HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS. Home Warranty Guide

Transcription

1 Building Homes Rebuilding Lives HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Home Warranty Guide Toll Free: TROOPS Fax: (508) Main Street, Taunton MA 02780

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1 HFOT LIMITED WARRANTY... 1 Introduction... 1 General One-Year Warranty and Limitations... 1 Specific Warranty Matters... 1 Exclusions from Coverage... 3 General Conditions... 4 SECTION 2 MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY... 5 SECTION 3 NATIONAL WARRANTY SERVICE... 5 SECTION 4 USING YOUR HFOT WARRANTY... 5 Submittal... 5 Performance of Work... 6 SECTION 5 HOMEOWNER S RESPONSIBILITIES... 6 Introduction... 6 Financial Management Responsibilities... 6 Maintenance and Care... 7 i

3 HFOT LIMITED WARRANTY Introduction This Warranty expresses our complete understanding and agreement regarding what the Warrantor will do in the event of problems occurring at the Home after construction. Please keep this Warranty in a safe location where you can find it if needed. Please understand that the Home is constructed of many natural materials and that this Warranty shall not apply to defects or damage which are the result of contraction or expansion or the result of other normal or ordinary characteristics of building materials. Also, this Warranty shall not apply to defects or damage resulting from or aggravated by any neglect or failure on the part of Homeowner to properly maintain the Home in such manner as a reasonably prudent person would be expected to do. General One-Year Warranty and Limitations The Warrantor guarantees the Home against defects described below provided that such defects are brought to its attention, in writing, sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the one-year warranty period starting on the date first written above. Requests for service must be in writing and must follow the claims procedure as hereinafter described for the warranty to be honored. Specific Warranty Matters 1. Slab Foundation. Warrantor will remedy seepage occurring during periods of normal high water table, or caused by springs and reported within one year. Not covered by this policy is seepage due to unusual flooding, from rains or melting snow, nor from NORMAL SETTLEMENT AROUND FOUNDATION, nor from condensation due to excessive humidity. It is the Homeowner's responsibility to maintain positive drainage away from the building at all times. 2. Roof. The roof is warranted to be free of leaks. 3. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System ( HVAC ). The Heating System is warranted to heat the Home to a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the thermostat at 0 degrees Fahrenheit outside, for a period of one year. Free heating adjustments will be made for ninety (90) days unless the thermostat does not reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit at 0 degrees Fahrenheit outside, in which case the year warranty is in effect. The Homeowner should have the HVAC system cleaned prior to the heating and cooling season and the filters changed monthly. The Air Conditioning System is covered under this Warranty. 1

4 5. Plumbing and Septic Systems. The plumbing and septic systems are warranted for a period of one year to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, except in the course of correcting a stoppage, any foreign objects from the Homeowner's household are found within the system, the Homeowner will pay the cost of correction. Dripping faucets and any loose fittings occurring within ninety (90) days will be repaired by the Warrantor. Homeowner must insure all exterior faucets and irrigation lines are drained and shut off before the advent of winter. Frozen exterior faucets are never the responsibility of the Warrantor. 6. Mechanical Equipment. The mechanical equipment is covered solely by manufacturer's warranties. Warrantor will assign all manufacturers' warranties to the Homeowner on all equipment and appliances. 7. Electric System. The electrical system is warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year. 8. Glass or Screen Breakage. Glass or screen breakage is not covered by this limited warranty unless Warrantor is notified in writing prior to occupancy or conveyance, whichever occurs first. 9. Exterior Doors. Exterior doors are warranted for a period of one year against warping over three eighths of an inch (3/8"). 10. Trenches for Water, Sewer and Septic Tank. Trenches for water, sewer and/or septic tank are warranted against cave-in or for a period of one year, whichever occurs later. For gas trenches, consult Gas Company. 11. Ceramic and Resilient Tiles. Loose tiles and flag-stones are covered by this limited warranty for one year. It is the Homeowner's responsibility to replace loose or cracked tile, and grout to prevent penetration of moisture into floors and walls. 12. Laminated Countertops. Laminated countertops are warranted for one year against delaminating. Bubbling or scorching caused by hot objects is not covered. 13. Exterior Paint or Stain. Exterior paint or stain is warranted for one year against blistering and peeling. Normal fading of paint or stain is not covered. Paint or stain on clapboards is warranted for a period of one year only if clapboards are factory primed. No interior paint, peeling, or paper nicks, dents, scratches or other imperfections are covered unless the Warrantor is notified of such defects in writing prior to either conveyance or occupancy, whichever is earlier. 2

