All potential homebuyers are looking for one thing in a homebuilding company: confidence. Anyone who wants a new home built requires confidence in your abilities as a builder, confidence in the quality of your homes, and the confidence that they’re not going to be left out of pocket, especially if a problem occurs.

As a builder, we’re certain you can provide the expert craftsmanship and high-quality materials required to build a great home, but did you know there’s one simple thing you can do to increase your customer’s confidence?

Why Provide a Homebuilder Warranty?

Despite your abilities and sticking to best practice, problems in new homes can occur. Usually, it’s down to factors beyond your control. Still, should a new homeowner experience a major defect or structural issue, you can be fairly sure the blame will fall on your shoulders.

Protecting yourself and the new homeowner with homebuilder warranties is a way to ensure that you are not left out of pocket should the worst happen.

Protection for the Homeowner

Homebuilder warranties provide extra confidence to your buyers because they prove that the homeowner won’t have to foot the bill for covered major defects or structural problems that happen after they have bought the house. 

For this reason, homebuilders that provide warranties are seen as more trustworthy and reputable since they’re taking the extra steps and care to ensure their customers are protected.

Protection for You

Homebuilder warranties also provide a mandatory mediation and arbitration clause, which is the protection you need to continue building homes without the fear of going through a lengthy court case.

The bottom line is that you can spend a bit more and provide homebuilder warranties for your new homes, or you can continue with the knowledge that should something go wrong, it’ll either end up with you in court or vastly out of pocket.

It’s Win-Win

There’s really no downside to providing a homebuilder warranty. Homebuilders that do offer these enjoy an increase in that vital customer confidence and trust. It also means that your homes get sold more quickly and for potentially more money. This helps your business grow and enables you to focus on building more homes.

For over 20 years, StrucSure has provided third-party, insurance-backed warranties to builders and other construction-related contractors across the United States. With re-insurance backing from Lloyd’s of London – the largest, most reputable, and longest-running A-rated carriers in the world – our products are among the financially strongest in the industry.

If you would like to understand more about StrucSure Home Warranty and the warranties we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

If you want to enjoy more homebuyer confidence, sell more homes, and continue to build with more peace of mind, then start providing homebuilder warranties today on every home you build. Request a free rate quote today.

Cindy Huber, Vice President of Sales, Eastern Division

StrucSure Home Warranty, one of the nation’s leading new home warranty providers and a member of the StrucSure Risk Management Group, recently announced the return of Cindy Huber as Vice President of Sales for their Eastern Division.

“Huber’s knowledge and expertise in the new-home building industry complement Cindy’s strong background in sales, marketing, and risk management customer care programs. This makes Cindy the perfect fit to grow StrucSure’s Eastern Division,” said Jerry Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of StrucSure Home Warranty.  “Cindy led the Eastern Division launch in 2009, creating a strong brand awareness and breaking division sales records during difficult times in the housing industry by identifying and creating specialty warranty programs for special interest groups and fitting particular needs that had not been identified before in our industry. We consider Cindy to be a valuable asset to the StrucSure Home Warranty family and to our customers,” said Thompson.

“The new products and services being offered by SHW give me the opportunity to better serve homebuilder clients with competitive customizable home warranty programs to better fit their business model and round out their customer care programs,“ said Huber.  “I’m passionate about being accessible and available to consult with homebuilders and their teams at any time, and provide marketing and training assistance when needed.”

Cindy’s career in the homebuilding industry spans many years and includes such achievements as being a Life Spike Member of NAHB, Associate of the Year with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Past GAHBA Executive Board Member, Chairman of the Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council, founding member of the Professional Women in Building — Atlanta Chapter, and Million Dollar Producer for StrucSure Home Warranty.  She also spearheaded several specialty program for SHW including the work with FEMA and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program on their Home Elevation Warranty Program and Century Insurance on their Sinkhole Remediation Program. Known and respected in the industry as a “go-to” professional, Cindy’s impact is sure to be a vital asset to StrucSure Home Warranty’s growth in the region.

StrucSure Home Warranty’s Texas Sales Team, D’Ann Brown, Scott Whisenant, and Tiffany Acree.

DENVER, CO – StrucSure Home Warranty, one of the nation’s leading home warranty and risk management providers, is proud to announce Tiffany Acree, D’Ann Brown, and Scott Whisenant have earned the distinctive honor of being inducted into the Million Dollar Sales Club in 2019.

