On August 14, 1173 Bonanno Pisano, began construction on an 183’ high marble and stone bell tower in Pisa, Italy. It took nearly 200 years to complete, but trouble started long before. Within five years of breaking ground, the bell tower began to lean due to a shallow foundation set in unstable subsoil. The design was flawed from the beginning. A builder’s worst nightmare? Just the opposite. Today the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
For the rest of us less able to make lemonade from the occasional lemons we’re handed, we need help. Fortunately, for Pisa, the tower’s lean hasn’t caused it to fall over on all those cash-carrying tourists…yet. If that ever happens, the contractor responsible for maintaining the famous landmark better have general liability insurance. Otherwise, it could become the world’s most famous uninsured construction defect claim. Of course, the tower has been standing for over 600 years without falling, so what else is there to worry about? Each year in this country more than seven million injuries are attributed to “slip and fall” accidents. Imagine how many tourists may have slipped or fallen going up and down the steps of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Now imagine how many would-be buyers might slip or fall at one of your model homes or active job sites.
Nobody likes thinking about third party liability claims. Bonanno Pisano didn’t have to because he didn’t live to see his project completed. You’re probably planning on being around for a while and I’m guessing those plans don’t include losing everything you’ve worked for because someone was seriously injured at one of your job sites. If my guess is right, we’d like to help. Give RWC Insurance Advantage a chance to review your current general liability coverage. Call us at (866) 454-2155 and ask for Ron Sweigert or click here for a free no obligation quote.
All of the Builder warranty programs offered by Residential Warranty Company, LLC, HOME of Texas or MHWC feature mandatory binding arbitration of Unresolved Warranty Issues.* RWC and its Builder members have been very successful at persuading courts to recognize and enforce the warranty’s mandatory binding arbitration provision. Courts across the country have removed cases from the courthouse and directed them to arbitration under our Limited Warranty Programs.
A good example can be found in this case study. Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) had issued a warranty on a home, which was in Year 1 of coverage, and the homeowners filed a lawsuit against the Builder. The Builder was well equipped to defend himself with the home warranty book, the application for warranty and his own contract, which included language that made the RWC home warranty, including the warranty’s binding arbitration language, applicable to any alleged warranty defects in the home. Even though the homeowners argued that RWC’s warranty should not be enforced in that state, the court endorsed RWC’s warranty, and the motion brought by the Builder to compel arbitration and dismiss the homeowners’ lawsuit was granted in its entirety.
Consequently, the homeowners initiated a request for warranty performance with RWC. Prior to arbitration, the Builder’s home warranty provides for informal mediation. The parties agreed to use RWC’s mediation to try to settle the disputes about the alleged warranty defects. RWC became actively involved mediating between the homeowners and the Builder. Through this mediation, communication between the homeowners and the Builder improved and several items were amicably resolved. We were encouraged that most, if not all warranty items, would soon be resolved in the same way. At the conclusion of mediation, if any items remained unresolved, the homeowners and Builder would proceed to binding arbitration under the terms of the warranty.
This is a real case and a great example of how RWC’s mandatory binding arbitration provision is an effective tool in preventing litigation. It also supports the value of using RWC’s mediation process to resolve disputes about alleged warranty defects in the homes you build. To get more information on how to best utilize the mediation and arbitration provisions of your RWC, HOME or MHWC builder warranty, contact us at sales@rwcwarranty.com to schedule a Warranty Training Seminar.
*Note that the mandatory arbitration provision is removed by the HUD addendum, and thus mandatory arbitration does not apply to warranties placed on FHA/VA financed homes.
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.
Alfred “Freddy” Pesqueira has just completed his training at RWC’s corporate office in Harrisburg, PA. Freddy is now representing our home warranty company as an Account Executive for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. We want to welcome Freddy on board our team of new home warranty experts!
A Little About Freddy...
Freddy is a graduate of Georgia Southern and was both a 4-time All-American and All-Conference football selection. He signed with the Canadian Football League in 2003 before returning to Georgia. Freddy is married with two children, a son and a daughter, and coaches wrestling, baseball and softball in his free time.
