Having your home built or renovated can be exciting but also concerning. You want the construction work to meet your expectations but your friends or neighbors might have told you stories about problems they experienced with construction defects. This is why you want a warranty that guarantees the quality of the work.
A warranty is one way you can hold a contractor accountable for the work performed on your residence. Warranties come in different forms, so you want to be sure you have a warranty that will hold up if you choose to litigate the matter. FindLaw breaks down the kinds of warranties generally available.
Written warranties
A written warranty typically identifies itself as a warranty. If you buy a household product, the warranty may come on the box or on paper. Construction contractors may offer you a warranty as part of your overall agreement. Warranties basically state that a product or a service will have a specific level of reliability or quality, perhaps stating the word “guarantee” as part of the notice. Be sure that you ask for a warranty up front so that the contractor will include it.
Untraditional warranties
Be aware of warranties that might not appear to be a traditional warranty. These kinds of warranties do not contain words such as “warranty” or offer a guarantee per se. Nonetheless, they offer performance up to a certain threshold, usually a span of time. If a part of your home renovation starts to fail before reaching the threshold, you can hold the contractor responsible for repairs or replacements.
Spoken warranties
Not all warranties are in written form. Sellers and contractors may verbally promise you the reliability of their materials or services up to a certain time period. In the event the work or materials do not perform, you may go to the contractor and request repairs or replacement. However, spoken warranties are not easy to prove in court. Getting your warranty in writing may help ensure that you have a legally binding agreement to enforce.