Closing day is exciting. You get the keys, walk through the rooms you helped design, and start picturing real life in your new home. But what happens after the moving truck pulls away? For many families, the first few months raise a quiet question: who do I call if something needs attention?

That is where your new construction home warranty comes in. At Homes by Dickerson, your first year as a homeowner is backed by a one-year limited warranty and a dedicated Client Care team that knows your home. This guide walks you through what your warranty covers, how our 3-month and 10-month check-ins work, and the simple steps to report an item. Knowing how it all works helps you settle in with confidence.

What Your New Construction Home Warranty Actually Covers

For one year from your closing date, your new construction home warranty covers the components of your home so they perform to the standards spelled out in our Homeowner Warranty Manual. If something is not working the way it should, the manual explains the repair we will make to set it right.

We measure warranty repairs against the typical building practices and standards for our region. A home is one of the last major purchases that is still built by hand, so our team holds that work to a high bar.

Many parts of your home also carry their own manufacturer warranties. Think appliances, the water heater, and the roof shingles. We assign those warranties to you at closing, and we will advocate on your behalf if you ever need to use one. A quick tip: register those products with the manufacturer when you move in, since many offer extended coverage just for completing the card.

A few things sit outside the warranty because they are part of how a home naturally lives and breathes. Normal wood movement, paint fading from sun exposure, and seasonal humidity changes are good examples. We explain each of these in the manual so there are no surprises.

It Starts Before You Even Close

Your warranty experience begins at your homeowner orientation, which happens before closing. This is one of the most valuable hours you will spend in your new home.

During orientation, we walk the home with you and confirm that everything is in acceptable condition. Anything that needs attention goes on your orientation list so we can take care of it. We also show you where the important features live and how to use them, including:

• Water and gas shut-offs
• The electrical breaker panel and GFCI outlets
• Your fireplace, garage door safety features, and HVAC system

You will leave with an Orientation Binder. Keep it handy, because it holds your emergency service phone numbers, your specification sheets, manufacturer literature, and a USB with helpful documents. It is the home base for almost every question that comes up in year one.

The Two Check-Ins That Matter: Your 3- and 10-Month Touch Points

Here is where having a builder who stays involved makes a real difference. Twice during your first year, our Client Care team reaches out to you on purpose.

About two months and again about nine months after your closing date, Client Care will email you a reminder for your upcoming touch point. Before each visit, you gather your non-cosmetic items onto a Warranty Service Request Form. You can find this form online at www.homesbydickerson.com/client-care, and a sample lives in your Orientation Binder.

A few things to know about the process:

1. Email your completed form to Client Care as soon as you receive your reminder.
2. We schedule your list review appointment once your list arrives.
3. After you submit the list, items are set, apart from true emergencies.
4. Be specific. "First floor guest bath, leak under the sink" helps us far more than "plumbing leak."

The 10-month visit is especially worth planning for. Your home spends its first year settling and acclimating to the seasons, which can cause small drywall cracks, nail pops, and trim separations. At the 10-month touch point, we provide a one-time courtesy service to repair and touch up those acclimation items. We also balance your HVAC system one time during the first year. Waiting until 10 months means your home has done most of its settling, so you get the most from the service.

How to Report an Item: Emergency vs. Non-Emergency

Knowing the difference between an emergency and a routine item helps you get the right help fast.

An emergency is a situation that needs immediate attention, such as a total loss of heat when it is below 45 degrees outside, a total loss of power or water, a plumbing leak that requires shutting off the whole water supply, or a suspected gas leak. For these, contact the right subcontractor directly using the numbers in your Orientation Binder, then let Client Care know by email. If you ever smell gas, call your gas company first.

A non-emergency is the everyday stuff that comes with a new home settling in: a closet door that rubs, a loose outlet, a cabinet drawer that needs adjusting, a squeaky floor, or a noisy garage door. These items do not need an urgent call. Simply add them to your warranty list for your next 3- or 10-month touch point, and we will handle them together.

What Is Yours to Maintain, and Why It Protects You

Your warranty and your own care work as a team. A new home is a lot like a new car. The quality is built in, but it still needs regular upkeep to perform well for the long run. Staying on top of routine maintenance also keeps your warranty coverage intact, since neglect can void parts of it.

A short maintenance rhythm goes a long way:

• Change your HVAC filters regularly and keep the system running year-round, especially with a conditioned crawlspace.
• Keep water draining away from your foundation, and keep foundation drain ends clear of grass and debris.
• Clean your gutters so water flows to the downspouts.
• Refresh caulking at sinks, counters, and trim as it ages.
• Winterize your irrigation system before the first freeze.
• Renew your termite treatment each year with the pest control company.

The Homeowner Warranty Manual covers each of these, so it is easy to look up whatever you need.

Meet the Team Behind Your First Year

The biggest part of our warranty is not on paper. It is people. Once you close, our Client Care department guides you through your entire first year as a Homes by Dickerson homeowner. We have built award-winning homes across the Triangle, Charleston, and Pinehurst, and the relationship does not end at the closing table.

You can reach Client Care Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Email: HBDClientCare@homesbydickerson.com
• Phone: (984) 344-9865

For full details on your coverage, your touch points, and how to care for every part of your home, your Homeowner Warranty Manual is the complete reference.

Settling In With Confidence

A great home is built twice: once with craftsmanship and quality materials, and again through the care it receives after you move in. Your new construction home warranty and our Client Care team are here for that second part, from your orientation through your 3- and 10-month touch points and every question in between.

If you are a current homeowner, keep your Orientation Binder close and mark your calendar for those check-ins. And if you are still dreaming about building, this is a glimpse of what the journey looks like long after closing day. Visit our Client Care page to learn more, or reach out to our team anytime. We would love to help you build a home you will love for years.