Homeowner Resources
Know Your Rights When
Your Builder Won't Fix It.
When construction defects appear and your builder stops returning calls, knowing your state's warranty laws and complaint procedures is the difference between feeling stuck and taking action. These free, state-specific guides show you exactly where you stand.
What These Guides Cover
Practical Knowledge for
Real Homeowner Problems
Every state handles construction defects differently. Some have mandatory builder warranties written into law. Others rely on implied warranties built up through decades of court decisions. The timelines, the complaint channels, and the repair request procedures all vary, and most homeowners have no idea what protections they actually have until it is too late.
These guides break down the specifics so you can act with clarity, not guesswork. Each one covers:
Whether you are dealing with cracking foundations, leaking roofs, HVAC failures, or drainage problems that appeared after move in, understanding your state's framework is the first step toward getting it resolved.
State Specific Guides
Find Your State
Each guide is tailored to your state's specific laws, agencies, and procedures. Search for your state or browse below.
Alabama
Implied Warranty / Common Law + State Licensure
Alabama protects new home buyers through a common law implied warranty of habitability (Cochran v. Keeton, Sims v. Lewis) plus state level licensing through the Home Builders Licensure Board. This guide covers the 2 year / 6 year / 7 year time limits, the HBLB complaint process, the Homeowners' Recovery Fund (up to $30,000 per transaction), and the 10 day post filing notice that can make or break a recovery claim.
Florida
Implied Warranty + Chapter 558 Right to Cure + SB 360
Florida protects new home buyers through a common law implied warranty of habitability (Gable v. Silver) and a mandatory Chapter 558 pre suit notice (60 day / 120 day). This guide covers SB 360's cut of the statute of repose from 10 to 7 years, the doubled Recovery Fund caps effective January 2025, and the FDUTPA fee shifting provision.
Georgia
Implied Warranty + Right to Repair Act + No Discovery Rule
Georgia protects new home buyers through a common law implied warranty for builder vendors (Holmes v. Worthey) and a mandatory 90 day Right to Repair notice under O.C.G.A. § 8-2-38. This guide covers the unusual rule that Georgia does NOT apply a discovery rule to property damage construction defects, the 8 year statute of repose, and the fact that Georgia has no contractor recovery fund.
Kentucky
Implied Warranty / Common Law
Kentucky does not have a mandatory statutory new home warranty. Instead, homeowners are protected by the implied warranty of habitability, established through case law. This guide covers what that means for your repair claim, how to file complaints with the Attorney General and local code enforcement, and the critical deadlines you need to know.
Minnesota
Mandatory Statutory Warranty
Minnesota has one of the most comprehensive statutory new home warranty systems in the country, with mandatory tiered coverage built into state law. This guide explains the 1 year, 2 year, and 10 year warranty periods, how to file with the Department of Labor and Industry, and the steps to take when your builder is unresponsive.
Ohio
Common Law Workmanlike Manner Duty + Mandatory Right to Cure
Ohio protects new home buyers through a common law duty to build in a workmanlike manner (Mitchem v. Johnson, Jones v. Centex) that cannot be waived by contract, plus a mandatory pre suit right to cure procedure under Revised Code Chapter 1312. This guide covers the 60 day notice trap, the HCSSA (including 2024 HB 50 amendments), and the 4 year / 6 year / 10 year time limits.
Oklahoma
Jeanguneat Implied Warranty + OCPA + Contract Triggered § 765.6
Oklahoma protects new home buyers primarily through judge made law. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in Jeanguneat v. Jackie Hames Construction Co. (1978) recognized an implied warranty of habitability and skillful construction, later extended to subsequent purchasers in Bridges v. Ferrell (1984). The OCPA provides actual damages plus attorney's fees. The § 765.6 right to repair is contract triggered. There is no statewide builder license, no recovery fund, and no mandatory state warranty scheme.
Texas
Two Implied Warranties + RCLA + DTPA + Post TRCC
Texas protects new home buyers through two distinct common law implied warranties — habitability (cannot be disclaimed) and good workmanship (can be superseded by a detailed written warranty) under Humber v. Morton and Centex Homes v. Buecher. This guide covers the RCLA 60 day pre suit notice, the 2023 HB 2024 cut of the statute of repose to 6 years for 1-2-6 warranties, and the post TRCC landscape.
We don't have a guide for that state yet. Let us know which state you'd like us to add next.
More states are in development. We are actively researching and writing guides for additional states including Tennessee, Indiana, the Carolinas, and others. These resources take time to build properly because accuracy matters. Check back soon, or reach out if there is a state you would like us to prioritize.
Dealing With a
Construction Defect?
If you are a homeowner in Central Kentucky dealing with builder defects or considering purchasing a home that needs structural evaluation, Toni Schafer brings both Realtor expertise and General Contractor knowledge to help you understand what you are looking at and what your options are.