Acree, Brown, and Whisenant serve the state of Texas. Acree focuses on North, East, and West Texas, Brown on South Texas, and Whisenant on Central & Southwest Texas. 2019 marks Brown’s seventh year in a row achieving million-dollar status, and Acree has now achieved million-dollar status nine years in a row (Acree was the first sales representative to receive the Million Dollar Producer Award with StrucSure in 2011). 2019 is Whisenant’s third year in a row achieving million-dollar status.

“We’re thrilled about this achievement as it is indicative of Tiffany’s, D’Ann’s, and Scott’s commitment to sales, service, and excellence.  It also a reflection of the trust and confidence our homebuilders continue to place in our organization and risk management products and services,” said Richard Poling, President of StrucSure Home Warranty.

Acree, Brown, and Whisenant are very active in their local homebuilder associations, are members of the Texas Association of Builders, and have received multiple awards related to their industry involvement.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the consummate professionalism of our Texas sales team. Each has worked extremely hard to reach StrucSure’s Million Dollar Sales status,” commented company CEO Jerry Thompson. “Our positive reputation among Texas builders and our increase in market share across the state is a real testament to the value and service Tiffany, D’Ann, and Scott provide builders and the Texas industry as a whole,” said Thompson.

About StrucSure Home Warranty

StrucSure Home Warranty is a member of StrucSure Risk Management Group which is comprised of StrucSure Home Warranty, LLC, StrucSure Insurance Services, Inc., Golden Insurance Company, RRG, and Four Points Re, SPC, Ltd. Since 1997, StrucSure Home Warranty has been providing builders, remodelers and contractors with warranty products that deliver peace of mind. Our warranties protect our clients from expensive claims, liabilities and legal fees and offer their clients peace of mind through third-party, warranty protection that is A-rated with additional re-insurance from Lloyd’s of London.

Pictured: Debbie Page of 1st Infiniti Enterprises, Inc/1st Texas Fire Protection, D’Ann Brown, StrucSure Home Warranty Vice President of Sales, South Texas, and John Williams GHBA 2019 President, of K. Hovnanian Homes

StrucSure Home Warranty, one of the nation’s leading new-home warranty providers, is proud to congratulate D’Ann Brown on receiving two awards recognizing her outstanding service to the Texas building industry in the past year.

The 2019 “Spike of the Year” Award was presented at the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) annual Installation Celebration on January 18, 2020 in Houston, Texas, and the 2019 “Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service” from the Bay Area Builders Association was presented to Brown at BABA’s Annual Luncheon and Officer Installation on February 4, 2020.

The GHBA Spike of the Year Award is awarded each year to the member who recruited the most new members during the previous year. “Our members are the lifeblood of the GHBA, and peer-to-peer recruiting is key to strengthening the home building industry. GHBA’s ‘Spikes’ are the membership leaders, building the voice, power and influence of our industry on every level. D’Ann is currently serving as our Membership Committee Chair and leads by example. We truly appreciate all that she does for the GHBA.” noted Cynthia Fagan, GHBA Membership Director.

The 2019 “Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service” was presented to Brown from the Bay Area Builders Association in recognition for her commitment of time, energy, and efforts to the growth and prosperity of the building community within the coastal region south of Houston.

Brown joined StrucSure Home Warranty in 2001 and since then she has been highly involved in local homebuilder associations in south Texas. She was a Million Dollar Producer from 2013–2019 and was the GHBA Associate of the Year in 2014. As a risk management expert in the construction industry, she provides products and services to builders looking to reduce their liabilities and manage their risk.

“D’Ann is highly-respected in the Texas building community and these two awards are well-deserved accolades of her dedication to the industry and the respect she’s earned as the result of her involvement over the past 18 years,” commented Richard Poling, President of StrucSure Home Warranty.

About StrucSure Home Warranty
Since 1997, StrucSure Home Warranty has provided builders, remodelers, and contractors with warranty products that deliver peace of mind. Our warranties protect our clients from expensive claims, liabilities, and legal fees and offer their clients peace-of-mind through third-party warranty protection that is A-rated with additional reinsurance from Lloyd’s of London. Just like any risk management product, the hope is that you’ll never need it, but when a problem emerges, you’re glad you’re covered!

