(11) CONTINGENCIES Warranty Reserves The Company’s homebuilding operations provides homebuyers with a limited warranty against certain building defects, including a one-year comprehensive limited warranty and coverage for certain other aspects of the home’s construction and operating systems for periods of up to 10 years. The Company’s homebuilding work is performed by subcontractors who must agree to indemnify the Company with regard to their work and provide certificates of insurance demonstrating that they have met the Company’s insurance requirements and have named the Company as an additional insured under their policies. Therefore, many claims relating to workmanship and materials that result in warranty spending are the primary responsibility of these subcontractors. Warranty reserves are included in accrued expenses within the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the provision for warranty accruals is included in home sale cost of revenues in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Reserves covering anticipated warranty expenses are recorded for each home closed, which are a function of the number of home closings in the period, the selling prices of the homes closed and the rates of accrual per home estimated as a percentage of the selling price of the home. Management periodically assesses the adequacy of warranty reserves based on historical experience and the expected costs to remediate potential claims. In addition, the analysis also contemplates the existence of any non-recurring or community-specific warranty-related matters that might not be included in historical data and trends that may need to be separately estimated based on management’s judgment of the ultimate cost of repair for that specific issue. While estimated warranty liabilities are adjusted each reporting period based on the results of this assessment, the Company may not accurately predict actual warranty costs, which could lead to significant changes in the reserve and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity or results of operations. The Company maintains third-party insurance, subject to applicable self-insured retentions, for most construction defects that the Company encounters in the normal course of business. The Company believes that its warranty reserves, subcontractor indemnities and third-party insurance are adequate to cover the ultimate resolution of any potential liabilities associated with known and anticipated warranty and construction defect related claims and litigation. However, there can be no assurance that the terms and limitations of the limited warranty will be effective against claims made by homebuyers; that the Company will be able to renew its insurance coverage or renew it at reasonable rates; that the Company will not be liable for damages, the cost of repairs or the expense of litigation surrounding possible construction defects, soil subsidence or building related claims; or that claims will not arise out of events or circumstances not covered by insurance or not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our subcontractors. Changes in warranty reserves are as follows for the periods presented: | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | | July 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 175 | | $ | 165 | Warranty accrued during period | | | 44 | | | 17 | Warranty expenditures during period | | | (4) | | | (3) | Balance at end of period | | $ | 215 | | $ | 179 |
Security for Performance Obligations The Company is required from time to time to provide security (such as letters of credit, surety bonds or cash collateral) for performance obligations in support of the Company’s land development and homebuilding obligations to municipalities related to the construction of improvements in subdivisions. Cash collateral on deposit with municipalities is included in other assets within the condensed consolidated balance sheets. In the event any letter of credit or surety bond is drawn, the Company would be obligated to reimburse the issuer of the letter of credit or surety bond. As of July 31, 2024, the Company had one letter of credit outstanding under its Revolving Line of Credit in the aggregate principal amount of $172,000 in favor of municipalities and cash collateral of $247,000 on deposit with municipalities. As of April 30, 2024, the Company had one letter of credit outstanding under its Revolving Line of Credit in the aggregate principal amount of $172,000 in favor of a municipality and cash collateral of $241,000 on deposit with municipalities. Litigation The Company may be subject to various lawsuits and legal claims. Certain of the liabilities resulting from these actions may be covered in whole or in part by insurance. The Company establishes liabilities for litigation and legal claims when such matters are both probable of occurring and any potential loss is reasonably estimable. The Company accrues for such matters based on the facts and circumstances specific to each matter and revises these estimates as the matters evolve. In such cases, there may exist an exposure to loss in excess of any amounts currently accrued. To the extent the liability arising from the ultimate resolution of any lawsuit or legal claim exceeds the estimates reflected in the recorded reserves relating to such matter, the Company would incur additional charges and these charges might be significant. The Company cannot predict or determine with certainty the timing or final outcome of any lawsuit or legal claim or the effect that any adverse findings or determinations in any lawsuit or legal claim may have on the Company. The legal costs associated with any lawsuit or legal claim and the amount of time required to be spent by management and the Company’s Board of Directors on these matters, even if the Company is ultimately successful, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity or results of operations. The Company has not accrued any amounts related to litigation matters as of July 31, 2024 or April 30, 2024.
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