By Bob de Wit
Buying a home is one of the most significant investments people will make in their lives! That is why home warranty insurance is an integral part of buying your home, whether it is brand new, a resale home that still has home warranty coverage, or part of a strata plan. Home warranty insurance gives you financial security against risks you cannot control. Here are a few things buyers should keep in mind when looking to build or purchase a new home:
Know Your Warranty Provider.
Make sure you know who your warranty provider is. Find out by asking your builder, look for a sticker on the electrical box, or visit BC Housing’s online New Homes Registry. The warranty provider issues a home warranty insurance policy when the home is completed or occupied.
Understand Your Coverage.
The provincial government set in place a 2-5-10 New Home Warranty Program. This insurance protects homeowners from a range of construction defects for designated periods of time: two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope, including water penetration, and 10 years on the structure.
If your new home is included in a strata plan, the home warranty insurance will provide coverage for your unit, plus separate coverage for the common property. For this reason, it is crucial for unit owners to take the time to gain an understanding of the difference between the common property and what is unique to the individual unit being purchased.
Read the Fine Print.
Always review the fine print of your policy! A few exclusions your policy may include are design, materials; labour supplied by the owner or by someone other than the builder or their workers or sub-trades; landscaping; issues arising from the use of the home for non-residential purposes; or failure of the homeowner to prevent or minimize damage.
Talk to Your Builder.
Some builders may offer additional warranties. Even though the government does not regulate these warranties, they must be enforced like any other contract, so be sure to get any builder warranties in writing! These warranties may be in the name of the builder, so find out if you need to have copies of the manufacturer warranties transferred to you.
Once your new home is complete, your builder or warranty provider should give you a home maintenance manual advising how mechanical systems work, where to find controls and a maintenance schedule to help protect and maintain the home. Don’t forget; your warranty insurance coverage is conditional on the proper maintenance of your home being carried out according to this manual and the minimization of further damages.
Be sure to visit the HAVAN consumer blogs to review BC Housing’s guide and checklist to understanding and protecting your home warranty coverage. You can also attend the HAVAN Homebuyer Form on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 where you will gain access to market knowledge from industry experts, not readily found on the internet! To register visit: https://havan.ca/event/homebuyer-forum/.
MORE RESOURCES
We have lots of extra help for owners and prospective homebuyers looking for more detailed information on home warranty insurance in B.C.
BC Housing’s Guide to Home Warranty Insurance in British Columbia describes how the home warranty insurance system works, what it covers, how to get the most out of it and what to do if you find a possible defect.
The Home Warranty Insurance in British Columbia: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Investment handbook has tips to help new home buyers and owners of new homes understand the basics of home warranty insurance as well as their rights and responsibilities.
And their Residential Construction Performance Guide can help you identify if a possible defect in design, labour or materials in your new home is covered by home warranty insurance.
Visit https://www.bchousing.org/licensing-consumer-services/new-homes/home-warranty-insurance-new-homes for details!
