Should you protect your new custom home with a warranty? It’s a great question. On one hand, building a new home may be the most important investment you ever make, so it makes sense to want a home warranty. On the other hand, you might think, “Shouldn’t the home be of such quality that it doesn’t need warranty protection?”
At Schumacher Homes, we think a home warranty shouldn’t be a question at all. That’s why we provide a 10-year third-party insured, transferrable structural warranty on every home we build at no cost to the homeowner along with Schumacher Homes’ 2-year limited mechanical warranty and a 1-year limited materials/workmanship warranty. It gives you peace of mind so you can settle into your home free of worry, and it gives us the chance to show we stand behind the quality of our work.
The 10-year limited structural warranty is insured by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (also known as 2-10 HBW). Broadly speaking, a 2-10 home warranty includes 10 years of coverage on structural defects.
First, like with all warranties, the biggest benefit of a home warranty is peace of mind. Though it’s highly unlikely anything will go wrong with your new build, you also want to relax and enjoy it as your home.
As 2-10 HBW points out, that means letting your family feel free to put normal wear and tear on your home’s appliances and mechanical systems. Consider that on average, an air conditioner (AC) unit runs six hours per day.
A warranty means that in the unlikely event one of those mechanical systems gets pushed too far too soon, you’ll have it back up and running with little disruption.
Second, if you should experience a breakdown in your new home, a warranty cushions you against financial stress at a time when you need it most. That significantly lowers your cost of home ownership in the event something happens.
Third, if your situation should change and you need to move, your extended 2-10 warranty transfers to the next owner. According to 2-10 HBW, homes with existing service agreements sell on average for 4% more and 23 days faster.
A warranty for a new custom home breaks down to three levels of coverage:
Here’s a deeper (but not exhaustive) look at each warranty.
Workmanship Warranty: This warranty covers the fit, finish, and materials the builder uses in your new home. This includes everything from the shingles on your roof to the tile in your bathroom. It even extends to your kitchen cabinets, interior trim, and fireplace if you have one.
Mechanical Systems: This warranty covers the mechanical systems that distribute energy throughout your home. Namely, your electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems.
Structural Warranty: This is arguably the most important coverage for a new build. Even the most well-built custom homes can experience structural issues that neither you nor the builder could reasonably foresee. The structural warranty covers items such as the footings, foundation, beams, roof framing system and other load-bearing elements. It’s a huge relief knowing if something happens in these areas, you’ll have warranty coverage to take care of it.
If you’re thinking of building a custom home and want to know more about how a warranty protects your investment, visit a Schumacher Homes design studio in any of the markets where we build. We’ll break down the details in a transparent, easy-to-understand way so you can confidently make the decision for you and your family.
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.
