Home Buyers Information Area
Introduction
Each and every Pacific Home Warranty Member Builder must pass an extensive membership approval process that includes detailed financial underwriting, a review of the Member's technical qualifications, an investigation of the Member's customer service history and collection of multiple references. It would be impossible for you as a potential client to learn this much about this Member Builder, but thanks to the Pacific Home Warranty underwriting process this work has all been done for you.
Your home is constructed of approximately 3,000 components, which in itself can be overwhelming, but add to that the fact that you are now faced with lawyers, legal contracts, mortgage or financing contracts and the purchase or construction of your home can be daunting to say the least.
This section of the website will try and provide you with the basic information you require to better manage your interests and make the purchase or renovation of your home as simple as possible. We will start by describing the Home Registration, Construction, Assessment, Completion, and Maintenance processes.
If your home has a HomePro or CondoPro warranty, then Pacific Home Warranty Insurance Services Inc. is your warranty service provider. We will work hard to ensure that your choice of a Pacific Home Warranty Member Builder is rewarded in the years to come.
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Home Purchase or Construction |
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It is highly important that the relationship with your Builder be one of mutual respect and honesty. It is not necessary that you agree on everything, but you must have an open mind when sharing ideas. You should remember that your Builder is a building professional and his/her ideas come from a wealth of experience.
Some other things to consider:
1. Share ideas clearly
2. Don't wait until last minute to make your thoughts known
3. Find a way to have your Builder give you regular updates
4. Schedule on-site visits well in advance and by your Builder's policies
5. and most importantly.... relax and enjoy the home building process.
The Purchase Contract is the contract that exists between you and your Builder regarding the construction or purchase of your home. The purchase contract is that document that fully describes what your obligations are to the Builder and what the builder's obligations are to you, the Purchaser. In its most basic form, the Purchaser is obligated to take possession of the home at the contracted price and the Builder is obligated to build the home to contractual specifications and then transfer title to you at the completion of the home. It should be noted that there are often "adjustments" to the purchase price and you should discuss these fully with your Builder before you sign the contract.
You as a Purchaser should clearly understand the Financial Terms of your contract and ensure that you are being financially prudent during construction of your home, while at the same time meeting all obligations to your Builder. Be sure to understand what your purchase contract commits you to. In addition, most purchase contracts will mention a "Possession Date" or "Completion Date", while estimates of these dates are more common. It must be remembered that the construction of your home is a complex process and possible delays maybe outside the control of your Builder.
To clearly establish the obligations of the Builder and to protect your interests as the Purchaser, you should develop a set of final working drawings that clearly specify and describe your home's design, construction, and materials. Make sure your expectations are clear with the Builder and you will eliminate many problems later in the building process.
It is said that the "dominant law of the universe is change" and it is very common for purchasers to want to make changes in the home after the working drawings are created and/or as construction progresses. These Change Requests should be made as early as possible to the Builder directly and the Builder will document the changes with any additional costs if necessary. It is important that these change requests be documented and signed by both parties to ensure that the costs and ramifications are fully understood.
Communication, communication, communication! Be clear, be concise, get everything in writing and your relationship with your Builder will be rewarding and your home will meet all your dreams and expectations.
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Warranty Registration |
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As the Purchaser or Homeowner, you can ensure that your individual home is registered with the Pacific Home Warranty program by requesting a copy of the Confirmation of Warranty Registration or you can search your address or builder on the builder search page to ensure the home is indeed registered. Every home that is registered with the warranty programs is confirmed by a Confirmation of Warranty form that is signed and sealed by a representative of the warranty program. A sample of this Confirmation of Warranty can be viewed on the downloads page.
If you are concerned about whether or not your home is registered and you cannot quickly find the registration by using this search page, you can simply call our office at 1-866-99MYPRO (1-866-996-9776) and we will be glad to assist you.
If your home is not registered for warranty, there is no warranty coverage conferred nor provided by the Warranty Administrator or the Warranty Insurer, so it is absolutely imperative that you ensure the home is registered. Simply ask your Member Builder for a copy of the confirmation of warranty to ensure that you and your home are protected.
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Home Construction |
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During the construction phase of your home, your home Builder may require progress payments and/or mortgage draws to offset the costs of construction. It is important to ensure that the funds paid closely approximate the value of the work completed. Your mortgage company should have a formula for the release of these funds and it should be similar to the number that the Builder uses. It is important that you consult with your legal counsel to establish the appropriate Builders' Lien Holdback fund in the event that liens are registered on your home during or after construction.
Your Builder is committed to building your home according to the Purchase Contract, to the appropraite building code and to our Pacific Home Warranty Building Standards. It is these standards that your Builder will be held to as we complete Quality Assurance Assessments during course of construction.
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Home Assessment |
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During home construction, Pacific Home Warranty may perform a number of assessments to ensure that your Builder continues to meet the exacting standards of our warranty program. The frequency and type of these inspections is determined by the Builder's tenure with our program and the related experience that the Builder has in the industry. You can rest assured that your Builder continues to meet the highest standards of quality construction and that your home will provide many years of enjoyment.
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Completion |
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As your home nears completion, your Builder should provide you notification that your home will be ready on or about a specified date. Typically this notice is given about 45 days prior to completion which should give the Builder ample time to finish the home, barring any unforeseen circumstances. As the Builder begins to finish your home, delays in selecting materials and/or delivery delays, etc. can cause a movement in your completion date. This is a busy time for the Builder, so please ensure that you communicate effectively with the Builder through this time period.
As your home is completed, your Builder may contact you to schedule a Completion Inspection, usually a couple of days prior to the actual Possession Date of your home. You will have one last chance to make sure all the little details have been completed and ensure that there are no Possession Date surprises. Make sure you schedule enough time for this inspection so that you can be thorough and so that you can learn about your new home as you complete the inspection. Be sure to leave the family at home so you can concentrate on the details at hand. It is also difficult to complete this process if the moving van is parked out front and furniture is passing you in the hallways!
As you inspect your home, you are looking for deficiencies or items that do not meet the standards of the Purchase Contract. If the mirror in the bathroom is cracked when you do this inspection, then that is a deficiency and should be noted on the Possession Certificate. The Builder is responsible to repair or replace all items identified as deficient on the completion certificate under the terms of the purchase contract. If the deficient items are significant, then you as a purchaser must use a monetary deficiency holdback of equivalent value to ensure that these items are repaired.
Once you have finished the inspection and your Possession Certificate is signed by both yourself and the Builder, either you or the Builder must forward a copy of the Possession Certificate to the warranty program. Upon receiving the completion certificate, we will issue your warranty certificate and mail it directly to your new home.
Congratulations, and welcome to many happy years of home ownership!
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Home Maintenance |
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As you read and understand your Limited Warranty Certificate, you will notice that as a Purchaser or Homeowner, you have an obligation to maintain your home and ensure that claims do not occur due to negligence. A future claim for home warranty assistance can be denied if your home is not properly maintained.
A home is subject to harsh environmental conditions so you must ensure that care is taken to keep the home in proper repair. In your warranty package, there is a maintenance schedule that details a number of the items to be considered. While this may not cover all items that must be maintained, it is a great source of information for you as a Purchaser or Homeowner. A copy of the Homeowners Manual can be found on the downloads page
The following link to CMHC will help you find detailed maintenance information that will help keep your home in proper mechanical condition: www.cmhc-schedule
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