New Year, New Insights: Key Takeaways from January’s General Membership Meeting
The North Texas Home Builders Association, alongside the Wichita Falls Association of Realtors, kicked off 2025 with a valuable session on home warranties, swimming pool warranties, remodeling warranties, and builder’s risk insurance. Tiffany Acree, Senior Vice President of Sales at StrucSure Home Warranty Company, led the discussion at the January 14 General Membership Meeting.
With over 30 years of experience in the new home warranty industry, Tiffany Acree has been a driving force at StrucSure since 2007. Known for her leadership and dedication to client success, she has earned multiple accolades, including Associate of the Year awards, the 2018 Star Award for Associate Professional of the Year from the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), and the prestigious Herman J. Smith Legend Award from the Greater Fort Worth Builders Association in 2019. A twelve-time member of StrucSure’s Million Dollar Club, Tiffany was the first to achieve million-dollar producer status in 2011, a distinction she has maintained every year since.
Tiffany is also deeply involved in homebuilder associations throughout Texas, further solidifying her expertise and commitment to the industry. Her hands-on approach and unwavering dedication have earned her the trust and loyalty of builders across the state.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Importance of Professional Warranties Working with a builder offering their own warranty can be risky. If the builder goes out of business or is unwilling to address warranty issues, your coverage may be compromised. A professional warranty company, on the other hand, provides peace of mind, security, and protection. It ensures that you have a government-regulated, high-quality warranty that also serves as a marketing asset.
2. New Home Warranties: Protecting Both Builder and Buyer New home warranties safeguard both the builder and the buyer from legal and financial exposure due to construction and structural defects. These warranties not only help manage the builder’s risks but also provide homebuyers with peace of mind about their investment.
Types of Coverage Explained by Tiffany:
A. New Home Warranty (1, 2, & 6 or 10 Years)
- 1-Year Warranty: Covers defects in workmanship and materials that do not meet established performance standards.
- 2-Year Warranty: Covers defects in electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and mechanical systems.
- 6 or 10-Year Warranty: Provides direct coverage for major structural defects starting from the day of closing.
B. Remodeling Warranty (1, 2, & 10 Years)
- 1-Year Warranty: Covers defects in workmanship and materials that do not meet established performance standards.
- 2-Year Warranty: Covers defects in electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, and mechanical systems.
- 10-Year Warranty: Provides direct coverage for major structural defects starting from the completion of the project. Note: Coverage is limited to the cost of the remodel.
C. Pool Warranty (1, 2, 5, & 10 Years)
- 1-Year Warranty: Covers deficiencies in workmanship.
- 2-Year Warranty: Covers electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
- 5-Year Warranty: Covers plaster defects like osmotic blistering, spot etching, or delamination.
- 10-Year Warranty: Covers major structural defects resulting in water loss due to physical damage to the pool shell.
3. Builder’s Risk & General Liability Insurance Tiffany also briefly discussed the importance of builder’s risk and general liability insurance.
- Builder’s Risk Insurance: Protects contractors, builders, and remodelers from financial losses related to property damage, including materials on-site, due to incidents such as fire, flood, or theft.
- General Liability Insurance: Protects against third-party legal claims arising from accidents, injuries, or property damage related to construction activities. Coverage includes:
- Bodily injuries on and off-site
- Damage to neighboring properties
- Legal fees and court costs
- Medical payments for injured parties
- Long-term construction defects
Conclusion
The information Tiffany shared about StrucSure’s products and services provides valuable insight for anyone in the homebuilding or remodeling industry. It’s important to research and compare different warranty and insurance options before making a purchase, as not all companies offer the same level of coverage.