For More Information

Lew Squires, owner of Squires Custom Homes

Texas Residential Contruction Commission

House Bill 730

Texas House Bill 730, which went into effect January 2005, covers "residential construction, including certain warranties, building and performance standards, and dispute resolution."

This law means that any new home (or remodel over $20,000) must be warrantied by the home buider as follows:

The entire structure must be warrantied for 12 months
The electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling systems must be warrantied for 24 months
The slab must be warrantied for 10 years.

What does this mean for home buyers?

Well, home buyers should insist their builders provide their Texas license number. They should assure that their house is registered with the state. They should inquire about the law-mandated warranties -- how the builder will assure them, what building methods are used which extend the life of the property, what your rights are as a home owner.