Previously, we discussed the appeal of the flex room to give homebuyers versatility in their home space. Another similar trend has been gaining traction in the industry thanks to a growing shift that is emerging among today’s buyers: the desire for separation, privacy, and personal retreat. As a result, the away room is making a strong comeback, creating a valuable opportunity for homebuilders to address evolving consumer preferences.

The concept of an away room is simple yet powerful. Unlike a flex room that is designed to serve multiple purposes, an away room is intentionally created as a place of escape. It offers homeowners a dedicated space to relax, recharge, focus, or simply enjoy a moment of solitude away from the activity of the main living areas. In an increasingly connected and often hectic world, that sense of personal refuge has become more important than ever.

Several factors are driving the resurgence of away rooms. First, households are busier and more diverse in how they use their homes. Family members may be working remotely, attending virtual classes, gaming, streaming entertainment, or pursuing hobbies simultaneously. While open-concept layouts encourage interaction, they can also create noise, distractions, and a lack of privacy. Homeowners are recognizing the value of having a separate space where they can disconnect from household activity without leaving home entirely.

Mental wellness has also become a significant influence on residential design. Buyers increasingly view their homes as sanctuaries rather than simply places to live. An away room provides an environment that supports relaxation, mindfulness, reading, creative pursuits, or quiet reflection. Whether used for meditation, conversation, music, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee in peace, these spaces contribute to a home's overall livability and emotional appeal.

Successful away rooms are distinguished by their location and atmosphere. Builders should consider placing them away from primary traffic patterns and active gathering areas. Proximity to a private courtyard, covered porch, or scenic outdoor view can further enhance the room's retreat-like character. Design elements such as larger windows, comfortable proportions, sound insulation, and softer lighting can help establish a calm and welcoming environment.

It’s important to note, the away room is not limited to luxury homes. Buyers across a variety of price points appreciate spaces that provide privacy and separation. Even a modestly sized room can become a highly valued feature when thoughtfully designed. In many cases, homeowners perceive greater value from a dedicated retreat space than from simply expanding common living areas.

From a marketing perspective, the away room offers builders a compelling differentiator. While many homes may feature similar square footage and amenities, few provide intentional spaces designed specifically for personal well-being. Showcasing an away room allows prospective buyers to envision a lifestyle that balances connection with privacy—a combination that speaks strongly in today's market.

As home design continues to evolve, builders who recognize the growing demand for personal retreat spaces will be well positioned to meet the needs of modern buyers. The resurgence of the away room reflects a broader shift in how people want to live: connected when they choose to be, but with the ability to step away when they need to. By incorporating thoughtfully designed away rooms into future floorplans, homebuilders can deliver homes that feel more functional, more comfortable, and ultimately more desirable.

The passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act marks a major step toward addressing America's housing shortage while supporting the residential construction industry. By reducing regulatory barriers, encouraging innovative building methods, and promoting the development of new housing, the legislation is expected to help builders deliver more homes to meet growing demand.

For builders, this creates new opportunities—but also increased responsibility. As more homes are built and more families achieve homeownership, buyers will continue to expect quality construction backed by trusted protection. That's where Residential Warranty Company (RWC) plays an essential role.

Supporting Builders in a Changing Housing Market
The ROAD to Housing Act is designed to streamline housing development and expand access to affordable homes by cutting bureaucratic red tape, increasing private investment, and modernizing federal housing programs. As builders respond to these opportunities, maintaining customer confidence becomes increasingly important.

Key Components of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act

Streamlining Construction & Planning: The law cuts costly red tape by streamlining and expanding exemptions from lengthy federal environmental reviews. It also empowers local communities to speed up permitting by utilizing pre-approved “pattern book” designs (such as duplexes and townhouses) and establishes guidelines for point-access block (single-stair) multifamily buildings.

Expanding Financing & Investment: It encourages private construction lending by lifting the Public Welfare Investment cap for supervised banks, increasing community banking operations, and updating FHA multifamily and manufactured housing loan limits. It also makes community land trusts eligible for HOME Program funding and adds new construction as an eligible use under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Protecting Individual Homebuyers: To expand access for everyday families, the law curbs unfair competition by restricting large institutional investors from buying additional single-family homes if they already own a massive portfolio.

An RWC structural warranty helps builders demonstrate their commitment to quality while providing valuable protection for homeowners. Backed by decades of experience, RWC warranty programs help reduce builder risk, offer a clear process for addressing structural warranty claims, and provide homeowners with added peace of mind.

Building Consumer Confidence
Today's homebuyers are making one of the largest investments of their lives. In a market where affordability and value are top priorities, a structural warranty offers reassurance that their new home is protected against qualified structural defects.

