Looking for quality builders in Melbourne? Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you check the terms and conditions listed in your warranty.
Warranties aren’t exactly an exciting topic, but they are an important one. Even with the highest quality builder and the most experienced team in your corner, it’s likely minor adjustments will be required as your new home ‘settles’ and begins to deal with turbulent weather conditions as well as the addition of new residents living in the space. You need the peace of mind that your home’s first service will be carried out quickly and efficiently, with no cost to your back pocket.
ABN Group’s experienced Warranties Manager, Scott Bowmaker, shows you what to look for in your new build warranty to ensure you remain covered.
Know the length of your service warranty
By law, Australian consumers are covered for a minimum of six years which includes a mandatory 90-day service period. Scott says it’s this short timeframe that can lead to issues further down the track.
‘The problem with such a short standard service warranty period is that your new home doesn’t experience all four seasons before your cover ends,’ says Scott. ‘At Boutique Homes, we offer a 25-year structural guarantee with a 12-month service warranty period.’
‘Seasonal changes in temperature and weather conditions will test the materials. Door adjustments, minor cracking as materials expand and shrink, and adjustments to windows and cabinetry are common in these early stages, no matter who you build with,’ says Scott.
‘That’s why we decided to extend our service warranty at Boutique Homes beyond the 90 days – a pretty unique move in the building industry. Our customers get to experience their new home for a full year, knowing that we will cover any minor adjustments that come up – quickly and free of charge.’
Typical adjustments outside of warranty could set you back up to $400, says Scott, along with the inconvenience of booking in the relevant trades.
Understand supplier warranties and their conditions
Beyond service and structural warranties, you should scope individual supplier warranties, particularly for products installed in frequently used spaces, such as your bathrooms and kitchen. It’s important your builder is not only using quality, trusted and established brands that offer extended warranties, such as Caroma, but that they also remain fair in their warranty start times.
‘We ensure the install warranty for suppliers begins from the date you get your keys – not from when the appliance is installed. Given the length of some builds, this can make a big difference to how long you are covered for,’ says Scott.
Know what you’re in for during the claims process
If and when adjustments are required, you don’t want to spend weeks sorting out the repairs and replacements. Who needs the added stress?
Before construction begins or any documentation is signed, ask your new builder what is involved in the service warranty claims process and how quickly they tend to resolve any issues.
‘At Boutique Homes, every query gets a response within 24 hours and we aim to have an assessor out to the site within a week, on average,’ says Scott.
‘Make sure you ask about your builder’s warranty team. It’s important they have the right people and support in place to deliver on what they’re promising. At Boutique Homes, we have full-time warranty coordinators whose job it is to field calls, follow up on claims, book assessments and works, and support our customers until they are satisfied with the result.’
Ultimately, find a builder that will be with you every step of your journey – including the 12-month period after you move in.
‘Find a reputable builder, but also a builder that stands by their product. At Boutique Homes, we pride ourselves on assessing each and every claim – no matter how big or small, warranted or not,’ says Scott.
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