About StrucSure Risk Management Group
StrucSure Risk Management Group provides risk management products and services to businesses in various construction-related industries. Our family of companies includes StrucSure Home Warranty, LLC, SHW Insurance Services, Inc., Golden Insurance Company, RRG, and Four Points Re, SPC, Ltd. Together, these companies offer sophisticated financial and risk management services, including warranty programs, competitive insurance programs, insurance backing, and reinsurance and alternative financing vehicles.

StrucSure Home Warranty was proud to be a Presenting Sponsor for the tenth consecutive year, and one of more than 200 exhibitors who welcomed over 2,300 Texas builders, remodelers, and developers to Grapevine for this year’s Sunbelt Builders Show.

Sunbelt has continued to cultivate lasting relationships for many over the years, and we are honored to be a part of the Texas homebuilding community and this important industry event.

If we didn’t see you at this year’s show, we look forward to seeing you in 2020 for the show’s 20th year celebration! 

Rob Van Winkle performs his chart-topping 90s anthem, Ice Ice Baby, to the delight of show attendees.

From the opening session led by Rob Van Winkle — 90s chart-topping rapper and star of DIY Network’s The Vanilla Ice Project — to the closing of the energized trade show floor, the 2019 Sunbelt Builders Show was busy, productive and engaging. 

One of the many highlights of the show was the in-booth education event presented by Don Shelton of Bush Rudnicki Shelton. Don Shelton of Bush Rudnicki Shelton was on-hand to discuss the new TAB contract package and the Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA) .

We enjoyed seeing and visiting with many of our homebuilder clients. Thanks to all who stopped by our booth to chat!

We are so proud to be the risk management partner of the nation’s best builders in Texas and across America! StrucSure Home Warranty helps builders sell more home, manage their risk, and avoid the courthouse. If you aren’t currently a member but are looking at risk management solutions for your business, we appreciate your consideration of StrucSure Home Warranty as your strategic partner in asset protection and liability reduction. Just like any risk management product, the hope is that you’ll never need it, but when a problem emerges, you’ll be glad you’re covered by one of the industry’s leading warranty providers.

Tiffany Acree, Senior Vice President of Sales and StrucSure Home Warranty CEO, Jerry Thompson, with Yeti winners Kelly Hoodwin of Altura Homes and Robert Wood of Custom Homes by Robert Wood.

Congratulations to the winners of our Yeti Cooler and Tumbler giveaways!

Congratulations to Kelly Hoodwin of Altura Homes, Robert Wood of Custom Homes by Robert Wood, and Eric Vogel of Vogel Homes, who went home with a Yeti cooler or tumbler.

StrucSure Home Warranty was proud to be a presenting sponsor of The Builders’ Bash. The concert featuring The Bellamy Brothers benefitted the Texas Builders Foundation, a non-profit that provides resources to students, the residential construction industry, and the citizens of the State of Texas. The Bellamy Brothers with StrucSure Home Warranty’s D’Ann Brown, Tiffany Acree, CEO, Jerry Thompson and Scott Whisenant.

We thank all of our builders who make the American dream a reality and support the homebuilding industry!

StrucSure would like to commend all 2019 Star Awards winners! The 2019 Star Awards were presented on August 8th in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show. This highly-coveted award is presented annually to recognize builders, remodelers, architects, designers, sales and marketing professionals, and industry leaders in Texas in more than 100 categories.

StrucSure Home Warranty’s D’Ann Brown, Vice President of Sales, South Texas, was honored to present a Custom Builder Grand Award to Stephen Hann, President and founder of Hann Builders.

Our congratulations to StrucSure Home Warranty builder member, Stephen Hann of Hann Builders, Houston, recipient of a Custom Builder Grand Award, as well as all of our builder member winners for their achievements and contributions to the homebuilding industry! 

Scott Whisenant, StrucSure’s VP of Sales for Central and Southwest Texas, thought up this brilliant messaging one day after meeting with a builder prospect.

During that meeting, Scott was discussing our value proposition and why StrucSure should be considered for the prospect’s warranty needs. While gathering his thoughts, he started drilling down about what makes us different than the competition… how we are unique and why builders chose us to be their risk management partner.

In addition, he was developing a list of current StrucSure clients in his mind to back our experience and reputation, and during that process he realized that many of the builders who made the list were elite builders in the industry who had won multiple awards at the different industry events he had been attending. It was a great realization to recognize that we truly were working with the best builders in the industry!

