to answer questions and provide information on all of the numerous warranty, insurance, marketing, and risk management services provided by one of the nation’s leading new home warranty companies.
Hosted by the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA), the Atlantic Builders Convention (ABC) is the largest regional builder trade show in the Northeast. With state of the art products, innovative services, and educational programs, ABC inspires attendees with countless ideas to aid in the success of their business. It is also an excellent forum for networking and deal-making amongst peers in the home warranty industry.
Jana enjoyed meeting existing clients at the conference, as well as making new contacts to promote the current RWC Membership Drive. For a very limited-time, all new applicants can take advantage of RWC’s special membership discount. From now until May 31, 2014, new members can join for free (a $295 value)!
Also, while at the show, Jana gave away a Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player to TJC Homes of Raritan, New Jersey. Congratulations, Tim Jones!
Missed the show? For more information on RWC’s new home warranties and membership benefits, visit rwclive.wpengine.com.
ABOUT RWC
Residential Warranty Company, LLC is an innovator in home warranties. Builders seeking options in coverage, sensible home warranty protection, and assistance in dealing with customer service, choose RWC. In business for over 30 years, RWC has warranted over 3 million homes and its insurer is rated “A- (Excellent)” by A.M. Best. An extensive “menu of choices” in both home warranties and general liability insurance is available, enabling builders to reduce their liability and increase the marketability of their homes.