Warranties Popular

Business Thompson Okanagan - July 2007

KELOWNA - Several Okanagan builders have adopted a new warranty consumer protection program that provides warranties for every material and appliance included in new homes.

The program, trademarked as Warranty Resource Homeowner Packages, is a product of Vancouver based Conasys Consumer Assurance Systems Inc. that utilizes information technology to take consumer protection beyond provincially mandated requirements.

Encore Developments Ltd., Green Solutions Inc. and Team Construction Management Ltd., all members of the Canadian Homebuilders Association (CHBA) South Okanagan, have all enlisted in the program.

Matthew Hay, President of the Canadian Homebuilders Association (CHBA) South Okanagan, and President of Rivendell Homes in Penticton, states:

"Our association's national mandate is to raise the bar on professionalism and consumer confidence in the building industry and a great deal of our efforts are focused on lobbying to this effect. Any offering that our builder members can provide to home purchasers, which helps to meet these objectives, takes us one step closer to this goal."

The program includes both a detailed hardcopy product and component manual for the new home and an electronic searchable version of the manual. Each home has a sticker placed in the electrical panel of the home which contains a unique log in and password that gives the homeowner instant web based access to product and component information specific to their new home.

Information found inside each home's unique database includes manufacturers' warranties, as well as maintenance and operating instructions for all products used to construct the home, as well as sub-trade, supplier, manufacturer and installer contact information so that homeowners can proactively address product and installation issues.

"The Okanagan is one of the most desirable places to live in Canada, which is contributing to some of the highest housing prices in the country, therefore we need to go beyond standard offerings in order to create higher value for our home purchasers," adds Hay, whose Penticton condominium project The Verana Okanagan will include the program.

"A recent JD Power survey indicated that the most important factor in new home owner customer satisfaction levels is customer service and warranty," says Greg Stolz, Executive Vice President of Conasys Inc.

"Providing homeowners with the opportunity to take full advantage of warranties and customer service programs, as provided by manufacturers, has a dramatic effect on these customer service levels."

For information, contact Greg Stolz at 604-681-0605.