What Warranty Do I Get After House Turnover in Cagayan de Oro?

Before accepting your newly built home, one important question every homeowner should ask is:

“What warranty do I get after turnover?”

A construction warranty gives homeowners assurance that valid workmanship-related concerns may be inspected, corrected, or repaired after the project is turned over, subject to the signed contract, approved scope, exclusions, and proper homeowner maintenance.

A good contractor should not only build the house. The contractor should also explain what happens after turnover.

Why Warranty Matters After Turnover

A home may look complete during turnover, but some issues may only appear after actual use.

Examples include:

• Minor leaks

• Door alignment concerns

• Electrical outlet issues

• Plumbing concerns

• Paint touch-ups

• Loose fixtures

• Roof or gutter concerns

• Waterproofing-related concerns

• Cabinet or hardware adjustments

A clear warranty process protects both the homeowner and contractor because it defines what is covered, what is not covered, how concerns should be reported, and how repairs will be handled.

Under the Civil Code provisions on contracts for a piece of work, a contractor is expected to deliver work with the qualities agreed upon and without defects that reduce its value or fitness for use; the owner may require correction of qualifying defects under the law’s stated conditions.

What Is Usually Covered by a Limited Home Warranty?

A limited home warranty usually covers defects caused by contractor workmanship or installation within the approved scope of work.

Possible covered items may include:

Warranty Area	Possible Coverage
Workmanship	Installation defects, poor workmanship, minor correction items
Plumbing	Leaks caused by installation error
Electrical	Faulty outlet, switch, or wiring issue due to workmanship
Roofing	Leaks caused by installation defect
Waterproofing	Failure caused by improper application within covered scope
Doors and windows	Alignment or installation issues
Tiles and finishes	Loose tiles, grout concerns, or installation-related defects
Cabinets and hardware	Alignment, hinge, or handle issues caused by installation
Paint finish	Touch-ups or workmanship-related paint issues

Warranty coverage should always be written in the contract or turnover documents.

Recommended Warranty Periods

Warranty periods may vary depending on the contractor, project type, material supplier, and signed agreement.

A practical limited warranty guide may look like this:

Item	Suggested Warranty Period
General workmanship	6 months to 1 year
Plumbing installation	6 months to 1 year
Electrical installation	6 months to 1 year
Roofing installation	6 months to 1 year
Waterproofing application	6 months to 1 year
Doors and windows	6 months
Tile installation	6 months
Cabinetry and built-ins	6 months
Paint finish	3 to 6 months
Supplier-provided fixtures	Based on supplier/manufacturer warranty

For major structural collapse issues, Philippine law has separate provisions. Civil Code Article 1723 states that an engineer or architect may be liable if a building collapses within fifteen years due to plan/specification defects or ground defects, and the contractor may also be responsible if collapse happens within the same period because of construction defects, inferior materials furnished by the contractor, or violation of contract terms.

What Is Not Usually Covered?

A limited home warranty does not mean every concern after turnover is automatically free for repair.

Common exclusions may include:

• Normal wear and tear

• Owner misuse or negligence

• Lack of maintenance

• Unauthorized repairs

• Third-party modifications

• Damage caused by drilling, cutting, or alteration

• Force majeure such as flood, typhoon, earthquake, fire, or landslide

• Pest damage

• Clogged drains caused by improper use

• Hairline cracks caused by normal settlement or temperature changes

• Damage caused by client-supplied defective materials

• Product defects covered by supplier or manufacturer warranty

• New requests after turnover

• Items excluded from the signed contract

• Works not part of the approved scope

This is why the warranty section should be clear before signing the final acceptance.

Warranty vs Punchlist: What Is the Difference?

Many homeowners confuse punchlist and warranty.

Punchlist

A punchlist covers items found before or during turnover.

Examples:

• Missing outlet cover

• Paint touch-up

• Unfinished trim

• Loose handle

• Pending fixture installation

• Cabinet alignment issue

Warranty

Warranty covers qualified concerns found after turnover within the warranty period.

Examples:

• Faucet leak due to installation

• Electrical outlet issue due to workmanship

• Roof leak due to installation defect

• Door misalignment due to workmanship

Variation Order

A variation order is a new request or change outside the original scope.

Examples:

• Add outlet

• Change tiles

• Add cabinet

• Upgrade fixtures

• Add partition

• Change paint color

Variation orders are not warranty items.

What Should Be Given During Turnover?

Before final turnover, homeowners should ask for proper documentation.

Recommended turnover documents:

• Final acceptance form

• Punchlist closure form

• Warranty guide

• Warranty period details

• List of covered and excluded items

• Keys and access items

• Approved variation order summary

• Final billing statement

• Maintenance reminders

• Supplier warranties, if applicable

• As-built plans, if included

• Photos of completed project

A proper turnover process helps avoid confusion after the client moves in.

How to File a Warranty Claim

Warranty concerns should be reported properly and documented.

Step 1: Report the Concern in Writing

The homeowner should provide:

• Name

• Project address

• Turnover date

• Area of concern

• Description of issue

• Photos or videos

• Date issue was noticed

• Any temporary action taken

Avoid verbal-only reporting.

