An Overview of Our Home Warranty Coverage

When it comes to moving into your newly built Texas home, having peace of mind about its functionality is essential. You should feel confident that the home’s structure is solid, the electrical and plumbing systems are operational and compliant, and that HVAC systems, appliances, and other home elements will last for as long as possible.

Your home builder’s warranty will be an important factor for your peace of mind. That’s because the warranty will help you negotiate repairs should you be faced with any serious structural or mechanical problems that need to be addressed.

At John Houston Homes, we are proud to offer clients our 1-2-10 Express Limited Home Warranty. Below is a brief look at the basics of what our warranty covers. Please refer to our complete Express Limited Home Warranty information for full details.

1-Year Workmanship Warranty

This warranty covers the builder’s obligation to the buyer for workmanship, and materials. Items covered under this warranty will include roofs, countertops, backsplashes, fireplaces, irrigation systems, flooring, garage door openers, and more. 

During this first year, other items that are covered include light switches, plumbing fixtures, outlets, fencing (gate function and fence post installation), and masonry (cracks greater than 1/8th of an inch).

2-Year Systems Warranty

This backs the builder’s warranty on defects in the wiring, piping, and ductwork in the electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, ventilation, and mechanical systems behind the wall.

To maximize the benefits of this warranty, we advise new homeowners to set up electronic equipment, sound systems, and televisions in living rooms, media rooms, and elsewhere in the house sooner than later during the first two years of homeownership. This will help you find potential issues such as unintentionally cut or damaged wires while you are still covered. 

10-Year Structural Warranty

This warranty lasts for 10 years after your closing and will cover major structural defects that pertain to the framing or foundation of the home. This would include foundation issues, walls and partitions, floor framing systems, headers, beams, girders, and lintels (e.g., beams placed across openings and archways). 

An example of something that would likely be covered would be a crack in the foundation in which separation greater than 1/8th of an inch would be evident.  This warranty would not cover “flatwork,” or poured concrete that is not a part of the home’s foundation. It is important to note that the 10-year structural warranty is backed by the product manufacturer, as opposed to the home builder.

10-Year HVAC Parts & Labor Warranty

In conjunction with your HVAC standard warranty of 2 year labor and 5 year parts, there is a guaranteed additional 5 year parts warranty. Your new system will be covered for manufacturer parts and materials for 10 years from the closing date.

Top Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

While warranties can be a great asset to new homeowners, it’s important to remember that appropriate maintenance measures must be taken by homeowners to ensure compliance with warranty guidelines and stipulations.

Here are a few tips that will ensure you are covering your bases:

• Change your HVAC filters regularly.
• Replace the batteries of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year (perhaps during daylight savings).
• Water your foundation. Keep it moist but not saturated.
• If you make any major changes to your property, hire a licensed and insured professional.
• Keep pests at bay with preventative pest control service.
• When cleaning floors, spray cleaner on a cloth (rather than directly on the floor) to minimize potential damage to flooring material due to cleaning product being inadvertently left on flooring.
• Clean gutters at least twice a year.
• Be sure to prune trees and shrubs located close to the house.
• Schedule regular (seasonal), professional tune-ups on your air conditioner and furnace. 
• Flush your water heater annually to remove sediment.

Regular home maintenance is crucial to the health, efficiency, and longevity of your home. It will not only save you money in the long run, but it will also help ensure that you will get the most from your warranty, should the need arise.

Remember that major changes to your property, such as installing an in-ground pool, putting up extensive seasonal decorations on your roof, or adding solar screens, could negate your warranty coverage.

It’s best to talk with your builder before making any significant changes to your property to see how it might impact your warranty coverage.

A Quick Home Warranty Q&A

Q: Is the Express Limited Home Warranty transferable?

A: Yes. The Express Limited Home Warranty is fully transferable to subsequent homeowners without any additional paperwork or assignment. 

Q: Is the Express Limited Home Warranty a type of insurance?

A: No. It is important to understand that the Express Limited Home Warranty is not insurance, an indemnity contract, nor a service or maintenance agreement. Think of it like this: homeowners insurance is designed to cover unexpected things such as smoke, theft, fallen trees, or storms that might lead to damage, whereas a warranty covers costs and repairs associated with somewhat expected events such as the aging and eventual breakdown of appliances and systems.

Q: What is typically excluded from a homebuilder’s warranty?

A: Typical exclusions might include damage to your home resulting from: 

• Abuse, misuse, or neglect to provide maintenance
• Deterioration of materials used in construction within an expected level
• Damage sustained due to people hired to work on your property
• Damage caused by outside vandals or by natural disasters 
• Home items, such as appliances, which are covered by a warranty from the manufacturer

Q: Can I submit a warranty request online?

A: Yes. You may file a claim online through the warranty portal or you may call John Houston Homes’ warranty support team.

John Houston Homes Is Here For You 

Home warranties are excellent tools when it comes to protecting your property and curbing costs of repairs and other unforeseen expenses. John Houston Homes is pleased to offer a comprehensive home warranty program to our clients here in the Dallas, Forth Worth, and Waco areas, and we are always happy to provide information and answer questions. Our goal is to build not only lasting relationships with our clients, but also enduring homes that will serve our families for years to come. 

**All information in this article was accurate at time of posting. Information and offers are subject to change. See a John Houston Homes Sales Manager or representative for most recent and accurate information.**