(NC) When you submit a claim under your new home warranty, it kicks off a repair period during which your builder must resolve the deficiencies that are covered by the warranty.
This warranty is backstopped by Tarion Warranty Corporation, so you can feel secure.
As the homeowner, you play a very important role in the warranty process. Here are some key things to keep in mind as your builder completes warranty repairs:
Provide reasonable access. When repair work is required, be sure to give your builder and their tradespeople access to your home during normal business hours, at a time that you have mutually agreed upon in advance. If you fail to do so, you could jeopardize your warranty rights. If you think you have a valid reason for denying your builder access to your home or the opportunity to complete repairs, we strongly recommend that you contact Tarion for guidance.
Document the situation. Taking pictures of an item before and after repairs are completed is a good practice to follow. Documented evidence will come in handy if it turns out that you’re not satisfied with your builder’s repairs and you want to get a second opinion.
Know exactly what you’re signing. Many builders or their tradespeople ask homeowners to “sign off” on repairs. In some cases, what they try to do is have you confirm that you’re satisfied with the work they have done in order to prevent you from raising the issue again at a later time. While it is fair for your builder to ask you to sign an acknowledgement that work has been done, they cannot require you to sign a document indicating that you are satisfied or agree with a resolution if that is not the case.
Don’t make changes to repairs. There’s a popular saying that goes “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” While this may be true for some things in life, it should not apply to your warranty repairs. It is important that you do not attempt to further resolve an issue after it has been addressed by your builder. Homeowners who in any way alter their builder’s work run a serious risk of excluding the item from warranty coverage.
