A 5-year home warranty inspection focuses on the building envelope. EKAN performs warranty inspections and can assist in claim preparation, should it be required.
A recent Gibsons new home warranty inspection prompted me to write this article as a wake-up call to all new home owners. Residents in British Columbia, after living in their new house for 5 years, are coming up to the expiry date of their building envelope warranty. If homeowners are knowledgeable, then they will be on top of it. However the majority do not even remember that they have a warranty. Here are the details of new home warranties and how to apply them.
- What’s Covered Here in BC, the building envelope warranty is good for 5 years. When I do this inspection I’m looking for both defects and actual evidence of unintended water penetration resulting in material damage.
- When to Inspect Obviously before the 5 year anniversary date and at least 6 weeks before expiry to allow for claim processing.
- Sad & Sorry Most home owners forget altogether about this warranty, which they have paid for in the purchase price and it lapses unchecked and unclaimed.
- Do Not Wait There’s no reason to wait 5 years. If you identify a defect within the warranty period, then submit a claim against it. Otherwise you risk allowing the damage to increase.
- 2 for 1 Deal In BC, the new home warranty also covers structural defects for 10 years. So when I’m called in to do the 5 year inspection, I also inspect the structure at the same time.
Don’t let the warranty lapse. Protect yourself with a new home warranty inspection. If there is a legitimate claim, the repairs are made at “no charge”.