Step 2: Contractor Reviews the Concern

The contractor will check if the concern is:

• Within warranty period

• Within approved project scope

• Caused by workmanship

• Caused by product defect

• Caused by owner use

• Caused by third-party work

• Caused by force majeure

• A new request or variation order

Step 3: Site Inspection

The contractor may schedule an inspection depending on urgency.

Suggested response priority:

Concern Type	Suggested Action
Electrical safety issue	Immediate priority
Active water leak	Urgent inspection
Roofing leak	Inspect weather permitting
Door/window issue	Scheduled inspection
Paint/tile/cabinet issue	Scheduled correction review
Cosmetic concern	Review based on warranty terms

Step 4: Classification

After inspection, the concern may be classified as:

Classification	Meaning
Covered Warranty	Contractor workmanship-related issue
Not Covered	Due to misuse, wear, third-party work, or exclusion
Supplier Warranty	Product issue handled by supplier/manufacturer
Client-Supplied Material Issue	Material problem outside contractor supply
Variation Request	New or changed work
Further Evaluation	Cause still needs checking

Step 5: Repair and Closure

For covered items, the contractor should schedule repair, document the correction, test the item, and ask the client to verify.

A warranty claim should be closed only after:

• Repair is completed

• Area is cleaned

• Concern is tested

• Completion photo is taken

• Client or representative confirms status

Homeowner Responsibilities After Turnover

A warranty works best when the homeowner also maintains the house properly.

Homeowners should:

• Clean roof gutters regularly

• Keep floor drains clear

• Avoid flushing solids into drains

• Avoid overloading outlets

• Report leaks early

• Do not allow unauthorized repair before inspection

• Maintain bathroom sealants

• Keep rooms ventilated

• Protect cabinets from moisture

• Avoid drilling walls without checking pipe and electrical locations

• Follow proper use of fixtures and appliances

Warranty may be affected if the damage is caused by misuse, negligence, lack of maintenance, or third-party alteration.

Questions to Ask Your Contractor About Warranty

Before turnover, ask:

1. What is the warranty period?

2. What is covered?

3. What is not covered?

4. When does the warranty start?

5. How do I report concerns?

6. Who will inspect the issue?

7. How fast will urgent concerns be handled?

8. Are plumbing and electrical works covered?

9. Are roof leaks covered?

10. Are client-supplied materials covered?

11. Are supplier warranties separate?

12. Is punchlisting completed before warranty starts?

13. What voids the warranty?

14. Will warranty repairs be documented?

15. Who do I contact after turnover?

Red Flags in Warranty Terms

Be careful if the contractor:

• Does not provide written warranty terms

• Says “warranty included” but gives no details

• Does not explain exclusions

• Has no claim process

• Has no punchlisting process

• Does not document turnover

• Gives only verbal promises

• Does not clarify client-supplied materials

• Does not explain maintenance responsibilities

A trusted contractor should clearly explain after-build support.

Sample Limited Home Warranty Statement

WallPro Systems & Construction Inc. provides limited home warranty support for qualified workmanship-related concerns within the approved project scope and warranty period stated in the contract. Warranty claims are subject to inspection, validation, proper homeowner use, maintenance, and applicable exclusions.

This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, owner misuse, lack of maintenance, unauthorized modifications, third-party damage, force majeure, supplier product defects, client-supplied material defects, excluded works, or new requests after turnover.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What warranty do I get after house turnover?

You may receive a limited workmanship warranty depending on your contract. It may cover qualified installation or workmanship defects within the approved scope and warranty period.

2. Does warranty cover all repairs?

No. Warranty usually covers only qualified workmanship-related issues. Normal wear and tear, misuse, lack of maintenance, third-party work, and excluded items are usually not covered.

3. When does the warranty start?

Warranty usually starts from the date of final acceptance, completion certificate, or key turnover, depending on the signed documents.

4. Are client-supplied materials covered?

Usually, contractor warranty is limited to installation workmanship only. Product defects, shortages, and supplier issues are normally handled by the client or supplier.

5. Is punchlist the same as warranty?

No. Punchlist covers items found before or during turnover. Warranty covers qualified concerns discovered after turnover within the warranty period.

6. Can WallPro provide after-turnover support?

Yes. WallPro Systems & Construction Inc. can provide a clear turnover, punchlisting, and limited warranty process based on the approved project scope and contract terms.

Before accepting turnover, do not ask only:

“Is the house finished?”

Ask:

“What warranty do I get after turnover?”

A clear warranty gives homeowners confidence, protects the contractor-client relationship, and provides a fair process for handling valid workmanship concerns after move-in.

The best warranty is written, explained, documented, and supported by proper punchlisting.

Planning to build your house in Cagayan de Oro?

WallPro Systems & Construction Inc. can help you build with clear scope, proper documentation, punchlisting, turnover guidance, and limited home warranty support.

Message WallPro today before you build.

Build with assurance. Build with clarity. Build with WallPro.