He comes to RWC from State Farm Insurance where he was a top producer, selling insurance and financial products for the last 5 years. His experience in insurance, building client relationships and business development combined with RWC’s 30+ years in the home warranty business and over 3 million homes warranted, makes for a successful team.
Freddy will be reaching out to prospects and members in the near future to introduce himself and to learn more about your company. Please take the opportunity to meet and talk with him. At any time, please feel free to contact Freddy at 678-276-6013 or freddy.pesqueira@rwcwarranty.com.
Thank you for your continued patronage and loyalty to RWC, as we continue to lead the way in new home warranties. Your alliance is very important to us.
The RWC website is chock-full of home warranty resources and more! For easy reference, we’ve listed some of the more frequently asked questions and where you can uncover the answers.
I WONDER...IS THERE A WARRANTY FOR THAT?
RWC has more home warranty plans than you may realize. Hover over “Builders” to see, at a glance, all the home warranty programs and features available. To go to the list of warranty options available, select “Warranty Products.”
HOW DO I RECEIVE A GL INSURANCE QUOTE?
The RWC Insurance Advantage can meet many of your commercial insurance needs. Get a quote by clicking on the “RWC Insurance Advantage” link and selecting “Get Insurance Quote.”
HOW DO I ENROLL A HOME?
In the top right corner of any page on our site, see the link to “Warranty Express.” Sign in to Warranty Express with your registration number and password. Select “Warranty Express” to begin the enrollment process.
HOW DO I CHECK ON THE ENROLLMENT STATUS OF A HOME?
Once logged into “Warranty Express,” you will see options for items like “Order History” and “Report.” From there, you can order an enrollment report or check the status of a specific home.
FREE MARKETING MATERIALS!? HOW? WHERE?
From the main menu, once you are logged into “Warranty Express,” go to “Order Supplies” to request sample home warranty books and marketing pieces.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
RWC provides a list of “FAQs” for builders regarding builder warranties and more. See the link in the “Builders” supermenu. If you need additional information, all our contact information and helpful contact forms can be found in the “About Us” section.
WHERE’S MY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE?
From any page, hover over either “Builders” or “About Us” in the navigation bar and click “Find Your Account Executive.” Simply select your state.
MY CLIENTS HAVE QUESTIONS….HOW CAN I BEST ANSWER?
Hover over “Homeowners” in the navigation bar at the top of any page and find links to “FAQs” for homeowners, seasonal maintenance checklists, and additional resources that convince why a new home warranty from RWC is valuable to your buyers.
LOOKING FOR A FORM YOU NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION OR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL?
Check out our “Forms Library”.
As a real estate professional, why should you care about new home warranties? What’s in it for you?
Here’s 5 perks of having a solid RWC home warranty in place - perks that benefit both you, the builder, and the potential buyer:
- It Just Looks Good
As a Real Estate Agent, you know the market for new home construction sales is both competitive and complicated. Not only are builders competing against each other for sales, but also against the resale and foreclosure markets. A new home warranty is a distinguishing feature that makes a new home even more attractive to potential buyers. - Quality
Obviously, the home buyer must qualify under today’s rigid requirements, but the builder may also need to meet certain criteria. Whether a home is financed by a conventional, FHA or VA loan, be assured that a home built by an RWC member is constructed with quality. - Buyer Peace of Mind
Written, insured warranties provide recourse for repairs for your buyers. If the builder is unable or unwilling to correct warranted defects, the Warranty Insurer steps in. Without a warranty, in these uncertain times, a homeowner might be forced to “go it alone” in a time when the average major structural defect exceeds $30,000. - Protection
Real Estate agents benefit directly from the warranty in the event a defect does occur. The warranty ensures that either the builder or the home warranty company will rectify warranted defects. - Assurance
Warranty members have passed stringent screening criteria for professional building ethics, financial stability, and technical competence. As a result, agents are better assured that the home is built by a more qualified builder.
And the benefits of RWC’s home warranties for real estate pros don’t stop there! Discover additional reasons to secure home warranty coverage with RWC.
