(a) The claimant, within thirty days after receipt of a contractor's settlement offer, may accept any offer by serving the contractor with a written notice of acceptance; provided that an association shall have forty-five days to respond. If no written notice of acceptance is served, the settlement offer shall be deemed rejected.
(b) If a claimant accepts a contractor's offer to repair, the claimant shall provide unfettered access to perform and complete the construction within the timetable stated in the settlement offer.