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This is a timely subject. It encompasses a most misunderstood part of the new home building industry...
THE THIRD PARTY WARRANTY!
Virtually all of us are familiar with most common insurance coverages. What most of us have never heard of
are speciality products which are unique to the building industry. One of these is the THE THIRD PARTY
WARRANTY which is supplied to the builder by either national companies or regional warranty companies.
No matter the source, the type of protection provided is substantially the same and equally secure.
THE THIRD PARTY WARRANTY provides protections to builders but also contains protections for you the
homebuyer - because they specifically cover voids in both the builder's and the buyer's umbrella of
protection.
Which voids does it cover? The "All Risk" homeowner's policy that every homeowner carries is a very broad
document. However, it does not cover everything! THIRD PARTY WARRANTIES are narrowly focused and cover
specific things that the "All-Risk" policies ignore or exclude.
"All-Risk" policies ignore insuring the builder's warranty and providing a neutral third party dispute
resolution mechanism. And, they specifically exclude 10 year protection against major structural defects.
Conversely, THE THIRD PARTY WARRANTY specifically provides protection in those three areas while excluding
broad based coverage... already found in "All-Risk" policies.
What is equally unique to THIRD PARTY WARRANTIES is that they can only be purchased by the builder.
Therefore, the only way that a new home buyer can receive this protection is if they buy a new home from a
builder who participates in a THIRD PARTY WARRANTY PROGRAM such as the BONDED BUILDERS HOME WARRANTY
ASSOCIATION. The modest cost of this "gap" coverage is included in the purchase price of the house as are
any other forms of protection that the builder buys.
More and more builders strongly believe in the value of a THIRD PARTY WARRANTY for themselves and their
buyers. They consider it to be a win-win-win situation; it's good for the builder, good for the buyer and
good for the industry and they include its protection in every house that they build.
Some builders believe that a THIRD PARTY WARRANTY is an unnecessary expense and refuse to purchase it,
while other builders may want to purchase THE THIRD PARTY WARRANTY protection but are unable to meet the
stringent underwriting requirements for financial, technical and customer service performance.
Is a THIRD PARTY BONDED BUILDERS WARRANTY important to you?
It should be! Because it means that your builder cared enough about you, his/her customer, to provide the
missing coverages. Protections that can only be supplied in a THIRD PARTY WARRANTY by a quality builder who
has qualified for membership in the Bonded Builders Home Warranty Association.
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