For builders, offering an RWC warranty can help:

• Differentiate your business in a competitive marketplace.
• Reinforce your reputation for quality craftsmanship.
• Increase buyer confidence during the purchasing process.
• Provide third-party warranty protection that supports long-term customer satisfaction.

Preparing for Growth
As the housing industry continues to evolve, builders who combine efficient construction practices with strong consumer protections will be best positioned for long-term success. Legislative efforts like the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are expected to encourage additional residential development, making trusted partnerships more valuable than ever.

Residential Warranty Company remains committed to supporting builders with industry-leading structural warranty programs, risk management resources, and exceptional customer service. Together, we can help build stronger communities while giving homebuyers the confidence they deserve. Whether you’re building your first home of the year or your thousandth, RWC is proud to be your partner in protecting what matters most.

Today’s deck designs are larger, more customized, and built to serve multiple purposes. Popular trends include:

• Multi-level deck configurations that create dedicated spaces for dining, entertaining, and relaxation.
• Composite decking materials that offer durability and reduced maintenance requirements.
• Integrated lighting systems that improve safety and enhance ambiance.
• Built-in seating, privacy screens, and fire features that add functionality and visual appeal.

• Modern patios are evolving into outdoor living rooms that homeowners can enjoy throughout multiple seasons. Current trends include:
• Large-format pavers and decorative concrete finishes.
• Covered patios and pergolas that provide shade and weather protection.
• Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits that extend usability during cooler months.
• Thoughtfully designed landscaping that creates privacy and complements the home’s architecture.

• Built-in grills and cooking stations.
• Refrigeration and beverage centers.
• Durable stone countertops and weather-resistant cabinetry.
• Entertainment systems and bar seating areas.

If you’re like some of us at RWC, you may be a reader who enjoys a lifelong relationship with books. We can remember the ones that got us started on that path. One was that Dr. Suess Alphabet book that captured our imagination and made reading fun. Then there was a book about Babe Ruth that recounted his childhood in an orphanage, his mastery of hitting a baseball, and his larger-than-life off field adventures. That one was the subject of our first book report. It was quickly followed by a book about the great quarterbacks of the NFL, which revealed, in its Y. A. Tittle chapter, that a person could be both bald and an NFL quarterback at the same time, a revelation that amazed us at the time.

By finding books at the library or from a suggestion by a caring teacher or family member, we then discovered stories like Sheila Burnford’s The Incredible Journey. We can remember lying in bed trying to read by flashlight (when our parents wanted us to go to sleep) because we were deeply invested in the welfare of that cat and those two dogs we had come to know so well. And then Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird sealed the deal, as we learned important lessons, not from a textbook’s endless stream of facts and assignments, but from a work of fiction that touched our minds, hearts, and souls.

Since then, we’ve read hundreds of books that entertained, educated, or captivated us all the way to their thrilling, meaningful, or startling endings. Over time, we also began many other books that we simply couldn’t finish. There are a few reasons why we keep reading books to the end and remember some books all our lives and why we forget the many that we toss aside without finishing.

First, a good author keeps us turning the pages so that the end of each chapter leaves us thirsting for the story to continue. Another is the skill of the author in creating interesting characters who we care about and thought-provoking circumstances in which we can imagine ourselves—in other words a product of such good quality that we simply must have it. Then there is the hook that captures our imagination and makes us want to know whether that cat and those dogs make it home or whether Atticus Finch can get Tom Robinson the justice he deserves.

As builders, we can learn a lot from the books we’ve loved. For example, when a customer sees your billboard or online ad, does he want to turn the page and visit your office or model home, or does he throw that experience on the pile of ads that were easy to ignore or never really grabbed his attention in the first place? Once in your office or model home, what does he think about the quality of the product you want to sell him? Can he picture the happy ending that comes from living out the thousands of pages and hundreds of chapters of his life in the home you will build him, or does he lose interest because nothing you have to offer stands out from the crowd? When he drives into your development, does he think, “Wow, this must be a great place to live,” or does he turn around after a block or two to look for a place that gets his juices flowing?

And don’t forget that hook that draws a reader into a world he wants to experience or, in our case, captivates a potential home buyer. What is your hook? Is it quality of craftsmanship or value? Is it affordability or design? Is it small low maintenance lots or big yards where the kids can play? Or is it some combination of these qualities? If you find the right hook, you’ll be better able to reel those customers in and grow the kind of company you have always dreamed of having.

What’s your story? Is it a well-crafted one whose hook keeps bringing you customers? We hope it’s a page turner that tells your customers and prospective customers that time spent with you will be something they will always remember and give them an experience that positively changes their lives forever.

