Source: nahb.com

Whole house remodels and additions are regaining market share according to a 2016 survey of remodelers released by NAHB Remodelers, the remodeling arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The survey revealed the most common remodeling projects in 2016, compared to historical results of the survey.

“While bathroom and kitchen remodels remain the most common renovations, basements, whole house remodels and both large and small scale additions are returning to levels not seen since prior to the downturn,” stated the 2016 NAHB Remodelers Chairperson. “Clients want to add more space, but remodeling a significant portion of the home is no easy feat. That’s why it is important to work with a professional remodeler who has the integrity and expertise to take on these large remodeling jobs.”

Remodelers reported that the following projects were more common than in 2013:
• Whole house remodels increased by 10 percentage points
• Room additions increased by 12 percentage points
• Finished basements increased by 8 percentage points
• Bathroom additions increased by 7 percentage points

Bathrooms topped the list of most common remodeling projects for the fifth time since 2010. Eighty-one percent of remodelers reported that bathrooms were a common remodeling job for their company while 79 percent of remodelers reported the same for kitchen remodels. Window and door replacements decreased to 36 percent from 45 percent in 2014.

Whether you are currently working on remodeling projects due to the colder weather and frozen ground or because that's what your customers are opting for, Residential Warranty Company, LLC & HOME of Texas have great remodeler warranty options at your fingertips. When it comes to revamping space, creating an addition to a home, or totally reinventing the look and style of a home, homeowners want to know the work is being done by a quality, professional remodeler. Contractors who offer the RWC warranty / HOME warranty provide clients with written, insured warranty protection, including a dispute resolution process.

It takes a lot of tools to both complete a remodeling project and to build a business. RWC / HOME offer you a great selection of tools. Talk to your account executive today for more details on the remodeler warranty, or any program available in our menu of choices.

Source: proremodeler.com

Readers of news articles about the housing industry have been inundated for a while with stories about Millennials and their desire to live in the city. Headlines such as “Millennials Prefer Cities to Suburbs, Subways to Driveways” and “The New American Dream Is Living in a City, Not Owning a House in the Suburbs” popped up frequently. And polling companies provided the data to back it up: The Nielsen Company, for example, reported that 62 percent of young people “like having the world at their fingertips,” preferring to live in “dense, diverse urban villages where social interaction is just outside their front doors.”

But around the middle of 2015, the stories about Millennials started to shift. We began to see more stories like, “Think Millennials Prefer the City? Think Again …” And now, a survey from the National Association of Realtors says that Millennials are finally starting to buy homes. And where are they buying them? That's right, in the ’burbs.

Why all of a sudden the change? Perhaps Millennials are now ready to settle down and start families and prices are cheaper in the suburbs. Or because they want to raise their kids in places that remind them of their own childhood. Whatever the reasons, the numbers show that buyers under the age of 35 now make up the largest share of homebuyers (35 percent) and that 51 percent of them bought homes in the suburbs or in subdivisions.

It stands to reason that these buyers, whose median age is 30, are the leading edge of their generation. As the rest of this generation, 80 million strong, reach their 30s, they will likely follow the same path—research from the Demand Institute says 75 percent of Millennials consider homeownership an important long-term goal and 48 percent say they plan to buy within the next five years. The question is, are you building homes they will want to buy?

So what exactly does this young group want? Turns out they want pretty much the same things almost everyone else wants: a nice neighborhood; good schools; access to public transportation; & convenient outdoor space to walk and exercise. Another requirement is close proximity to social activities such as shops, cafés, and restaurants. As for the house itself, they are looking for an open plan, ample storage, energy efficiency, low-maintenance living, space for easy entertaining, and of course good cell reception. But the single most important thing Millennials are looking for is living within their means in a home they can comfortably afford.

Unfortunately, the problem is, there just aren’t enough new homes being built that Millennials can afford. Because of land and labor costs, zoning and other regulations, most builders are targeting a smaller, more affluent group of buyers. A lot of new homes are large and include more expensive features and amenities. Something that a young, first time home buyer, will probably pass right by because it is out of their price range. A recent study by real estate advisors RCLCO revealed that when first-time buyers considered new and existing homes in their searches, only 18 percent of them bought a new home.

There are some success stories out there, though. RCLCO reports that a concerted effort by some master planned communities to offer a range of product types, such as townhomes, cottage court bungalows, and small single-family homes—in addition to conventional single-family homes — “can still achieve premiums on a dollars-per-square-foot basis.” The company cites the Daybreak master plan near Salt Lake City as a good example of a project that successfully integrates midscale, mid-priced product within a larger community.

Companies that are building more affordable homes and marketing them to Millennials are already starting to reap the rewards. It’s time for more builders to start thinking about creating a product that is attainable for the largest faction of buyers we may ever see.

By now we all know it's not a good idea to post sensitive information on social networking sites or blast private data through cyber space without taking the proper precautions. The last thing you want is for private information to be compromised when bouncing from server to server.

Keeping yourself secure from theft and vulnerability is a top priority in today's digital age. That's why Residential Warranty Company, LLC and affiliates HOME of Texas and MHWC have a secure upload portal on each company website for members and prospective members to use in uploading information and important documents to the home warranty companies.