So, Scott made a mental note of that observation.

In addition, Scott wanted to expand on his realizations by further explaining that StrucSure’s screening process only allows us to accept reputable builders into our program and that those builders really did have their buyer’s best interests at heart (just like we do).

Scott also explained that through his industry experience, he learned it wasn’t necessarily that the buyers were primarily concerned about the possibility of a structural failure or construction defect in their home, they were more concerned with the possibility of a builder going out of business after the sale. This fear originated from the painful downturn a decade earlier, and as a result, buyers were becoming more aware and proactive about doing their due diligence when selecting a builder.

Buyers were becoming more educated about new-home warranties and wanted to make sure there would be protection and peace-of-mind “just in case” something happened again. And having an insurance-backed, third-party warranty that stood behind their builder provided that reassurance.

Furthermore, because we also want to give our builders the best protection, we secured the best reinsurer in the industry with the highest global brand recognition—Lloyd’s of London.

Scott’s realizations and genuine understanding of our business model and value proposition resulted in the marketing tagline we use today. The declaration that “StrucSure Home Warranty is How the Nation’s Best Builders Protect Their Buyers” communicates the service and protection we offer to quality builders and homebuyers across America.

If you are an elite builder, we invite you to learn more about how StrucSure Home Warranty can help you protect your buyers while offering you a number of risk management benefits. Click here to learn more…

One of the designations StrucSure makes available to qualifying builder members is a special accolade signifying their claims-free status.  Our “Claims-Free Builder” designation shows a builder’s commitment to embracing quality building practices while striving for proactive resolution on any construction issues before they become a warranty claim.

This designation is not only important to builders who meet the criteria because it reflects their commitment to a positive customer experience, it’s also important to buyers because it provides additional peace of mind and confidence regarding their buying decision.

When shopping for a builder, claims handling and resolution is an important factor for consumers to consider.  Choosing a builder who is known for taking care of construction issues before they become a claim gives additional assurance regarding a buyer’s investment while increasing customer satisfaction.  And this assurance provides a critical sales advantage for builders participating in a highly-competitive industry.

StrucSure’s campaign recognizing 2017 Claims-Free Members dropped the beginning of March 2018.  This mailing included a letter, a “Claims-Free Builder” certificate, and instructions on how to download our 2017 Claims Free Builder logo.

StrucSure congratulates its Claims-Free builders in 2017 and thanks them for their contribution to the homebuilding industry and their role in building the American Dream.

If you have any questions regarding our Claims Free designation or campaign, please contact Adria Ellerbrock, VP of Marketing, at aellerbrock@strucsure.com or 303.525.0400.

As a consumer in the market for a new place to call home, deciding whether to buy new or used is often the first decision you’ll need to make. Answering this question requires you to fully consider the pros and cons of each offering.

Finding a quality home at your price point, in the location you want, that also includes your wish-list of amenities are common priorities, but there may be other factors you haven’t fully considered. Issues that may not seem critical during the house shopping phase can quickly gain importance after you sign on the dotted line and move in. These issues, and their associated costs, are why it is important to fully understand the real differences between buying new or used.

The Reality of Buying Used

Used homes often sound good in theory but often lack in practice for many reasons. First and foremost, a used home comes with many uncertainties. How much do you really know about the previous owners? The neglect of simple maintenance, or an ill-advised do-it-yourself project could manifest into much larger issues down the road.

Are there unknown construction or structural defects? An error in the home’s construction can lead to long-term problems that may not become apparent for several years, and could seriously impact your pocketbook to repair.

In addition, any money potentially saved by buying used is oftentimes offset by maintenance costs and extra utility expenses. These costs are typically common in older homes that have inefficient and outdated home components such as windows, doors, building materials, and appliances.

The Advantages of Buying New

In addition to the smell of fresh paint and the feel of new carpet, new construction delivers a variety of benefits, including:

• Custom Design – New home builders often give you the opportunity to pick and choose the items and amenities that fit best with the way you live. Buying a new home allows you to take your dreams from “wish list” to reality.
• Energy Efficiency – From the insulation to the windows to the appliances, new homes are built to be energy efficient and are “greener” and safer than older, used homes. Modern building practices result in long-term energy savings and can reduce the need for the replacement of outdated items.
• Warranty Coverage – Extended warranty protection from a third-party warranty provider offers peace-of-mind to homebuyers and assures them they’ve purchased a home from a quality builder. When you have warranty coverage, you don’t have to wonder about defects or costly repairs, but can instead have confidence that your builder has provided you with a quality home, stands behind their work, and will resolve any warranty items quickly and professionally.

