HOME WARRANTY
Providing New Home Warranty Coverage in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
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Home Warranty
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
INSURANCE
Offering builders and developers construction insurance for all types of development.
DEPOSIT INSURANCE
Utilizing a Deposit Insurance facility program will reduce a developer’s construction costs.
CONSTRUCTION FINANCING
Sourcing capital for land and construction at industry leading terms.
HOME WARRANTY BUSINESS
Builders and Developers
WBI’s core business of new home warranty insurance can be provided to both the single-family builder and the larger multifamily developer in each of the four Western Canadian Provinces BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The home warranty is a limited policy of insurance covering defects in a new home and designed to give homeowners a peace of mind on their investment. It protects the homeowner in case certain types of defects arise after construction is complete. It is legislated in BC & Alberta and the limits of coverage differ from province to province; therefore it is important to understand what your responsibilities and obligations are as a builder and or developer.
Don’t hesitate to give us a call, our staff is here to help you every step of the way.
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK?
Home Warranty Cycle
BC AND WESTERN CANADA
Home Warranty Types
HOME WARRANTY IN BC AND WESTERN PROVINCES
The warranty coverage and limits differ from province to province. Please refer to the map below to see a brief overview of coverage in each province.
Home Warranty Type - 2/5/10
Limits of Coverage
- Single Family – up to $200,000/unit
- Multi-Family – $100,000/unit
- Common Property – $100,000/unit, up to a maximum of $2.5 million per building in a strata plan
- *Exclusions may apply
Summary of Coverage
- 1 Year (any defects in materials and labour)
- 2 Year (building systems, exterior cladding, building code)
- 5 Year (building envelope)
- 10 Year (structural)
Home Warranty Type - 1/2/5/10
Limits of Coverage
- Single Family – up to $265,000/unit
- Multi-Family – $130,000/unit
- Common Property – $130,000/unit, up to a maximum of $3.3 million per building in a condo plan
Summary of Coverage
- 1 Year (defects in materials and labour)
- 2 Year (defects in delivery & distribution systems)
- 5 Year (defects in the building envelope)
- 10 Year (structural defects)
Home Warranty Type - 1/5
Limits of Coverage
- Single Family up to $50,000/unit
- Multi-Family - $50,000/unit
- Common Property – $50,000/unit, up to a maximum of $2.5 million per building in a condo plan
- *Exclusions may apply
Summary of Coverage
- 1 Year (defects in materials and labour)
- 5 Year (structural defects)
Home Warranty Type - 1/2/5/10
Limits of Coverage
- Single Family – up to $265,000/unit
- Multi-Family – $130,000/unit
- Common Property – $130,000/unit, up to a maximum of $3.3 million per building in a condo plan
Summary of Coverage
- 1 Year (defects in materials and labour)
- 2 Year (defects in delivery & distribution systems)
- 5 Year (defects in the building envelope)
- 10 Year (structural defects)
Home Warranty Type - 2/5/10
Limits of Coverage
- Single Family – up to $200,000/unit
- Multi-Family – $100,000/unit
- Common Property – $100,000/unit, up to a maximum of $2.5 million per building in a strata plan
- *Exclusions may apply
Summary of Coverage
- 1 Year (any defects in materials and labour)
- 2 Year (building systems, exterior cladding, building code)
- 5 Year (building envelope)
- 10 Year (structural)
KEEP YOUR INVESTMENT PROTECTED
Homeowners
Maintenance
Following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment. It is best to establish a routine for yourself and you will find that the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can reduce and in some cases eliminate the need for costly repairs later on.
Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During the winter months it is important to check your home carefully for any problems that may arise and take corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess for winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months ahead. Over the summer there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.
While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year round:
Winter Maintenance
- Keep gutters and roof valleys clear of snow. Allowing snow to build up in these areas can cause ice damming to occur which can result in costly repairs.
- Keep accumulations of snow away from the foundation and siding of your home. When snow begins to melt, the excessive water can overload the perimeter drainage causing water to penetrate through cracks in the foundation and into the home. Accumulations of snow can also cause water damage to wood siding and allow moisture to wick up underneath the siding/house wrap and into the exterior wall assembly.
- Replace cracked caulking around bathtubs, showers and sink fixtures to prevent water penetration in behind tiles and countertops.
- Inspect basements for signs of water ingress. This would include mould and mildew stains on carpets and baseboards, wet patches on exposed concrete and musty odours.
- Check windows and exterior doors for drafts. Replace or repair weather stripping where required.
Spring Maintenance
- Clean out gutters removing leaves, branches and sediment from asphalt shingles.
- Make sure there are no puddles accumulating around the foundation. Re-slope these areas away from the house to promote drainage.
- Inspect the exterior of your home for any damage to siding, painting, caulking etc. Make repairs where required. Fill any cracks in the foundation or concrete surfaces with an elastomeric caulking to prevent water penetration.
- Inspect roof to make sure that there are no missing shingles, roof vents or other damage. Make repairs where required.
- Get your air conditioning system ready for summer. Have it professionally serviced and cleaned to prevent problems from arising down the road.
Summer Maintenance
- Check home for signs of insect/pest infestation. Keep vegetation away from the sides of the home and seal any openings where insects/pests can gain entry.
- Clean and repair deck/patio as needed. Re-stain areas where stain has worn and tighten any loose boards or railings.
- Check dryer vents and other exhaust vents. Have them professionally cleaned if required. A build up of lint in the dryer vent is a serious fire hazard.
- Clean window and stairwell drains of debris. Make sure that water drains freely.
- Inspect plumbing within the home for leaks. Clean aerators on faucets to remove any build-up of sediment.
Fall Maintenance
- Flush out hot water tank to remove any sediment. Remember to turn off the electricity or gas prior to draining the water. Make sure that tank is full prior to turning back on the electricity or gas.
- Have the furnace or boiler serviced by a qualified technician. Replace any air filters with proper sized air filters. Open heat ducts and make sure that dust and dirt are vacuumed out.
- Turn off all outdoor water spigots. If self draining spigots, make certain that garden hoses have been removed. Failure to do so will cause the water within valve assembly to freeze, splitting the thin brass material. When the water spigot is used again in the spring, water will leak into the wall assembly.
- Turn off irrigation system and if not a gravity draining system, have the lines blown out to prevent the lines from freeze damage.
- Clean leaves and debris from gutters, roof and deck drains.
Issues with your Home
If you have an issue with your home and it falls under the new home warranty coverage, your first step is to make your builder / developer aware of your concern. It is always best to communicate and cooperate with your builder as they have an obligation to fix any warrantable defects. Your policy is a limited policy and not all aspects of your home are covered under the warranty. Please be sure to read your policy wording carefully as there are certain conditions and exclusions that may apply.
If you need to submit a claim under your warranty policy, please submit a written submission including an itemized list of the issues to our office within the applicable expiry dates as noted on your policy.