Instead of emailing, faxing or mailing documents for new memberships, renewal memberships or home warranty resolution matters, the upload portal allows for secure transfer of data electronically, efficiently and economically.

Secure upload links can be found in the drop down menu when you hover over the "Builders" tab (or the "Manufacturer's tab on the MHWC affiliate site), as well as at the very bottom of every webpage. Simply follow the prompts to send documents securely. Better safe than sorry!

Who doesn't love a perk that allows you to reap the rewards of something that you already do... provide quality construction and outstanding customer satisfaction. That's right, cash in on YOUR excellent customer service by joining the Incentive Program!

Joining the Incentive Program is the best way for our Members to maximize their dollars plus enjoy additional benefits that only this program offers.

RWC established this program over 25 years ago as a way to reward our members for their good claims experience. Since then, RWC and affiliates have distributed $21.5 million in Incentive distributions back to Incentive members.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
A Member must enroll at least 20 homes per year or have an annual enrolled sales volume of $2 million. A free analysis illustrating how the Incentive Program can work for you is available upon request.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
• The annual fee of $295 is waived for Incentive Members, saving an additional $1180 in years 2-5 of membership.
• The value of the Incentive distributions greatly reduces the effective cost of the warranty fee.
• The Member enjoys a locked-in enrollment rate under the standard program throughout the duration of their Incentive membership.

HOW DO I JOIN?
If you think your company will meet the eligibility requirements, call us to take the next step in building your own Incentive reward! Contact us at 800-247-1812, Ext 2149 or email sales@rwcwarranty.com.

Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC), HOME of Texas and MHWC will be attending the 2017 International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida January 10-12, 2017. Be sure to stop by booth #W5571 to learn why new home warranties are an essential ingredient for your business. Whether you are a builder, remodeler or manufacturer, providing a new home warranty is a great way to enhance the value of your homes, strengthen your reputation and get a competitive edge in the marketplace.

As you know, it’s not strictly business at IBS. Before you head off to the House Party or the Spike Concert, have some fun with RWC and try your luck at our Wheel-O-Warranty prize wheel! Not only will you walk away with one of many great prizes, but you will also be entered into our grand prize drawing for a $1000 Visa gift card. Celebrate a brand new year with the innovative leader in new home warranties, RWC!

On August 14, 1173 Bonanno Pisano, began construction on an 183’ high marble and stone bell tower in Pisa, Italy. It took nearly 200 years to complete, but trouble started long before. Within five years of breaking ground, the bell tower began to lean due to a shallow foundation set in unstable subsoil. The design was flawed from the beginning. A builder’s worst nightmare? Just the opposite. Today the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.

For the rest of us less able to make lemonade from the occasional lemons we’re handed, we need help. Fortunately, for Pisa, the tower’s lean hasn’t caused it to fall over on all those cash-carrying tourists…yet. If that ever happens, the contractor responsible for maintaining the famous landmark better have general liability insurance. Otherwise, it could become the world’s most famous uninsured construction defect claim. Of course, the tower has been standing for over 600 years without falling, so what else is there to worry about? Each year in this country more than seven million injuries are attributed to “slip and fall” accidents. Imagine how many tourists may have slipped or fallen going up and down the steps of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Now imagine how many would-be buyers might slip or fall at one of your model homes or active job sites.

Nobody likes thinking about third party liability claims. Bonanno Pisano didn’t have to because he didn’t live to see his project completed. You’re probably planning on being around for a while and I’m guessing those plans don’t include losing everything you’ve worked for because someone was seriously injured at one of your job sites. If my guess is right, we’d like to help. Give RWC Insurance Advantage a chance to review your current general liability coverage. Call us at (866) 454-2155 and ask for Ron Sweigert or click here for a free no obligation quote.

Alfred “Freddy” Pesqueira has just completed his training at RWC’s corporate office in Harrisburg, PA. Freddy is now representing our home warranty company as an Account Executive for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. We want to welcome Freddy on board our team of new home warranty experts!

A Little About Freddy...

Freddy is a graduate of Georgia Southern and was both a 4-time All-American and All-Conference football selection. He signed with the Canadian Football League in 2003 before returning to Georgia. Freddy is married with two children, a son and a daughter, and coaches wrestling, baseball and softball in his free time.

He comes to RWC from State Farm Insurance where he was a top producer, selling insurance and financial products for the last 5 years. His experience in insurance, building client relationships and business development combined with RWC’s 30+ years in the home warranty business and over 3 million homes warranted, makes for a successful team.

Freddy will be reaching out to prospects and members in the near future to introduce himself and to learn more about your company. Please take the opportunity to meet and talk with him. At any time, please feel free to contact Freddy at 678-276-6013 or freddy.pesqueira@rwcwarranty.com.

Thank you for your continued patronage and loyalty to RWC, as we continue to lead the way in new home warranties. Your alliance is very important to us.

The RWC website is chock-full of home warranty resources and more! For easy reference, we’ve listed some of the more frequently asked questions and where you can uncover the answers.

I WONDER...IS THERE A WARRANTY FOR THAT?