Speaking of books, there is no better book you can give your customers at contract time than a warranty from Residential Warranty Company. Over more than four decades, RWC has provided warranty protection on over four million homes. We offer a wide variety of warranty options like our standard ten-year warranty, our Day 1 coverage warranty, our extended appliance and systems warranties, and our specialty warranties for remodeling projects, detached garages, and commercial construction. Only RWC has developed and offers its members a customized state warranty that mirrors each state’s statute of repose and accommodates other state specific issues. All RWC warranties provide clear performance standards that help create realistic homeowner expectations and provide a road map to resolve even the stickiest customer complaints.

At RWC, every guarantee our warranties make is backed by Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, RRG. Western Pacific has an A- rating from A. M. Best and only insures home warranty and similar new home construction risks, like builders’ general liability, which can be offered through the RWC Insurance Advantage program to RWC members. No other warranty company has an insurer with this kind of strength solely dedicated to covering builders and their homes.

Each person or company is the author of their own destiny. Here’s hoping that yours is a bright and successful one and that, with RWC at your side, your homes are best sellers!

Have a great summer!

Here are a few key warranty highlights we find our builders appreciate*.

• Only warranted elements which are specifically designated in the warranty standards are covered by this Limited Warranty.
• Actions taken to cure Defects will NOT extend the periods of specified coverages in this Limited Warranty.
• When the homeowner’s request for warranty performance is determined to be a warranted issue, the Warrantor reserves the right to repair or replace the warranted item, or to pay them the reasonable cost of repair or replacement.
• The homeowner must provide the Warrantor and/or Administrator with reasonable weekday access during normal business hours to inspect the condition of your Home and/or to perform their obligations.
• Under this Limited Warranty, the Warrantor is not responsible for exact color, texture or finish matches in situations where materials are replaced or repaired, or for areas repainted or when original materials are discontinued.
• Cost incurred for unauthorized repairs to warranted items are not reimbursable. Written authorization prior to incurring expenses must be obtained from the Administrator.

Notable Exclusions from Coverage:

• Any Consequential Damages.
• Loss or damage to, or caused by, recreational facilities; driveways; walkways; patios, porches and stoops not structurally attached; decks and balconies which are not bolted to or cantilevered from the main structure of the Home; boundary and/or retaining walls; bulkheads; fences; landscaping, sodding, seeding, shrubs, trees and plantings; subsurface drainage systems (other than footer drains); lawn sprinkler systems; off-site improvements, including streets, sidewalks, adjacent property and the like; or any other improvements not part of the Home itself.
• Any Defect consisting of, caused by, contributed to, or aggravated by moisture, wet or dry, rot, mold, mildew, fungus or rust, regardless of the originating cause of any moisture or water penetration that leads to the Defect.
• Loss of damage to the Home, persons or property directly or indirectly caused by insects, birds, vermin, rodents, or wild or domestic animals.

Should you have any questions regarding coverage please reach out to our Warranty Resolution Department at 800-247-1812.

*Some items not applicable in New Jersey (#317 warranty booklet).

By Sandra Sweigert, RWC

Add a polished touch to your office or model home with our high quality, sturdy brochure holder. Ready to use right out of the box.
No assembly required and no cost to you!

Naturally, you'll also need pamphlets to fill it. We offer several choices of literature which explains to the buyer how the warranty works and its benefits. Click here to browse our brochures, flyers, signage and other marketing items.

JUNE 4, 2026

Meeting held at:
Residential Warranty Co, LLC
5300 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Here’s a true story. The name of the builder has been omitted to preserve privacy.

Years ago we sold a Builders Risk insurance policy to a builder in New Jersey. The project was near the coast. Flood insurance could have been added to the policy, but the premium was a bit stiff given the proximity of the Atlantic and the fact it was still hurricane season. This builder’s project was just getting underway. A foundation had been laid, but not much else was done. It was fairly late in the hurricane season. Now, we all have to make business decisions that often entail risk. Our builder made his decision, which may have been to save the cost of adding flood insurance to the Builders Risk policy. Whatever the reason, it was only a short time later that Superstorm Sandy devasted the East Coast. At the time, it was the second costliest hurricane on record. Our builder had approximately $60,000 worth of materials at the jobsite when the storm hit. It was a total loss. None of it was covered.

There are three ways to deal with risk. One is called avoidance. Don’t build close to the Atlantic Ocean during hurricane season. That’s a simple sounding approach, but hardly practical. The second is assumption of risk. This is the method our builder chose. You may not think this was a conscious decision, but deciding not to insure a risk doesn’t make the risk go away. Of course, the third method is risk transference. We purchase insurance and in exchange for the premium we pay, we transfer the risk to our insurance company.

