| |
Why is it that home builders have to take care of demands and requests that many other manufacturers do not? Generally, most builders try to control the warranty process themsleves after selling, building and delivering the home. Other manufacturers realized long ago that this process is not the best route to take.
When you look at a typical consumer's warranty expectations, it goes something like this:
1. Consumer buys a product, maybe a computer monitor or coffe maker.
2. They find a warranty card in the packaging, fill it out and send it to some third party, not the store it came from or the actual manufacturer.
Now, when that consumer buys something of higher value/cost the warranty is more like a book than a postcard and the book generally is thrown in a file cabinet or bottom kitchen drawer.
As we go into higher and higher priced items, it changes. Take for example automobile manufacturers. They realize the importance and value of 3rd party companies. Consumers accept that an insurance company must be in palce prior to delivery of the car. Although, insurnace can't be purchased from the manufacturer or the dealer, just a 3rd party.
Also, could you imagine if a consumer went to a body shop to have a ligitimate, covered repair done and requested to have countless other touch ups to be done as well. It happens all the time with builders. The builder goes back to correct a drywall crack and ends up spending hours and a bucket of paint on non-warrantable items.
Since a home is so expensive, generally the biggest investment of ones life, demands are high and expectations are higher. This is why a 3rd party presence is so crucial to builders.
Homeowners are increasingly hiring private home inspectors and attorneys during their buying process. There is no better time to have an unbiased, third party mitigator between the builder and homeowner. There is no need for builders to take unnecessary risk by attempting to perform warranty service in-house.
We pay $500 for successful referrals: Referral Rewards
Cascade Builder Services is a third party, new construction, warranty management company. We administer the builder's one-year limited warranty after closing, conduct new home orientations and provide quality assurance inspections for home builders and developers (more details here). With over 10 years experience in the industry, we ensure exceptional customer service using innovative procedures and technology. Our commitment, dedication and knowledge provide unrivaled value to everyone involved: Builders, Developers, Homeowners and Trade Contractors.
Why hire us? Customer Satisfaction Matters.
Third party Customer service and warranty management for home builders.
We've extended or Homebuyer Homepage! What's a Homebuyer Homepage you ask? Well, I'm happy to  explain.
We offer warranty management services for home builders throughout Washington. One feature of our service is called the Homebuyer Homepage. This is a personal, secure web page for home buyers to submit and track warranty requests after closing.
We're excited to introduce extended functionality of the Homebuyer Homepage. Rather than just being an efficient tool used post-closing, we've added very useful features for everyone involved in the pre-closing process. Here's a list of the features:
1. Construction schedule- including dates for phases (foundation, framing, drywall, etc.) and projected settlement.
2. Purchase and sale agreement information- including base price, premium, options, down payment, addenda, etc.
3. Checklists- A list of important items and dates for the buyer to be aware of (attend selections meeting, attend closing meeting, attend walk through, etc.)
4. Uploaded documents- A page for uploading/downloading buyer specific documents for the buyer/agent/mortgage company/construction to access (signed purchase and sale agreement, addenda, signed change order documents, etc.)
5. And, of course, the warranty service features that are already there and being used.
Having many different people and companies involved with the buying process along with stacks of paperwork can cause miscommunications and confusion. This "central hub" for all the relevant information for the transaction effectively and efficiently eliminates many communication errors and confusion.
The best part? This feature is available as a standalone product. You don't have to be a builder using our warranty management services to utilize this product. Simply submit all relevant information to us and we'll create a personal Homebuyer Homepage for your new construction buyer! Hint: It's cheaper than you think! :)
Recent blog posts:
Perfect Construction?
This is amazing!
The famous 2am leaking toilet
Builders need a third party presence
Kidde recall dual sensor smoke alarms; can fail to warn of fire
Paper, paper and more paper!
Should a builder warranty be required by law?
"That builder is terrible!"
Going green means spending green
Use and maintenance guidelines for homeowners
Seattle Tacoma New Construction Third Party Warranty Management Administration for Home Builders
Is there such a thing? To a reasonable, well informed person there are no "perfectly constructed" homes. To the unreasonable, misinformed person, the term causes a big headache in our industry.
Let's elaborate on the term "reasonable". Is it reasonable in a newly constructed home to expect there to be no drywall cracks throughout the walls? Yes. To expect that the doors don't hit the frame when closing? Indeed. To expect that the wood flooring isn't missing boards? Absolutely.
Now, is it unreasonable to expect the garage floor slab to not have any hairline cracks? Yes. To expect that there won't be a 1/16 inch gap between the baseboard and drywall? Indeed. To expect that there won't be any wood putty filling the nail holes in the trim? Absolutely.
Of course, there are many, many different styles of homes with different materials used by different trade contractors. However, the expectation of workmanship should stay consistent across the field.
