How do we protect buyers from closing wire fraud?▼
Combine warnings, a firm rule and protected email. Tell buyers early and often, in the contract, welcome email and closing checklist, that your team will never send wiring instructions and that they should call the title company at a known number before wiring anything. Internally, never send wiring details by email. Protect every mailbox with MFA and impersonation detection, since attackers often watch a compromised mailbox to learn closing dates. We set up the technical side and help you write the buyer-facing language.
Does the FTC Safeguards Rule apply to home builders?▼
It applies to businesses significantly engaged in financial activities, which can include a builder’s affiliated mortgage company or other financing operations. A builder that only sells homes and refers buyers to outside lenders is in a different position. If you have an affiliated mortgage or title operation, it likely needs a written information security program, a qualified individual, MFA and other required safeguards. Your counsel should make the call on applicability. We help implement and document the controls where they apply.
What should model home networks look like?▼
Business-grade, segmented and managed remotely. Sales iPads and kiosks get their own network, separate from demo smart home devices, security cameras and guest Wi-Fi. That way a visitor’s infected phone can’t reach sales devices, and a demo thermostat with weak security can’t become a doorway into your systems. We install equipment that we can monitor and update remotely, with cellular backup for sites where wired internet isn’t ready yet, and use the same standard at every community.
How should we handle smart home devices at closing?▼
Plan it like any other closing item. Keep a list of connected devices installed in each home, use temporary builder accounts during construction and reset or transfer each device to the buyer’s own account at closing. Give buyers written setup instructions and confirm builder access is removed. We help you build the tracking and handoff process with your low-voltage trade and warranty team. It prevents confusing warranty calls and the real risk of former staff or trades still reaching a homeowner’s locks or cameras.
A sales agent quit. What needs to happen?▼
Their access should end the day they leave. That means disabling email and CRM accounts, removing access to buyer document storage and builder software, resetting shared passwords they knew, collecting or wiping company devices and forwarding their mailbox to a manager so buyer communications aren’t lost. We build that into an offboarding checklist and run it for you. Leads and buyer files stay with the company, and the departing agent can’t take them to a competitor or expose them through an old, unprotected account.
What if a buyer says they wired money to the wrong account?▼
Speed matters most. The buyer should call their bank immediately to request a recall and report the fraud to law enforcement, and the title company and lender should be notified right away. On your side, we investigate whether any of your mailboxes were compromised, check for forwarding rules and suspicious sign-ins, and secure affected accounts. Our team works business hours, with after-hours emergency response for active incidents. Decisions about notifications and liability belong with you, your counsel and your insurer.
Do you provide Home Builders IT Services in Houston and nearby areas?▼
Yes. LayerLogix is based in the Greater Houston area and delivers home builders IT services to businesses across Houston and the surrounding communities, including The Woodlands, Spring, Katy, Sugar Land, Conroe, Cypress, and Pearland. For most Houston-area clients we can be on-site the same day when something needs hands-on attention, and our help desk is available during business hours, with after-hours emergency support. Call 713-571-2390 to check coverage for your specific address.
What does Home Builders IT Services cost for a Houston business?▼
Pricing depends on your size and what you need, so we do not publish a one-size-fits-all number — but Houston businesses generally pay a flat, predictable monthly fee rather than surprise hourly bills. We start with a free, no-obligation assessment of your current setup, then give you a clear quote in plain English with no hidden costs. That way you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before you commit.