After you have finally settled into the home of your dreams, that's when you'll really find out if your homebuilder was worth the investment. That's because no home is constructed perfectly, and your home may need a few minor touch-ups requiring the homebuilder's attention. The question is, will you actually get their attention?

After closing, many homebuyers discover that their homebuilder's focus has shifted to new homebuyers—and customer service leaves something to be desired. In fact, according to Angie's List, a leading source for consumer ratings, home warranty companies earned the worst grades of all service categories four years in a row from Angie's List members.

Before you buy a new home, it pays to know how your homebuilder handles service calls for the warranty provided on your home. Be sure to ask:

• Who answers service calls?
• Who completes the warranty repairs at your home?
• If home warranty service is outsourced, what is the company's service record?

Ideally, your homebuilder should have an on-staff service technician you can call directly and a dedicated service team that conducts all home warranty work. Homebuilders that invest in providing their own service departments—which do not generate income—demonstrate a higher commitment to quality. When it comes to your satisfaction, their name and reputation is at stake.