New home construction is one of the last, truly man made products. For this reason, we should, and I must say most people do, expect that there is a certain margin of error in construction or what we consider "tolerances".
What I ask of agents is to study up on these tolerances so that you can set a proper expectation for your clients when purchasing a newly constructed home. Would I expect you to read it front to back and memorize every acceptable tolerance? Of course not. However, speaking from experience, there are still people out there expecting perfection in construction and a preliminary discussion prior to the "walk through" can help to produce a more seamless transaction for all parties involved.
A great resource for this information is the "Residential Construction Performance Guidelines" written by the NAHB Remodelors Councel and Business Management.
Recent blog posts:
This is amazing!
The famous 2am leaking toilet
Builders need a third party presence
Kidde recall dual sensor smoke alarms; can fail to warn of fire
Paper, paper and more paper!
Should a builder warranty be required by law?
"That builder is terrible!"
Going green means spending green
Use and maintenance guidelines for homeowners
Seattle Tacoma New Construction Third Party Warranty Management Administration for Home Builders
We've all heard about it. You should purchase a warranty or buy new construction because when "the toilet leaks at 2am on Sunday morning, you'll be covered".
Well, it most definitely happens. Actually, the story goes more like "I got up to get a midnight snack and thought I was still dreaming when it was raining in my kitchen, my hardwood was saturated and when I finally found my builder's number, they didn't answer!"
Emergency warranty situations are not common, however, when they do occur prompt attention is required.
Builders have enough to worry about. They don't need the added stress of wondering how many of their, possibly hundreds, of closed homes are going to spring a leak or lose heat in the dead of winter.
Furthermore, homeowners deserve the peace of mind that if such a situation were to occur, they have a number that they can call 24/7/365 for immediate assistance.
Cascade Builder Services supplies this peace of mind.
Recent blog posts:
Builders need a third party presence
Kidde recall dual sensor smoke alarms; can fail to warn of fire
Paper, paper and more paper!
Should a builder warranty be required by law?
"That builder is terrible!"
Going green means spending green
Use and maintenance guidelines for homeowners
Seattle Tacoma New Construction Third Party Warranty Management Administration for Home Builders
Why is it that home builders have to take care of demands and requests that many other manufacturers do not? Generally, most builders try to control the warranty process themsleves after selling, building and delivering the home. Other manufacturers realized long ago that this process is not the best route to take.
When you look at a typical consumer's warranty expectations, it goes something like this:
1. Consumer buys a product, maybe a computer monitor or coffe maker.
2. They find a warranty card in the packaging, fill it out and send it to some third party, not the store it came from or the actual manufacturer.
Now, when that consumer buys something of higher value/cost the warranty is more like a book than a postcard and the book generally is thrown in a file cabinet or bottom kitchen drawer.
As we go into higher and higher priced items, it changes. Take for example automobile manufacturers. They realize the importance and value of 3rd party companies. Consumers accept that an insurance company must be in palce prior to delivery of the car. Although, insurnace can't be purchased from the manufacturer or the dealer, just a 3rd party.
Also, could you imagine if a consumer went to a body shop to have a ligitimate, covered repair done and requested to have countless other touch ups to be done as well. It happens all the time with builders. The builder goes back to correct a drywall crack and ends up spending hours and a bucket of paint on non-warrantable items.
Since a home is so expensive, generally the biggest investment of ones life, demands are high and expectations are higher. This is why a 3rd party presence is so crucial to builders.
Homeowners are increasingly hiring private home inspectors and attorneys during their buying process. There is no better time to have an unbiased, third party mitigator between the builder and homeowner. There is no need for builders to take unnecessary risk by attempting to perform warranty service in-house.
Seattle Tacoma New Construction Third Party Warranty Management Administration for Home Builders
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms
Units: About 94,000
Manufacturer: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.
Hazard: An electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reported incidents of smoke alarm malfunctions involving electrostatic discharge during installation. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms model PI2000. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, “HUSH” and “PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY,” which are located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug.01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall.
Sold at: Retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009 for between $30 and $40.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should contact Kidde immediately to receive a free replacement smoke alarm.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kidde toll-free at (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidde.com
Seattle Tacoma New Construction Third Party Warranty Management Administration for Home Builders.
|
|
New Construction Warranty Management - Kevin Pierce
Tacoma,
WA
More about me…
Cascade Builder Services
Office Phone: (888) 429-5468
Email Me
 Listings
Links
Archives
|
projects sitting in their laps from builders that went under. Many insurance companies require new construction homes to be covered by a warranty for them to provide coverage. Last I checked, banks aren't in the warranty management industry and I can only imagine the debacle the new homeowners would face trying to get a simple plumbing leak fixed when the bank is the warrantor.
I'm sure a good 90% or more of us here at AR have lost files on their computer due to a hard drive crash or by accident. I recently found a really cool program/online account that will eliminate the fear of losing files again.
;)
;)
;)
