Builder warranty for new construction (Bellingham: real estate, insurance, new house)

[squircle]

I am looking at a new home that has been built a year back. It is from a local builder has been occupying it and has listed it recently. However, they are not offering any builder warranties for the new construction. The question I have is if this is something that is common or do most builders offer builder warranties (I know some of the builders offer a 1-2-10 coverage, but not sure how typical those are). Should I be concerned with this? I was told that if there are no issues flagged in the inspection I should be good. Could someone provide feedback on this? Thanks.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Builder's warranty is normally for the first year only and that house is at least a year old and it is no longer new construction.. Warranty has expired. There may be manufacturer's warranties still on roofing materials, siding, and paint, but those are not warranties offered by the builder, and sometimes those warranties are not transferable, so maybe you won't be getting them.

If the builder has been living in the house, most likely, he has fixed any problems that popped up. Just get a good inspection before you buy.

[Diana Holbrook]

Agree with oregonwoodsmoke... I wouldn't expect to see a warranty except on brand new custom builds. Just get a good and thorough inspection like you would any existing home.

[SusVelo]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

Agree with oregonwoodsmoke... I wouldn't expect to see a warranty except on brand new custom builds. Just get a good and thorough inspection like you would any existing home.

Don’t new homes typically have a few things show up the first year?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by SusVelo

Don’t new homes typically have a few things show up the first year?

OP is not talking about a new home. He is talking about a house that someone, probably a family, has been living in for a year or more.

Yes, brand new homes will have little things show up and the builder will normally come and fix those, if you are buying brand new construction. I bought a brand new house and it had a bathroom drawer that wasn't working right and the builder fixed that. Then summer arrived and the air-conditioner didn't work, and the HVAC company that installed it came out and replaced it, because that was under the AC warranty and not the builder's warranty.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by SusVelo

Don’t new homes typically have a few things show up the first year?

Of course. Little things that weren't finished right or need tightening.

Of course, lots of old homes have things show up.... every year.

As Woodsmoke mentions, this home isn't new now, it has been lived in. Everything is negotiable in Real Estate, and if the seller here is indeed the builder, perhaps some kind of warranty can be negotiated... but it would not be typical or boiler plate.

Beyond a new build contract, most Real Estate is "AS IS".

[Gabor25]

Good luck!

We moved from St Paul to WA state in 2019.
Most new homes built in the Twin Cities area had 6 or 10 year year warranty depending on the builder and quality.At least that was our experience before we moved to the Pac NW.

We purchased a new home in Bellingham WA in 2019.The builder's warranty was only one year!

That seems to be the case for all new home builds here...ridiculous.

The housing market remains strong and there is practically no inventory in the "popular" cities.

Builders get away with shoddy workmanship and use the cheapest materials they can find.

WA is well known as a "buyer beware" state when it comes to residential real estate.We found that out the hard way....

Home inspectors are incompetent and have no oversight nor proper credentialing .

In your case ask the seller to purchase for about $500 a private home insurance policy.

Or you can purchase one yourself if the seller is stingy.

[SusVelo]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

OP is not talking about a new home. He is talking about a house that someone, probably a family, has been living in for a year or more.

Yes, brand new homes will have little things show up and the builder will normally come and fix those, if you are buying brand new construction. I bought a brand new house and it had a bathroom drawer that wasn't working right and the builder fixed that. Then summer arrived and the air-conditioner didn't work, and the HVAC company that installed it came out and replaced it, because that was under the AC warranty and not the builder's warranty.

The builder was occupying it, seems like it’s a little more nuanced than a typical resale.