5 14. Clapboards and Shingles. Clapboards and shingles are warranted against splitting for one year; however, it is not always possible to match paint, and any variance in color subsequently applied is unavoidable. 15. Protruding Drywall and Plaster. Protruding nails or seams are covered for one year. Hairline cracks and seams are not covered by this policy as they do not represent structural failure. Repairs of wallboard may not completely bond with surrounding materials as it is almost impossible to match exactly the color and texture of the original surface. Repairs without charge will be limited to the problem area. 16. Repair of Hardwood Flooring. Swells or buckles are warranted for one year. Shrinkage and separation of floor boards is normal and is not covered. 17. Doors, Drawers, Windows and Interior Finish. Doors, drawers, windows and interior finish are warranted against warping, sticking or looseness for one year. These items have a tendency to swell and shrink at different times of the year. Some may warp in winter and straighten in summer. Within ninety (90) days, items that cannot be made to operate will be exchanged. Shrinkage of doors inside the jam is normal and if doors can be made to operate, they will not be replaced. Shrinkage and joint opening of door and window and baseboard casings is not covered by this policy. During the summer months, the space between doors and jams and sills is approximately 1/8 to 1/4. During the winter months, this increases to approximately 1/4" to 3/ Concrete Foundation and Floor. It is not possible to prevent concrete from cracking because of the nature of the material. Cracking, pitting and flaking can occur and are not covered, except for those foundation cracks which emit water. These are covered for one year. Cracks do not impair the structural strength of the dwelling. Exclusions from Coverage In addition to matters specified above, the Warrantor assumes no responsibility for the following, all of which are excluded from the coverage of this Warranty: 1. Shrinkage and separation of floor boards. 2. Checks and twisting of studs, joints and beams. 3. Crazing (hairline checking) in interior exposed beams and exterior plywood. 4. Normal fading of paint or stain. 5. Shrinkage of joint opening of door and window casing and other wood materials. 3

6 6. Normal occasional dents associated with installation of woodwork. 7. Defects in appliances and pieces of equipment which are covered by manufacturer's warranties. 8. Damage due to ordinary wear and tear, abusive use, or lack of proper maintenance of the Home or tenants who occupy the home in your absence. 9. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EXCEPT ONLY AND TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW. General Conditions 1. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, before submitting a claim under this Warranty, the Homeowner shall first exhaust all claims and remedies with respect to warranties from original manufacturers or contractors. All claims under this Warranty must be in writing and made directly to the Warrantor. Publically-made complaints, claims or expressions of dissatisfaction prior to the Warrantor's resolution of the warranty claim, including, but not limited to, comments to newspapers, television, and online postings of all kinds, shall, at the Warrantor's option and discretion, void this Warranty. 2. This Warranty expires one (1) year after the above date, except with respect to claims properly made during that one-year period; and, after that one (1) year period, the Warrantor shall not be responsible for any construction defects, structural defects, engineering defects, design defects, or any defects regarding the installation or operation of any appliances, fixtures, or equipment therein, or any other defects of any kind, nature or description, unless a claim with respect thereto was properly made to the Warrantor within the one (1) year period. The Homeowner's notification of the Warrantor of a claim with respect to a matter during the one (1) year warranty period shall not extend the one (1) year warranty period with respect to claims concerning other matters. 3. This Warranty represents the Warrantor's sole obligation to remedy defects or make repairs to the Home. To the extent permitted by law, this Warranty is in lieu of any and all warranties and guaranties imposed by law. Improvements, maintenance, and general repairs not the result of a defect after the Veteran occupies the Home shall be the Homeowner's sole responsibility. This Warranty is not assumable and will terminate for all purposes on transfer of title to a third person or persons. 4

