Hey there. Yes you! You are a SMART builder, if you’ve joined our New Home Warranty program as a member builder. What??? You haven’t joined yet? Why on earth not? Oh, you don’t see any good reason to spend the money? Ok, well, let’s talk! How exactly do you benefit by joining us? RISK First of all, as a builder member, you are protected against risk. When a buyer purchases a new home, they like the assurance that their home is in fabulous condition. Typically, as a builder, you would allow them to have a call-back for a punch list … Read more »

“Hi Scott! Hey, I’d like to hire you to do a few improvements on my home.” … “Well, to start with, I need a new rear entry door installed.” … “What? You’re kidding? At least a year out from now?” This was a conversation I had over a year ago with a local contractor. He literally had so much business lined up that he was scheduling a year in advance. Why the backlog? In part, this typical remodeling/home improvement wait time is due to the skilled labor shortage hitting our nation. Home sales are booming under the current economy. Builders … Read more »

The outlook for America’s housing market in 2018 and beyond is decidedly positive. Market activity is starting to pick up due to a number of factors, including lower unemployment rates, rising household incomes and restored buyer confidence in many of America’s housing markets. All of this is excellent news for new construction, which is expected to recover this year and maintain its hold in the marketplace. As housing prices continue to climb, new construction will be necessary to provide much-needed supply in some of the nation’s increasingly desirable locations. Housing Market Trends for 2018 The overall outlook moving forward into … Read more »

Why Would a Home Buyer Need a Written Warranty? If you purchased a new, 4K TV and 8 months after your got it, it stopped working, would you expect the manufacturer to repair or replace it? Naturally, you would, because most large appliances come with a written warranty. This written warranty assures you that the manufacturer will repair or replace it if it breaks after only 8 months. Buying a home is a much larger investment than a TV. It makes sense that the buyer would also expect such a large purchase to include a substantial warranty on the quality … Read more »

Active Soil or Expansive Soil We are working on some blog posts about active soil. Some of our builders live in areas of the US which, because of the geological composition of the soil, are prone to major movement in home foundations. As a result, the movement of these foundations causes structural damage to walls, floors, windows, doors, exteriors, interiors and other areas. In such scenarios, walls gap, floor tile cracks, windows become difficult to close, doors refuse to open or close and the exterior can develop large cracks. Clay is NOT Our Friend! The main soil movement happens when … Read more »

Here are our holiday hours, so you can plan ahead. But of course, since our site is always online, you can still order new warranties even if we are “closed!” That’s one of the great aspects of American eBuilder: we’re online, on time and unequaled! Friday, December 22: 8 AM-1 PM EST Monday, December 25: Closed Tuesday, December 26 through Friday, December 29: Normal hours Monday, January 1: Closed Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays to all our wonderful builders!

Pressure Treated lumber (PT lumber) is a very convenient and affordable choice to offer your home buyers for exterior applications. It offers durability, rot resistance and termite protection. The chemical process which infuses these characteristics, however, can have some undesirable consequences. One such consequence is twisting over time. How Pressure Treated Lumber is Created Originally, manufacturers preserved Pressure Treated lumber with a chemical known as Chromated Copper Arsenic. The EPA eventually decided that the toxicity of this chemical was quite dangerous and recommended that such wood be treated with a penetrating oil finish bi-annually. But over time, lumber manufacturers stopped … Read more »

We’ve all seen “those” homes … you know, the ones which have a giant maple tree or some such arboreal entity looming about 2” from the house. It may have looked cute when it was a sapling, but in full size, it’s far too close for comfort. And that’s just the part you can see. The part you can’t see, below ground, poses a huge threat to your home’s structural integrity. Let’s learn how to landscape purposefully to avoid such issues as your home ages. Space, the Final Frontier When you plant trees as part of your landscape plan, you … Read more »

Tile is still an exciting trend in new home construction and in remodeling as well. But as with most trends, the styles and patterns for kitchens and baths are changing for 2017. We’ll let you know how! Subway Tile In recent years, subway tile, with its clean lines and pristine white glaze, has become a staple for kitchen and bathroom walls. This style is still going strong, but with a twist. Instead of only the white glaze, manufacturers are promoting pops of color for subway tiles. From pastel pinks to bold turquoise, subway tile options are booming. In addition, installation … Read more »