Warranty Protection from StrucSure Home Warranty

When you buy a new home that comes with a warranty from StrucSure Home Warranty, you can sleep better at night, knowing you are covered in the event of a construction or structural defect*. If you live in a used home without warranty coverage and a defect occurs, you could find yourself with a hefty repair bill, or even worse, a legal nightmare, resulting in the loss of time, energy, and money.

We’ve Got You Covered!

In addition to the general benefits that a third-party warranty offers, having insurance-backed warranty protection from StrucSure Home Warranty also provides additional confidence in your builder and buying decision. Here’s why:

• Builder Verification – StrucSure Home Warranty only accepts quality builders into our program. Builders are verified through background, credit, and financial checks, confirming they are a reputable builder who builds a quality product, addresses warranty items, and is dedicated to the homebuyer experience.
• High Standards – By enforcing construction quality and performance standards and requiring builder members to follow strict underwriting requirements, we help ensure your home is built with pride, quality, and attention to detail.
• Inspections – We require multiple inspections (even if your home is built in an area that doesn’t require county inspections) throughout the construction process, including a structural inspection, foundation inspection, frame inspection, and a final inspection. Each of these inspections must be completed and approved on each house before warranty coverage goes into effect, providing additional assurance regarding the quality of your home.

Buy New and Sleep Better at Night!

When shopping for a new place to rest your head at night, buy new and sleep better knowing you have the best warranty coverage available in the industry. For more information, talk to your builder, call StrucSure Home Warranty at 1.877.806.8777, or visit www.strucsure.com.

Diana Leyba

Employee Spotlight: Meet StrucSure Claims Representative, Diana Leyba

1. Describe your role at StrucSure Home Warranty in 10 words or fewer:

Home Warranty Educator

2. If you could have any career, (talent and education not required), what would it be and why?

I would love to have a House Flipping Show… I think I would be good at it.

3. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

I have so many hobbies now. I refurbish furniture, Party Planner, Home Staging, Cake Decorating, all sorts of Crafts, Sew, Crochet.

4. What do you like most about working for StrucSure Home Warranty?

We all care about each other.

5. What are some small things that make your day better? OR Describe your “happy place”.

My happy place is a big family gathering.

6. What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

I lived in Germany for 3 years that was 5,082 miles away.

7. What would be your idea of a perfect adventure?

I have always wanted to go on a Light House tour.

8. If you could travel anywhere in the world you’ve never been, where would it be?

Italy

9. What job would you be terrible at?

Public Speaker

10. What skill that you don’t have would you most like to master?

I would love to Flip Houses

Our focus on being the premier new-home warranty company is dependent on figuring out how to say “Yes” to our builder customers

In the rush of the daily urgent tasks it is easy to say “No” rather than spend the time to recognize the needs and concerns of the customer and figure out how to creatively solve their problems.  The warranty industry is already full of mail order type warranty companies that are built on the premise to sign folks up with the least effort possible if they check the right box on the application.  However, at StrucSure we are perceived in the industry as capable of providing solutions through consultation and collaboration.  The goal is to turn a difficult risk into a “yes” and issue a warranty.

Over the last year StrucSure has made tremendous investments in people and systems.   We have recruited several experienced professionals to join our team.  We also worked very hard at creating a culture of collaboration where the knowledge of staff is shared throughout the organization.  We have also invested in systems and our website to allow our customers to quickly and efficiently get the information they need, and to substantially increase the reliability of our service.

These investments create an environment where we are able to provide custom solutions for the tougher, unique questions that come from our builder customers.  We get those questions to the right people in our organization and do our homework to come up with the right answer.   We are flexible enough to come up with a solution in almost every situation.   At StrucSure we are not a one size fits all company.   If you have a unique construction situation, a new building material, a different foundation, an uncommon need, or a customer with a unique request, we are likely the only warranty company that will sit down and listen.   All of this is exemplified in our Customer Service Pledge.

