New Home Warranty - ever had to use it?

[Table 5]

Background: So we bought a semi-finished home in March that still needed a few things to complete (landscaping, garage exterior, and some bits and bobs), and of course a few things that needed to be fixed since (water leaks in the ceiling thanks to poor balcony sealing).

Our developer has been absolutely terrible when it comes to basic communication and fixing issues (which of course was much better before we bought). Doesn't answer phone calls (not once!), doesn't answer email (maybe twice over the last 8 months), so the only way to get a hold of him is when he randomly shows up on our site and I have to chase him down. At that point he's friendly and promises a lot....and then maybe it gets done. Maybe.

We've been here for 8 months now and still don't have any fencing or landscaping, and there are still a bunch of leaks and other internal issues to fix. Frankly it's embarrassing to be the one guy on the block with a front yard that looks like war-torn Sarajevo.

So I guess my question is, at what point does one reach out to the New Home Warranty program? Is there a way to do it that's more effective than others? And is it even effective? Does the warranty reimburse me if i hire people on my own? Or do I have to go through them, and they do it?

If anyone here has ever made a claim, I'd love to hear your experience.

Btw, we did have a hold-back to cover these things if they are not finished, but the hold-back just wouldn't cover everything that needs to be done, so I cant just back out and hire someone without taking a financial hit.

[chummer]

Table I made a claim back in July as a window was leaking in my 2 year old house.
I had to pay $100 to file the claim, it was reviewed and rejected as the leak wasn't caused by anything structural. My $100 was refunded.

You've got nothing to lose by filing a claim, good luck.

[Table 5]

Thanks chummer. Curious why they would reject that? Why else would a window leak if it wasn't a structural issues? Unless it was open, ha.

[killer_carlson]

In my experience, the overwhelming majority of claims are caused by workmanship, which is only covered f or one year in most policies.

[Table 5]

Thanks Killer. Do you know if the Warranty program covers things that haven't even been done yet (ie my non-existent fence or landscaping). I guess that's a workmanship issue, ha.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

In my experience, the overwhelming majority of claims are caused by workmanship, which is only covered f or one year in most policies.

Is there any particular builder to avoid? It's threads like this that make me seriously question any desire from me to have a new home built.

I've heard so many horror stories. I know those are the ones you hear and don't hear of the ones that were fine but still, not sure I'd want to.

[killer_carlson]

I don't know the Calgary market and in my experience even good builders could be hit by a bad sub-trade now and then. Tough to say.

Don't know about the fencing or landscaping.

If I ever get my act together in the new year, i'll do a condo session for CP folks in Calgary and talk about condos, the Act, and the new home warranty legislation affecting condos in particular. I do these all the time in Edmonton and area so it would be easy to put together material wise.

[CaptainYooh]

New Home Warranty programs do not get involved in exterior deficiencies, unless it is a condominium common property, which is not the case for you, I believe.

Exterior work is normally covered under your own contract with the homebuilder and, if some of it is incomplete in your opinion, you can legally challenge your homebuilder (or developer, if you purchased a building lot). Developments that have been approved under a Development Permit with the City of Calgary always require a Development Completion Permit, which would not be issued until a security for deficient items is provided by the developer for 150% of the amount of deficient work. If your development was approved under a DP, you may have some re-assurance that the deficient exterior work is going to be completed (otherwise, the developer will lose his security and the City would do it themselves). You should check if your development was approved under a DP or a simple Building Permit. If it's the latter, then your only recourse is to challenge the builder under his contract obligations to you. Good luck.

P.S. This is just a rant and it's not directed at the OP: I always wonder why people would spend weeks researching the best option to buy a pair of jeans but would buy their biggest life investment from someone operating out of their vehicle with no reputation, no name and no real operating company behind them. Just mind boggling...