RWC has more home warranty plans than you may realize. Hover over “Builders” to see, at a glance, all the home warranty programs and features available. To go to the list of warranty options available, select “Warranty Products.”

HOW DO I RECEIVE A GL INSURANCE QUOTE?

The RWC Insurance Advantage can meet many of your commercial insurance needs. Get a quote by clicking on the “RWC Insurance Advantage” link and selecting “Get Insurance Quote.”

HOW DO I ENROLL A HOME?

In the top right corner of any page on our site, see the link to “Warranty Express.” Sign in to Warranty Express with your registration number and password. Select “Warranty Express” to begin the enrollment process.

HOW DO I CHECK ON THE ENROLLMENT STATUS OF A HOME?

Once logged into “Warranty Express,” you will see options for items like “Order History” and “Report.” From there, you can order an enrollment report or check the status of a specific home.

FREE MARKETING MATERIALS!? HOW? WHERE?

From the main menu, once you are logged into “Warranty Express,” go to “Order Supplies” to request sample home warranty books and marketing pieces.

WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

RWC provides a list of “FAQs” for builders regarding builder warranties and more. See the link in the “Builders” supermenu. If you need additional information, all our contact information and helpful contact forms can be found in the “About Us” section.

WHERE’S MY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE?

From any page, hover over either “Builders” or “About Us” in the navigation bar and click “Find Your Account Executive.” Simply select your state.

MY CLIENTS HAVE QUESTIONS….HOW CAN I BEST ANSWER?

Hover over “Homeowners” in the navigation bar at the top of any page and find links to “FAQs” for homeowners, seasonal maintenance checklists, and additional resources that convince why a new home warranty from RWC is valuable to your buyers.

LOOKING FOR A FORM YOU NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION OR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL?

Check out our “Forms Library”.

RWC’s been around for over 30 years and we have 3 million home warranties under our belt. We think we know a thing or two about the home warranty industry and we don’t really lose sleep over what “the other guys” are doing.  That’s because our home warranty programs are so successful that we don’t have to copy them. But we always get a chuckle when we see those other guys “copying our homework.”

Take our name for instance. There’s one competitor out there that tries to get leads by pretending to be “Residential Warranty Company.” Nice try. There’s only one RWC and we’re it. When we run a membership drive…the other home warranty companies run membership drives. At RWC, we strive to innovate…not imitate.

Want a home warranty company that’s been around for a while?

RWC’s been in business since 1981. That’s 33 years of experience…without name changes, company buyouts or corporate restructuring. Just us…for 33 years and counting.

Want a home warranty company that’s experienced and not a “newbie” when it comes to warranty resolution?

RWC’s administered more than 3 million home warranties. Not every home has claims but when issues arise, don’t you want a company behind you that truly understands what they are doing?

Want a home warranty company that’s on solid financial ground?

RWC’s new home warranties are backed by an insurer that has been rated “A-(Excellent)” since 2001. Think about what our housing industry went through during that time frame and in spite of it all, our insurer maintained its exemplary rating. What’s more, neither RWC nor any of our Principals have ever been under supervision or receivership. In fact, our insurer boasts a surplus equity of over $100 million dollars. Ask the other guys what skeletons are in their closets!

Want a home warranty program that gives you choices?

RWC issues over 80 different types of warranties. From the standard FHA-approved variety to the customized state version to the specialty warranties for remodelers, building systems manufacturers, commercial contractors, and even detached garage builders, RWC has what you need.

Want a home warranty company that provides you with FREE FULL-COLOR marketing materials?

RWC wants the warranty program to work for you, not only for risk management, but also as a marketing tool. Check out our full-color warranties and we think you’ll agree.

Want a home warranty company who’s willing to let you be rewarded for your own good claims experience?

RWC’s exclusive Incentive program has rewarded builders with over $20 million in incentive distributions!

Don’t be fooled by the “pretenders.”

Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve - the best value for your dollar, and that’s RWC!

So go ahead and look at the other guys. We’re patient. We’ll wait for you.

RWC…We’ve Got Warranties NAILED!

The vast majority of RWC builders utilize our online enrollment system, Warranty Express: a unique membership feature of our home warranty company. But did you know that if you also pay for your homes online, you will SAVE MONEY, too? Enroll your homes on Warranty Express and pay for them online by credit card or I-check, and RWC waives the $6.95 processing fee* for each one. Think about it: if you enroll 100 homes per year, that $6.95 fee morphs into a nifty $695.00 pretty quickly!

If you still enroll your homes manually, switch to Warranty Express and take advantage of this online method for enrollment and payment of home warranties. The system is secure, your closing documents are ready for you quickly, but best of all, you save not only the $6.95 per home, but also a lot of time!

What else can you do on Warranty Express besides enrolling a home?

• Order marketing materials including sample home warranty books
• Get your enrollment history
• Get duplicate copies of closing documents
• Print FHA Acceptance Letters or State Required Affidavits
• Renew your warranty membership

Need more details about this special builder warranty program? Contact RWC - a leader in new home warranties - today!

* Does not apply to Building System Manufacturers, Remodelers, Commercial Builders, or HUD-Code (Manufactured) Manufacturers.