I encourage you to check out the resources and capabilities of StrucSure.   Our member benefits are summarized here.  If you are already a builder member, I would love to get your feedback on any issues, as I am here not only to help, but more importantly to listen.  You can reach me at rpoling@strucsure.com.   If you would rather speak to me personally, please send me an email with your phone number and – per our Customer Service Pledge – you will hear back from me within one business day.

At StrucSure, our goal is to make technology work not only for us, but for our member clients as well.  Through the development of a number of builder portals and online resources, we’ve been able to streamline our home enrollment and warranty processes.  This has resulted in enhanced productivity, increased efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction for our member clients.  Here’s how:

Enrollment Portal – StrucSure’s enrollment portal allows builders to enroll homes for warranty coverage online, in real time, at their convenience.  Once a home is enrolled, our back-office works directly with the builder to release the Home Enrollment Application (HEA) that is signed by the homeowner at closing so warranty coverage can go into effect.

Warranty Portal – StrucSure’s online warranty portal gives real-time access to our Express Limited Warranty Booklets and Certificates of Warranty Coverage.  Once a home has been completed and all paperwork and warranty payments have been received and processed by StrucSure, builders and/or homeowners can access the warranty documents quickly and easily using the property address or Home Enrollment Application (HEA) number.  Warranty documents can be viewed, printed, and/or saved to a local computer by the user (we can also provide printed warranty documents to homeowners who may not have access to a computer or simply prefer to receive their documents in printed format via mail).  To access StrucSure’s Warranty Portal, please visit https://strucsure.com/warranty-portal/.  Note that instructions on how to access the warranty portal are provided to homeowners at closing (it is provided along with the Home Enrollment Application).

LOA Portal – StrucSure’s LOA Portal gives real-time access to Letters of Acceptance (LOA) for homes that are enrolled into our warranty program.  The LOA is a requirement that proves a warranty is in effect for certain loan funding types.  The letter confirms that the property has met all of the underwriting Requirements, has been accepted and enrolled into the StrucSure Home Warranty Program, and the warranty is a 10-year structural warranty which meets HUD criteria and initiated the day of closing.  All that is needed to access the LOA online is the property address, and upon submission, the LOA can be viewed, printed, and/or saved to a local computer by the user.  To access StrucSure’s LOA Portal, please visit https://loa.warranty.strucsure.com/

LOIs– Another way StrucSure has streamlined its processes is by providing builders with Letters of Intent (LOI) stating that a home has been enrolled into our program for third-party warranty coverage.  This letter is needed at time of closing so that a loan can be funded.  We typically provide LOIs in combination with our Home Enrollment Application (the LOI is included in the HEA packet that we email you after you’ve enrolled the home into our enrollment portal).

StrucSure understands the value and importance of our technical resources and we look forward to developing additional assets that improve your experience with us.

If you are a member and have a question on any of these resources, please email Adria Ellerbrock.  If you aren’t a member, we invite you to become a member today and experience the ease of warranty enrollment and administration while benefiting from the risk management products and services that can help you sell more homes, protect your bottom line, and avoid the courthouse.

At StrucSure Home Warranty, we understand our customers want more than just great service; they want to have a great experience.  That’s why we’ve committed to our customers that we will do our best to ensure they have a positive experience each and every time they deal with us.  Our Customer Experience Pledge is a big reason why prospects choose us and why customers stay with us.

The StrucSure Home Warranty “Customer Experience” Pledge and What It Means to Our Builders, Contractors, and Remodelers:

❶ We will remember that dealing with “real people” is important to you and will have your phone calls answered by one of our customer service reps each time you call our corporate office (no fancy menus or never-ending transfers).  We will return all phone calls, emails, and faxes within one business day.

❷ We will assign your account to a dedicated Vice President of Sales and Customer Service Representative so working with us will be personal, consistent, and efficient.

❸ We will resolve issues promptly or provide escalation options in the event you or your client has a need to talk to a member of the Executive Team.

❹ We will keep you informed of new programs that could cut your expenses or increase your revenue.

❺ We will keep our online registration and enrollment processes simple, safe, and secure.  If you don’t have access to a computer, you are more than welcome to call 1.877.806.8777 and we’ll complete your registration or project enrollment for you.

❻ We will provide you with critical warranty documentation in a timely manner.

