Three Bedrooms, Two Baths and a Warranty From Regis Homes

Regis Homes L.P., one of the few companies that still builds condominiums across the region, has begun offering extended warranties on these units in hopes of raising customer satisfaction and reducing the risk of lawsuits.

The warranties will cover homes for up to five years after the last unit in a development is sold. The company’s previous warranties followed the industry standard; generally a one-year warranty.

Regis will offer two-year warranties on detached homes, three-year guarantees on a typical condominium or townhome projects, and five years on higher-density attached homes that puts them in the forefront among builders.

In a related move, the company is assigning a manager--a new position--to work with homeowner associations until warranties expire.

With builders often sued over alleged construction defects, “it would be foolish not to take these measures,” Regis President Joe Richter said in the company’s newsletter. Moreover, he added, consumers expect higher quality as land and construction prices rise. More condo units are being built as condo prices go up, but construction activity remains far below the peak in Orange County, in part because of builders’ fears of litigation.

Regis has been using a third-party inspector to help ensure homes are built according to standards. But the new manager also will attend homeowner board meetings and work closely with those groups in an effort to straighten out any disputes that might crop up.

The company is the home development arm of Irvine-based Sares Regis Group.