Do You Need A Home Warranty?

The Home Warranty...

is usually a one-year limited home service agreement that helps protect homeowners against the costs of repair or replacement of covered appliances and major systems that breakdown due to normal wear and tear.

The home warranty premium, when provided by the seller, is normally paid at closing, and with the advantage that the warranty will also protect the seller during the listing/marketing period as well. Since today's buyers will almost always ask for a home warranty, it makes sense for the seller to take advantage of the listing period coverage as well.

(See, What Does the Home Warranty Cover?)

Benefits To The Seller...

The major benefit is peace of mind. By providing the Buyers with a warranty, you're more confident that the buyer won't be knocking on your door after the sale with charges of non-disclosed defects. Considering the expense of defending yourself against such a charge (true or not) the cost of providing a home warranty is minimal.

Secondly, if you purchase a home warranty at the time your home is listed for sale, your home is warranted for you during the listing period until it's transferred to the buyer at closing. Although the seller coverage is not as extensive or far reaching as the buyer coverage, considering that you will probably be asked to provide a home warranty for the buyer anyway, you might as well take advantage of this added protection. (You don't even have to pay for it until closing).

Thirdly, there is a wealth of evidence that homes with a warranty are more attractive to the buyer, therefore, they will sell faster and for more money than homes without a warranty.

Benefits To The Buyer...

Again, the major benefit is peace of mind. Only now, it's peace of mind knowing that after you've used all your cash reserves coming up with your down payment, you won't have to shell out another couple of thousand to fix or replace the furnace or hot water tank any time soon. You'll rest easier, knowing that unexpected repair costs are shared by the warranty provider.

For the first time home buyer, who is not yet used to dealing with such problems the warranty can be invaluable, because after you contact the provider with the problem, the provider will handle everything including calling a reputable repairman or service contractor.

The Cost Of A Home Warranty...

There are many providers and they all have different coverage, cost and co-pay plans. You should take time to compare companies and plans before you purchase. Your Re/MAX Valley Associate can help you decide.

Typically, however, the cost of the home warranty will run between $350 and $450. For each claim there will be a co-pay (or deductible amount) of $50 to $100. Also, there will be a service fee (usually $35 - $75) for each time a service contractor must make visit your home.

Here's How The Home Warranty Works...

1. You determine that a failure has occurred in a covered system or appliance.
2. You call your warranty provider. (Note: Your first call is always to the provider. If you call a repairman first you will almost always void the warranty. Call the warranty provider first for instructions.)
3. The provider will contact an approved service contractor with whom the provider already has a business arrangement.
4. The service contractor will contact you for an appointment to access the problem.
5. The service contractor will repair the problem according to the terms of the warranty.
6. The provider will pay the service contractor for parts and labor and bill you for the deductible portion of your plan as well as the service fee.

Basic Coverage Typically Includes...