❼ We will treat your clients like our clients.

❽ We will be empathetic to your client’s individual situations and work to resolve any warranty issues quickly and professionally.

❾ We will act as an extension of your sales and marketing department by developing free, customized marketing materials so your sales force can promote the benefits of warranty coverage to your clients.

❿ We will work to continually improve our technologies and processes so that you will not only have a positive customer experience, but an efficient customer experience.

At StrucSure Home Warranty, we take customer satisfaction and your experience with us seriously and it’s our goal to not only provide you with the best risk management products available, but to make working with us easy and efficient.  If for any reason we fail to live up to any aspect of our pledge, please e-mail info@strucsure.com and we will investigate the situation and remedy it.

If you aren’t already a member of StrucSure Home Warranty but are interested in learning more about how you can benefit from our risk management products and services and the promises behind our pledge, please click here to start the conversation.

Home warranties have been around for decades; however, the need for ten-year structural warranties started in the 1970s when Congress suggested builders escrow 10% of the price of a home to cover structural defects. As builder margins were not equipped to absorb the financial impact of that 10%, home warranty companies were conceived to bear the risk.

Today, new-home warranty companies offer structural coverage in addition to programs that cover workmanship/materials and wiring, piping, and ductwork for electrical, plumbing, heating, and A/C as part of their risk management package. Warranty coverage is purchased by builders and subsequently provided to homebuyers upon closing of the home.

We all know warranties are a solid risk management tool as they provide another layer of protection and level of confidence to both the builder and the homeowner; however, how can a warranty recipient be assured about the company behind the coverage, and the protection behind the piece of paper? How can a builder know their financial investment is going to a reputable and stable company? And how can a homeowner know they will be treated fairly and protected in the event they experience a covered defect?

It’s important to understand that warranties are more than pieces of paper that outline coverage terms and details. In order to maintain a warranty business and offer coverage to builders and homeowners, warranty providers must meet legal requirements and government regulations as outlined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as listed below:

• Warranty companies must apply to HUD to obtain the authority to sell third-party warranties. Such approval is good for two years and every two years the warranty provider must re-apply to HUD for renewal.
• Third-party warranty providers must prove to HUD’s satisfaction that their plan will correct structural and construction defects if the builder fails to do so, and if the warranty provider fails to do so, that the insurance backer will do so. The warranty company must submit to HUD a listing of all claims, repairs, and awards made on FHA insured properties on an annual basis.
• In order to be an approved warranty provider, a Quality Control Plan for reviewing and approving a builder, assuring the proper inspection of the property, reviewing the quality of inspections, and processing homeowner complaints must be in place.
• If HUD believes a third-party warranty company is failing to correct legitimate defects, HUD can take action including termination of the warranty provider’s authority to sell warranties.
• In order to sell warranties, a company has to provide HUD with evidence the warranty is backed by an insurance company that is licensed and approved in each state where it does business.
• HUD mandates that each warranty contain written language to further protect the homeowner including language regarding the transferability of the warranty to a subsequent buyer of the home, performance standards for fixing defects, the dispute resolution process, and the claims process. HUD also requires that the standards be fair and reasonable.
• HUD requires that settlement offers be in writing, that the homeowner has 10 days to consider any offer, and that the homeowner be given the opportunity to accept any of the bids relied upon by the warranty company in determining the amount of the settlement. This ensures that settlement offers are bona fide and that the homeowners can get the home repaired for the amount of the settlement offer.
• HUD oversees and regulates other aspects of warranty offerings including deductibles, non-cancelability, specific definitions of key coverages (e.g., definition of a “Major Structural Defect”), what must be repaired when fixing a defect, and how cases that go into arbitration must be handled.

Because home warranty companies are strictly regulated by the government, builders and homeowners can have confidence in the value and protection they provide.  Since 1997, StrucSure Home Warranty has met each of HUD’s requirements, and to date, over 5,000 builders and 169,000 homeowners have benefited from our third-party warranty coverage.

If you have questions on the specific actions we take place to meet HUD requirements or the risk management and sales benefits our warranties provide, please visit www.strucsure.com, email info@strucsure.com, or call 1.877.806.8777.

Jeff Avery completed a spec home in 2015 and with no other place to move, he chose to move into the finished spec.