7 MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY During the home transfer, the Homeowner will be presented with the manufacturer warranty cards for all appliances and home accessories. HFOT requires that the Homeowner both complete and mail these warranty cards directly to the applicable manufacturer. This will ensure all appliances and home accessories are properly registered and covered directly by the manufacturer s warranty. For all manufacturing defects and malfunctions associated with appliances and home accessories, HFOT asks that the Homeowner first contact the applicable manufacturer directly. Please keep all serial numbers and information on hand so that you may easily reference the information, as HFOT does not keep this information readily available. NATIONAL WARRANTY SERVICE In order to provide the Homeowner with 24/7 warranty support, HFOT will contract with a third party national warranty service for the first year warranty period. The intent of the third party warranty service is to provide the Homeowner with immediate support for all basic warranty services. A full listing of basic services coverage will be contained in the third party warranty manual to be provided. Please note that the third party warranty service is limited to basic warranty services only and does not offer nor provide property management services. All warranty claims beyond the national carrier's basic plan coverage shall fall under HFOT's limited one (1) year warranty. Submittal USING YOUR HFOT WARRANTY In the event that you should need to resource our HFOT Warranty, simply complete and submit the HFOT Warranty Submittal Form provided. We first ask that you take the time to review our Limited Warranty Agreement in advance, as this will aid you in completing the required Warranty Submittal Form. Once you've completed the Warranty Submittal Form, please mail or fax ( ) the Form(s) to our main office at 6 Main Street Taunton, MA (in care of: Warranty Specialist). 5

8 Performance of Work Upon receipt of the Warranty Submittal Form by HFOT, all items will be reviewed against our Limited Warranty to determine the best course of action. Next, a representative from HFOT will contact you directly to review all items and explain the work to be performed. From there, HFOT will contract and schedule the applicable trades. You will then be contacted by an HFOT representative to confirm scheduled work dates. Lastly, an HFOT representative will contact you post completion of warranty work to review your acceptance of all warranty work performed. Please note that while HFOT will make every effort to limit the interruption to your daily life, as warranty work is performed. However, some work may require more than one service call. We ask that you remain flexible on scheduling dates and provide HFOT at least a 48 hour notice of any cancellations. Introduction HOMEOWNER RESPONSIBILITY HFOT is not a property management company and as such does not provide nor offer "services" beyond the construction of your new home. As with any residential real estate transaction the responsibility of ''upkeep'' is the sole responsibility of the Homeowner. Financial Management Responsibilities The cost scope of the HFOT Mission is limited to the cost of new construction. As such, HFOT is not responsible for any/all costs pertaining to the general upkeep, improvement or management of the home/property. The following list is offered as a general guide to the cost obligations which are commonplace to residential homeownership: Real Estate Property Taxes Town Assessor's Office Homeowner s Insurance Policy Fire, Theft and Liability (Flood if applicable) Homeowner Association Fees (if applicable) Service Contracts (i.e. Trash Collection, Seasonal Gas Delivery, Heating and Cooling System, Landscape, etc.) 6

9 *Please note that the Homeowner must call all (applicable) utilities for service(s) transfer within 72 hours of closing. In order to ensure that services will not be turned off post transfer of home from HFOT to Veteran. Maintenance and Care HFOT does not provide property management services. As such, HFOT is not responsible for any/all maintenance pertaining to the general upkeep, improvement or management of the home/property. The following list is offered as a general guide to the general maintenance and care of your new home: Heating and Cooling System(s) Efficiency Adjustment, Cleaning, Duct and Filter Cleaning Humidity Control Maintaining Proper Levels Water Infiltration Prevention Caulk and Grout Septic Services Cleanout, Pumping and Bacteria Level Testing Water Filtration System (as determined by Well Test Results) Filter Changes Landscape Maintenance and Lawn Care Watering, Cutting, etc. Irrigation System Flushing and Winterizing Appliances and Accessories (i.e, Therapeutic Tubs) Follow manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule(s). General Cleaning - Gutters, Drains and Systems, Snow Removal and Walkways (including keeping fire egresses accessible). Please refer to your Homes for Our Troops Homeowner s Guide for additional information on home care and maintenance. 7