1. “Construction defect” means a deficiency in or a deficiency arising out of the design, specifications, surveying, planning, supervision or observation of construction or construction of residential improvements that results from any of the following:

2. “Contractor” means a person or entity providing labor, services or materials in the construction of a new residence or alteration of, repair of, or addition to an existing residence; and

3. “Residence” means any structure designed and used only for residential purposes, together with all attached and unattached structures, constructed by the contractor, regardless of whether the real property upon which the residence is located was purchased from the contractor. Such term also includes a residence upon which alterations or repairs were performed by the contractor at the direction of the homeowner.

1. Require a homeowner, prior to filing a lawsuit for construction defects, to present to the contractor a written notice of construction defects; and

2. Allow the contractor to inspect any construction defects and present to the homeowner a written response which shall include the contractor's offer to repair defects or compensate homeowner for such defects within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of defects.

Regardless of whether such provisions are included in a contract, the homeowner shall not file a lawsuit against the contractor until the conditions precedent as set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection have been fulfilled. In the event the homeowner files a lawsuit against the contractor without fulfilling the conditions precedent, the contractor shall be entitled to a stay of proceedings until such conditions have been fulfilled. If the conditions precedent have been fulfilled, the homeowner may seek remedies against the contractor as provided by law. The provisions of this section shall not be subject to, and nothing herein is intended to alter, contradict or otherwise diminish the application of, the terms of a separate express contractual warranty agreed upon by a contractor or homeowner. This section does not create a cause of action or derivative liability or extend a limitations period.