Homeowner Warranty Program

The enclosed document outlines the Rock Solid Builders Homeowner Warranty Program, our Homeowner Orientation Process and our Warranty Service Request Procedures. The Homeowner Warranty Program gives Rock Solid Builders (RSB) LLC, a competitive edge over builders who do not have such a warranty program by demonstrating our professionalism, thoroughness and commitment to long-term customer satisfaction.

In the wake of misunderstandings about change orders, site visits, level of quality, delivery dates during the building process, and confusion over maintenance and warranty issues after move-in, we now recognize our responsibility to guide our customers more effectively during the home buying process. The RSB Homeowner Handbook guides our buyer(s) through all the steps in the home buying process including construction site visits, orientation and closing. Most importantly to the homeowner(s), the Homeowner Handbook clearly defines the responsibilities of the homeowner and the builder during the warranty period.

The Homeowner Handbook (herein referred to as the "handbook") is published by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GA-HBA) and is based upon a careful analysis of industry standards and accepted building practices in Georgia.

The following front sections of the three-ring bound handbook will be periodically updated by RSB:

Builder;
Contract; and
Warranties.

The balance of the handbook is divided into the following sections:

Construction and Maintenance;
Appliances and Equipment;
Attics;
Cabinets and Countertops;
Caulking;
Concrete and Foundations;
Decks;
Doors and Windows;
Electrical System;
Exterior Finishes;
Fireplaces;
Flooring;
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC);
Insulation;
Interior Construction;
Landscaping;
Plumbing;
Roofing;
Wood, and
Additional Resources.

Section 1 of the handbook describes the construction process of the house (by trade) and gives the reader helpful hints related to construction site safety and helpful move-in reminders such as the purchase of fire extinguishers, the establishment of family fire escape procedures and other significant items.

HOMEOWNER ORIENTATION

The homeowner orientation is an introduction to the new home and its many features and should educate them about the use and care of their home.

The homeowner(s) have been pre-instructed by the sales staff to read the handbook prior to the orientation, to bring their copy of the handbook to the orientation and to bring any list of questions that they may have regarding the handbook, so that they may be addressed during the orientation.
The sales staff instructs the homeowners(s) that the orientation will be scheduled for approximately one week prior to closing, and will take between 1 and 3 hours of time; and should only be attended by the homebuyer(s) as children, relatives, friends and home-inspectors are a distraction and should not be present. Home inspections performed by professionals must be usually performed a minimum of five (5) days prior to the homeowner orientation.
Should a homebuyer's representative by required for the orientation due to the unavailability of the homeowner, it is imperative that the homebuyer(s) authorize the designee to be their representative, and that all parties understand that the designee is to perform the final walk as well as the homeowner orientation.
The orientation will be performed by the Superintendent, the Warranty Administrator or by one of the builders.
The homebuyer(s) are asked if they have made time to read the Handbook and whether they have any questions about it.
The orientation is intended to identify items that need to be corrected, particularly those things that are not warranted by RSB or are considered maintenance items (i.e. scuff marks on flooring, broken windows, holes in screens).
The orientation usually starts at the entry of the house and proceeds through each floor then concludes with the exterior of the home.
A copy of the orientation list is given to the homeowner(s) at the conclusion of the appointment.
Any items noted during the orientation are to be completed by the Superintendent prior to closing, with any "un-resolved" items to be addressed during the "Pre-settlement/Acceptance review" which is performed during the "final walk."
Basic operation of the interior portions of the home is discussed during the orientation; the following items are covered:

Appliances and limited warranty information;
Carpet, maintenance
Disposal, operation and reset procedures;
Electric, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFIS) and arc-fault prevention circuitry in bedrooms;
Fixtures and limited warranty information;
Furnace operation, switches, filters, etc.
Hardwood;
HVAC, Air conditioning registers and returns, programmable thermostat, outside air over 95°F, allows a 15 degree split to inside air, outside air under 90°F, allows a 20 degree split.
HVAC, heat calibrated to ±3°F, 60° differential for heat (0° outside can get 60° inside temperature);
Insulation, exterior walls (R-13), vaulted ceilings (R-19), ceilings (R-30);
Marble tubs/vanities, care with soft scrub, etc.
Paint, walls flat latex, trim semi-gloss latex, exterior-latex (Duron brand).
Plumbing, shutoffs, freeze procedures;
Vinyl shelving (75 lb/ft2);
Vinyl flooring, typical 5 year wear, no wax; and

During the interior portion of the orientation, applicable limited warranty information is briefly discussed for items that warranty coverage is provided by others (i.e. appliances, lighting, garage door, etc.). Some examples of limited warranties carried by others for materials and equipment installed in RSB homes are listed (but not limited to) the following:

Exterior Siding, warranted by the manufacturer, typically 50 years;
Hot water heater, warranted by the manufacturer, typically five (5) years;
Insulated garage doors, warranted by the manufacturer, typically 10 years;
Lighting, warranted by the manufacturer, typically one (1) year;
Roofing shingles, warranted by the manufacturer, typically 30 years;
Windows, warranted by the manufacturer, typically 10 years to lifetime.

