Planned obsolescence in new home construction?
March 12th, 2007 by Mark FlandersThe between-the-lines message in Mike Crowley’s statement in the Tacoma News Tribune appears to be that new home construction is expected to fall apart in a few short years!
Wait a moment. Let me back up a bit and give you some details first.
- Mike Crowley is the executive vice president of the Master Builders Association of Pierce County.
- Senator Weinstein D-Mercer Island has proposed a bill; SB-5550
- Senate Bill 5550 is a very simple bill which would make warranties mandatory on new home construction.
- Mike Crowley thinks this is a bad idea.
Mr. Crowley apparently made the following statement (as reported by the News Tribune) concerning the Senator’s bill:
“It’s one more thing that will raise the price of housing”
Senator Weinstein’s bill, SB-5550, if passed by the House, would require that new homes in Washington State be warranteed against the following ;
- any defects in materials or workmanship – 2years
- any defects in electrical, heating, plumbing, cooling and ventilating systems (with some exclusions) – 3 years
- defects leading to water penetration – 5 years
- any structural defects – 10 years
Unless I am missing something crucial here, the only way this bill can lead to any significant increase in the cost of New Home Construction is if these types of defects are common. After reading the bill through several times, I am impressed with it’s simplicity. This bill is designed with one purpose. It will give protection to consumers from builders of shoddy homes. None of the items in Senator Weinstein’s list is unreasonable.
If you are anything like me, you don’t expect your home to fall down in the first 10 years. If you are anything like me, you don’t expect it to spring water leaks in the first 5 years. And if you are anything like me, the other two items on SB-5550 seem to be reasonable expectations for the purchaser of a New Home. Clearly, Mr. Crowley is not like you and me!
Share on Facebook
No related posts.
Tags: bremerton real estate, kitsap real estate blog, port orchard real estate, poulsbo real estate, real estate blog, seattle real estate blog, silverdale real estate
neveragain: This is what I love about blogging. You meet the most interesting people!
Is the HOBB site your site? I just went over and prowled around. It’s loaded with information. I’ll go back for a more in-depth look. But, I’d like to add a link to my article if this is your site.
Let me know.
Mark
I never in my life realized when I bought a “new” home my life would be a daily hell.
I would recommend for the full story please go to http://www.hobb.org. Read the complaints, the articles and homeowners websites. Although I am in Texas I have personally written Senator Weinstein and have been following this bill. It is very much noted on HOBB (homeowners for better building)
WE can only pray for some justice.
Do not think there is anything you can do to protect yourself from shoddy construction. I did all I could and ended up w/a lemon. Checked the BBB (and that is the Big joke,) had a good inspector and still ended up w/ a lemon. Not one single person is held accountable.
One story is worse then another.
Tony, I have to admit I read the comment twice and then I started laughing. I wonder if he was thinking about what he was saying.
Wow and wow again! I can not believe Mike Crowley can say that with a straight face. Reminds me of the lobbyist in the movie “Thank You For Smoking.” If a builder can not construct a new home and not meet those minimum standards, do they deserve a contractors license?
Great post.