In the hustle of moving and arranging a “mini-perm” loan, a traditional title company closing did not occur. What also didn’t occur was he did not enroll the house into his preferred third party program—StrucSure’s 10-Year Structural Warranty Program.

In literature, that might have been considered a foreshadowing moment that would soon lead to trouble…

Fast forward two years later and unfortunately, he has experienced excess movement on his home’s foundation. He looked at Foundation Reports that must be disclosed that reported “serious movement” had occurred… and, he didn’t have the third-party coverage that would be required to transfer the home to a future buyer.

Jeff’s first move was to call several Greater Fort Worth Builders Association members for consultation. He reached out to Builders, Engineers, Foundation Repair Companies, Legal Eagles, GL providers, and more.  He asked them all for ideas and they were more than helpful.  Multiple inspections were performed, reports were written, and strategies for correction were provided.

Next he contacted Tiffany Acree, Senior V.P. of Sales for StrucSure Home Warranty.  Tiffany went to bat for him.  In spite of the history regarding his home’s foundation movement and the oversight of enrolling the home promptly for warranty coverage, StrucSure worked with Jeff to provide him with customized 10-year coverage on his home (which would be fully transferable to the next owner).

Jeff accepted some shared liability for future claims in return for his “special policy,” but between StrucSure and his General Liability agent, he was very satisfied with the coverage provided.

Jeff thanked StrucSure (with a BIG thanks to Tiffany Acree) for the special consideration and for being willing to work with him on a solution.

Now the lesson he wants to pass on to others:
“I recommend you do not repeat my procrastination. Enroll your model homes, aging specs, everything in a 10-year warranty as soon as you can. It is much less expensive securing that timely coverage and if you have the misfortune of excess movement early on they are standing by in support.”

~Jeff Avery, Avery Homes LLC
StrucSure Home Warranty Builder Member Since 2011

As a homebuilder, you need to know about the ways weather can affect your operations—and your bottom line.

When soils receive excess moisture, they swell. When the moisture content decreases, the soils shrink. Because of the resulting swelling and shrinking that occurs, the amount of moisture in the soil at the time of construction is an important consideration.

Soils with high moisture levels during construction can shrink later on as the moisture level decreases. The opposite is true for soils with low moisture content during construction; as dry soils become saturated with moisture they can swell. The condition of the soil, both during and after construction, is an important factor for homebuilders to consider because soil conditions have a direct impact on the foundation of the home.

With the high costs of structural defect repair and the impact defects can have on a builder’s pocketbook and reputation, what steps and precautions can you take to protect yourself and your homebuyers?

There are two important protective measures you need to consider to help your business, your buyers, and your bottom line:

1) Preventative and active moisture management, and

2) Solid risk management practices.

Preventing soil movement from leading to a defect or failure in the foundation or structural components of a home can be addressed using moisture management. By controlling the amount of change in the soil’s moisture level, the risk of movement in the foundation is greatly decreased.

During construction, moisture control and moving soils can be actively addressed using several difference techniques, including: site grading and preparation that allows for positive drainage away from the home’s perimeter; landscaping and irrigation design that doesn’t place water or allow it to collect near the home’s foundation; and finishes such as gutters and downspouts that help move naturally-occurring water safely away from the base of the home.

Along with construction processes designed to understand site soils and alleviate soil movement, all builders should have a solid risk management strategy in place that will help protect their business and their homebuyers in the event a structural defect should occur despite best efforts to prevent it (remember that soils test play a critical role in the homebuilding process, but don’t always reveal the complete soil profile under the property). For more information, builders can refer to certified engineer soils reports or structural foundation drawings.

One risk management tool designed to specifically help protect builders and homeowners against potential damages is an insurance-backed, new-home, 10 year structural warranty.

In addition to providing coverage for damages resulting from soil movement, a solid third-party warranty should offer coverage that begins on the day of closing, last ten full years, and have strong insurance backing.

Expansive soils and fluctuating weather conditions will always be a part of homebuilding, but with the proper strategies in place, you can confidently protect yourself and your buyers from the potentially devastating effects of a major structural failure caused by expansive soils.

By actively monitoring soil and moisture conditions during construction, using the appropriate techniques to keep water away from the home’s foundation, and using a third-party structural warranty from StrucSure Home Warranty on every home you build, you can rest easy knowing you have taken the proper steps to effectively protect your business and your homebuyers.