Exterior Orientation

Air conditioning;
Concrete;
Electric outlets, GFCIs;
Gutters;
Masonry, cultured stone, brick or stucco as applicable;
Paint;
Plumbing cutoffs, hose bibs, pop offs, primary drains, secondary drains, sewer cleanouts, vents, water meters;
Shingles;
Siding;
Roof vents;
Seed and straw, fescue (green year-round) if applicable;
Sod: Bermuda, dormant in winter, water 1.5 to 3 hours per week in summer;
Screens; fiberglass, removable, clean with soap and water;
Water heater, pilot operation (if gas).

During both portions of the orientation (interior and exterior) the person performing the orientation briefly discusses the following four (4) Rock Solid Builder forms to be acknowledged by the homeowner(s), so that upon completion of the orientation, the homeowner(s) or their designee can readily sign off on the following documents:

Affidavit of Utility Transfer. This form is acknowledged by the homeowner(s) or designee that they must transfer all utilities for the home within five (5) days of closing.
Warranty Request Guidelines. This form informs the homeowner(s) that warranty requests are broken into two (2) categories, "emergency and non-emergency" and provides emergency phone contact numbers for electrical, HVAC and plumbing issues. It also describes the procedure to fax any non-emergency Warranty Service Requests to RSB at our fax number (770-917-0053).
Sheetrock repair form. This form describes the RSB warranty policy for handling sheetrock screw pops; seam limes and cracks common in gypsum wallboard.
To further clarify some commonly misunderstood, non-warrantable items, the last form is used to inform the homeowner of specific items not warranted by RSB.

HomeBuyer(s) Lists

Customers often bring a "list' to the sales office related to their own private inspection of a home. When the homebuyer(s) present the concerns, RSB reviews them and responds to their contents with the homebuyer(s) within 24 hours, if possible.

The Final Walk

Prior to the initiation of the final walk, any remaining items to be corrected should be itemized on an Affidavit of Acceptable Completion (i.e. punch list). During the final walk, the homeowner(s) inspects that the items noted during the orientation have been corrected to the standards that the home was constructed to.

Should during the final walk there be additional items identified that were missed in the original orientation (those not meeting our standards of construction), RSB will add those items to the Affidavit; however, the final walk is not to be construed as a second inspection of the home and that generally, no additional cosmetic items (caulk, drywall, paint, etc.) are added during the final walk.

The Affidavit of Acceptable Completion indicates that the quality of workmanship and material is acceptable to the homebuyer(s) with any exceptions noted therein. The homebuyer(s) must provide reasonable access to the home for RSB to arrange for repairs of the exception items and all items are to be completed within a period of 10 working days from the date of the final walk.

The construction superintendent shall be responsible for insuring the Affidavit is completed in a timely manner, with the homeowner signing upon completion of the Affidavit (punch list). It is extremely important to RSB that the construction superintendent meet the 10 day completion schedule and when it is not possible to meet the 10 day schedule to keep the homeowner informed of the schedule for completion.

Extended Warranty Program

The enclosed document outlines the Rock Solid Builders Extended Homeowner Warranty Program.

Rock Solid Builders (RSB) LLC, provides (where applicable) a limited 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty at no cost to the homeowner, which covers workmanship and systems for a two (2) year period, and limited structural coverage for a ten (10) year period, collectively known as America's Choice®. The homebuyer(s) signature is received at closing upon an extended warranty application, and forwarded to the Home Buyers Warranty Corporation by Rock Solid Builders closing attorney, with payment in full for the policy. The policy is normally delivered from the Home Buyers Warranty Corporation within four (4) to six (6) weeks after closing.

The warranty is divided in the following sections:

Definitions;
Express Limited Warranty (systems);
Reporting a Defect
Express Limited Warranty (structural);
Reporting a Structural defect;
Express Limited Warranty (condominiums);
Conditions;
Exclusions, and Construction Performance Standards.

Additionally, a valuable Home Maintenance Manual is provided which includes great monthly, twice a year and annual maintenance items the homebuyer(s) should institute into their home care program. The extended warranty is fully transferable, up to the remaining amount of the limited warranty, with no additional costs related to such successions.

For more information related to the 2-10 extended warranty program provided by Home Buyers Warranty®, contact them at www.2-10.com