I hope I’m not insulting anyone’s intelligence with these very simple ideas, but the fact is the risks of flood are seriously underestimated by many. Here are some sobering statistics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

• Floods are the #1 natural disaster in the US.
• Each year in the US, floods causes billions in losses.
• Just one inch of water can cause severe damage to property.
• Most property insurance, including Builders Risk, does not automatically cover flood losses.
• 30% of all flood insurance claims are made in low to moderate risk areas.
• New construction can increase flood risk, especially if it changes natural runoff paths.
• Only about 5 million Americans have flood insurance. Millions more are either unaware of the their risk or don’t know the options available to them.

Now that you know more about the risk of flood, what about taking a good look at your risk? FEMA has a helpful website: www.floodsmart.gov. Here you can find out if your project is at risk. Then, give us a call at 866-454-2155 x2124 and ask for Allison Jefferies. If you already have Builders Risk with us, she can determine if flood insurance is available. Not insured with us, or looking for Builders Risk? We can help. Visit our website to learn more and to get a quote.

www.rwcinsuranceadvantage.com/products/builders-risk/

The RWC Insurance Advantage (RIA) program is offered exclusively to our builder members. Because of that, we are able to avoid the high risks associated with other
commercial operations. Thus, we keep the cost of claims low and pass the savings on to you.

866-454-2156 or info@rwcinsuranceadvantage.com.

By Doug Davis, EAIC / RWC Insurance Advantage

WHY DOES REMODELING MONTH MATTER?

POSITION YOUR BUSINESS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

• “What does a kitchen remodel actually cost in 2026?”
• “How long will my home be disrupted?”
• “Which upgrades give the best ROI?”

• Project timelines
• Unexpected challenges and how you solved them
• Client testimonials that speak to communication and reliability

• Promote limited booking windows
• Offer free consultations or design audits
• Highlight projects that can be completed before fall

• Energy-efficient windows and insulation
• Sustainable materials
• Electrification upgrades (heat pumps, induction cooking)

• Hybrid office/guest rooms
• Finished basements with flexible layouts
• Garage conversions and ADUs

• Curbless showers
• Wider doorways
• First-floor living conversions

MARKETING MOVES THAT ACTUALLY WORK

OPERATIONAL CHECK-IN

• Are your project timelines realistic?
• Is your pricing keeping up with material and labor costs?
• Is your team prepared for increased demand?

At Residential Warranty Company LLC (RWC) and HOME of Texas, protecting homes has always been at the heart of what we do. But building stronger communities goes far beyond service contracts and coverage plans—it’s about showing up, giving back, and investing in the people and neighborhoods we serve. That’s why we are proud to collaborate with HomeAid Houston through one of its most exciting and impactful events of the year: the HomeAid Houston Golf Tournament, to be held this year on April 16 at the Wildcat Golf Club. This partnership represents more than just a sponsorship—it’s a shared commitment to strengthening Texas communities.

A MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION
The HomeAid Houston Golf Tournament brings together industry professionals, local businesses, and community leaders for a day of connection, competition, and purpose. For RWC and HOME, participating in this event is a natural extension of our mission. As a company dedicated to helping homeowners feel secure and supported, aligning with an organization that works tirelessly to uplift communities is both meaningful and inspiring.

Through strategic advertising and event collaboration, we are able to not only increase awareness of our services but also shine a spotlight on the incredible work HomeAid Houston is doing across Texas.

THE GOOD HOMEAID HOUSTON BRINGS TO TEXAS
HomeAid Houston has built a powerful reputation for its commitment to helping vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, and families in need of housing support. By partnering with builders, developers, and community organizations, HomeAid Houston creates opportunities for safe shelter, education, and long-term stability.

Their work doesn’t stop at housing. HomeAid Houston actively invests in programs that promote self-sufficiency, dignity, and hope—helping individuals rebuild their lives and communities grow stronger together. Every initiative is rooted in compassion and driven by the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home.

MORE THAN A GAME OF GOLF
The annual golf tournament is more than just a day on the green—it’s a catalyst for change. Funds raised during the event directly support HomeAid Houston’s outreach programs, making a tangible difference in the lives of countless Texans.

For RWC and HOME, being part of this event means contributing to something bigger. It’s an opportunity to connect with like-minded partners, engage with the community, and reinforce our commitment to service—not just to homeowners, but to humanity.

LOOKING AHEAD
As we continue to grow, Residential Warranty Company LLC remains dedicated to making a positive impact beyond our core business. Our collaboration with HomeAid Houston is just one example of how we strive to combine business success with social responsibility.

Together, we are building more than homes—we are building hope, opportunity, and stronger communities.