Today’s home buyers are tech-savvy shoppers who routinely turn to the internet when searching for new homes. As a successful builder, you understand the vital importance of maintaining a solid presence on the internet so potential buyers can find you, learn about what you offer, and discover what makes you better than “the other guys”.

RWC has an entire section of our website dedicated to educating the homebuyer on everything from how to choose a home builder to understanding what a new home warranty is all about. The following resources can help explain the value of your decision to provide an RWC warranty on your home:

• The Value of an RWC Warranty to Your Home Buyer
• What Your RWC Membership Means to Your Buyer
• Tips on Choosing a Builder (of course being an RWC Member factors in there)
• What’s the Difference Between a Structural Warranty and an Appliance Warranty
• Important Warranty Terms to Know and Understand

Something ‘extra’ you provide which sets you apart from the competition is the fact you offer a 3rd party insured warranty – and not just any warranty – but the RWC warranty. The sales process is complex with a variety of topics to discuss with potential home buyers. Our goal is to make the warranty explanation easier for you by expanding our online resources for your homebuyers. Hopefully, this section will become your “go to” resource for warranty information for your staff and your buyers.

Obviously, it makes perfect sense to provide your buyers with information about your warranty. Simply link your site to the RWC Homeowner section to point them in the right direction and we’ll tell the story for you! We suggest linking to www.rwcwarranty.com/homeowners as your starting point. Your buyers will learn about the extra mile you travel to demonstrate your professionalism and customer service by providing them with this written RWC warranty.

Did you know that as a member of RWC or HOME of Texas you may be eligible for our General Liability Insurance Program through RWC Insurance Advantage? If you would like to learn how we might meet your general liability coverage needs, call RWC Insurance Advantage today at 866-454-2155 or click here to get a quote. Plus, be sure to read on for some helpful hints about certificates of insurance, subs and staying on top of policies.

Insurance agents hear it all the time; are certificates really that important? If my subs’ certificates aren’t current, am I on the hook for what their policies don’t cover? What about exclusions on my policy? Maybe a hypothetical claim will help provide some answers. Let’s say you contract with a roofer. He’s not the roofer you usually work with but, he has a good reputation and he gives you a certificate of insurance that shows he has his own General Liability policy. It has the same limits as your policy with the RWC Insurance Advantage program. No worries here. His policy will respond first to injuries or damage to others that he might cause while working on your behalf. However, you also notice his Workers Comp is due to renew in about a week but, he assures you the renewal is going to happen and he’ll provide you with an updated certificate just as soon as he gets it from his agent. You need to get your latest project under roof as soon as possible because the weather has been uncertain; so, you decide to take a chance. Besides, it shouldn’t take a week to do a roof. What could go wrong?

The weather takes a turn for the worse. By the time the roof is started it’s been over a week. Then you get the news one of the roofer’s employees has been injured. He didn’t fall but, he hurt his back. Only then do you remember the promised certificate hasn’t appeared. Then your roofer admits his policy was not renewed because he failed to make a payment. Your policy doesn’t cover injuries to the employees of subcontractors. That’s because workers compensation insurance is available to them and is designed to cover the medical bills and lost wages of his employees. As it turns out, waiting for a renewal certificate of insurance might have avoided you being held liable for a loss that isn’t covered under your policy.

• Make sure all your subcontractors provide you with up-to-date certificates of insurance.
• Ask them if they have any open or, unreported claims.
• Be aware of what your policy does and does not cover.

Don’t let someone else’s lack of planning become your problem.

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.