In addition to our variety of home warranty programs, RWC offers unique features to make membership as effective and efficient as possible - features including Warranty Express.*
Warranty Express allows Builders to enroll homes online. With the click of a button, Builders can submit their enrollments, print out closing documents, and even pay for their home warranty fees. Builders save both time and money spent on manual form preparation and postage. Marketing materials and enrollment reports may also be ordered online. Warranty Express also enables Builders to renew their membership online.
Warranty Express enables you to:
- Enroll multiple homes at once.
- Start the electronic enrollment process, save the work you did, and come back later to finish or edit before submitting to RWC.
- Enroll over a secure site to protect your privacy.
- Generate FHA confirmation letters.
- Generate state affidavits, if applicable.
With Warranty Express, you win!
- NO Initial Enrollment Process.
- NO Deposits.
- NO Surcharges if the warranty fee is paid online.**
- NO waiting for the mail for your forms and books.
- Receive immediate confirmation that your enrollment was received.
- Both the Application for Warranty and the Warranty Book are immediately available for you to print.
- Receive important announcements about new home warranty products, builder warranty revisions, and more by email.
For your convenience, we have a link to the Warranty Express login in the top right hand corner of every page on our home warranty company website. So no matter where you are, when you’re visiting our website, Warranty Express is just one short click away!
* Not yet available for certain enrollments: Colorado, MHWC, RSW, or Condominiums.
** Surcharge in IN and MD still applies for additional coverage required by state statute.
You’ve been looking for a home warranty company and all of your research has led you to RWC. Now, all that remains is sending in your home warranty application, getting approved, and enrolling that first home. What’s the easiest way to put the power of RWC’s written, insured new home warranty to work for your business?
Well, you have choices! Pick the one that is the most convenient for you.
Online:
Fill out our simple online application. Average time to complete is less than 10 minutes! Once you hit ‘submit,' you should get a message letting you know what documentation we may still need from you. We will need things like your registration fee, financial information, what homes you have in your inventory to enroll, etc. After your online application is received, someone from our Membership Department will review it and follow up with you directly.
Paper:
Many of us still like the old-fashioned pen and paper route and that’s no problem either. All the forms you need to get started are available in our Forms Library. Some are even editable online so you can type in your answers and then print the completed form when you are ready to send. The editable forms have an “E” in the number so you can tell at a glance.
Instructions:
Want to review all of the requirements a little more before getting started? Find a comprehensive list of what you’ll need to get going.
If you have questions about our home warranty plans or processes, we are here to help! With over 30 years providing quality, sensible new home warranties, RWC’s expertise is something you can count on. Find your Account Executive and get the company contact information here.
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.
Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) - an innovator in the warranty industry and the nation’s leading new home warranty provider - is proud to celebrate a long track record of high home warranty ratings!
For the twelfth consecutive year, Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, a Risk Retention Group (WPMIC) has earned an A.M. Best rating of “A- (Excellent).” WPMIC is the insurer for new home warranties provided by RWC and its affiliated company, MHWC, and for general liability insurance provided to home builders through the RWC Insurance Advantage (RIA) program.
The A.M. Best Company is the oldest, most experienced rating agency in the world and has been reporting on the financial condition of insurance companies since 1899. As a full-service credit rating organization, A.M. Best is dedicated to serving the financial services industries, focusing on the insurance sector. Best’s ratings represent the current and independent opinion of a company’s financial strength and ability to meet obligations to its policyholders and are only assigned after an extensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a company’s financial strength, operating performance, and market profile.
A.M. Best’s “Excellent” rating is ascribed to companies that, in their opinion, “have an excellent ability to meet ongoing obligations.” WPMIC’s "Excellent" rating, current as of March 1st, 2014, reflects its sound capitalization, historically favorable operating performance, positive cash flow, and conservative reserve levels. Additionally, the rating recognizes WPMIC’s history of maintaining sufficient capital to support its ongoing obligations and the effective management of its long-term exposure to loss.
ABOUT RWC
Residential Warranty Company, LLC is a leading provider of insured home warranties to the building industry. 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. 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. Become a member today!