Do homeowners have a chance when they take on their builders?
 No – Builders control the system and residents pay 
 -- Remember, homebuilders are not licensed in Texas. In fact, unlike any other profession, knowledge seems to be optional. There is no requirement to show proof of professional building skills, knowledge of current building codes or to show any historical proof of financial responsibility or proof of a current bank account.

Do homeowners have a chance when they take on their builders? 
Friday, December 10, 2004
No – Builders control the system and residents pay

By Janet Ahmad, President of HomeOwners for Better Building

Who can be against a law to protect the rights of families should they buy a brand- new home that is defective in Frisco? The answer is easy: only the homebuilding industry.

Remember, homebuilders are not licensed in Texas. In fact, unlike any other profession, knowledge seems to be optional. There is no requirement to show proof of professional building skills, knowledge of current building codes or to show any historical proof of financial responsibility or proof of a current bank account.

However, it does cost $3,000 to qualify to do fingernails for a living in Texas. To catch fish and hunt costs $64 a year. Yet, to be a builder it only costs the annual renewal fee of $50.

As for the new Texas Residential Construction Commission created by the industry, the nine industry-member commissioners decided that to be a homebuilder in good standing, a builder needs only to provide a Social Security number and pay the initial $125 registration fee.

On the other hand, since they write the rules, TRCC commissioners decided to penalize homeowners with major construction defects, who must now pay to file a complaint. What other state agency charges consumers a fee to file a complaint?

In reality, when all is said and done, complaining about a builder will cost homeowners a small fortune with the added commission fees and legal expenses now that they must deal with the builder-friendly and legally challenging five-month TRCC process.

Consumer protection law will give an incentive for homebuilders in Frisco to build homes right the first time and consumers will get a better built product.

Janet Ahmad, President of HomeOwners for Better Building, San Antonio