A home inspection may be the most valuable investment a buyer can make. A quality inspector can catch small problems before they become big ones and potentially save you thousands of dollars. Ask your REALTOR® to give you a list of inspectors they like. Odds are, these are inspectors they have worked with before and will do a good job giving your future home a thorough inspection.

Your REALTOR® can also recommend a good home warranty plan. In Southern California, the seller will typically pay for this. For around $400 a year, you'll have peace of mind knowing that if something breaks down, for the price of a small co-pay, you can get it fixed.

 
This post has been included in California Information

10 Comments on Home Inspections & Home Warranties

I am seeing more and more offers of Home Warranties. I hope they do the trick of improving sales.

08/27/2007 09:42 AM by Rosario Lewis, GRI ~ DDR Realty, Orange County, NY (DDR Realty)

Hi Tom,  Home inspections, especially if done as part of the listing process, and home warranties can be the difference between being on the market and being " SOLD " !

08/27/2007 09:45 AM by Bill Gillhespy Fort Myers Beach Realtor (Century 21 Tripower Realty)

I have been using American Home Warranties and my clients like them.

08/27/2007 09:56 AM by Susan Trombley Re/Max Broker Raleigh NC & Surrounding Areas (Re/Max Hometown)

I am curious which home warranties are good? -- It seems there are more exclusions than inclustions. 

08/27/2007 10:09 AM by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Rosario - They are great. I don't know how they are handled in NY, but I would buy one for my clients out of my pocket if the seller wouldn't pay for it. Here, it's almost a given.

Bill - Absolutely correct. I wouldn't close a deal without one.

Susan - AHW is terrific. I also like Old Republic a lot.

Joan - The two Susan and I mentioned are excellent. Does anyone else have a company they like?

08/27/2007 10:35 AM by Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

What you are writing sounds just like Florida - same price for the warranty and usually the seller will pay for it! And I always recommend a good home inspection, even if they are paying cash for the deal (yes, some still can afford to do that!!!)-

09/21/2007 09:21 PM by Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD (Charles Rutenberg Realty)

Bill & Barbara-Jo - I can't imagine not having a home warranty. If your reps are anything like ours they bend over backwards to make sure you and your clients are treated like gold.

09/22/2007 09:41 AM by Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

I think of home warranties more as a "feel good" item for the buyer.  Of course it depends on the house and the condition.  A lot of items that are broke after move in the warranty people consider to be items that were pre-existing.  A really good home inspection would help in those situations. 

09/22/2007 10:30 AM by Denise Allen Realtor@ Chesapeake (GSH Real Estate)

Regarding Home Warranties, My favorite is First American. However, what is really THE MOST important aspect of whatever home warranty you go with, is to have a RELATIONSHIP with the home warranty sales person. The relationship is often the difference of getting a claim covered or not!

09/22/2007 10:44 AM by Bryce Fuller (RE/MAX North)

Denise - I respectfully disagree. Not only do I insist on them for my clients, I use them myself. We have saved thousands of dollars in repairs with a home warranty.

Bryce - First American is great. I'm also very fond of American Home Shield.

09/22/2007 11:43 AM by Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

Leave a response…

Name:
Notify me of new comments:
Comment:
What does the graphic say?
 
Real Estate Agent: Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
Tom Plant - Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Murrieta, CA
More about me…
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Office Phone: (951) 304-2900
Cell Phone: (951) 907-9701
Email Me
Thoughts from the top of my noggin in Southern California's beautiful Temecula Valley.

Subscribe to my RSS Feed!
Subscribe to my RSS Feed!

Prices for MURRIETATom Plant

Make your own Fortune Cookie!

Links

Tags (Tag Cloud)

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog
ATOM 1.0 Feed for this blog

Find CA real estate agents and Murrieta real estate here on ActiveRain.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved