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I love it when almost a year after close the buyer calls and says “THANK YOU”

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

Yesterday I got a call from a past client and someone who I now consider a friend. Though she has called many times before with referrals and believe me I love that. This time she called to thank me for something I did at the bargaining table when they were buying the home.

Get that home warranty when you buy a home

You see I said “No matter how perfect the home is, we should get an inspection and also a home warranty, you just never know!” Well, the inspection found a few things and we got the major ones repaired, but what the inspection didn’t find was that the computer chip on the heater was going out.

Fast forward to today when she pulled out the home warranty packet to find out the heater was under warranty and for $65 she got herself a brand new $7500 furnace. Now, trick question here… You ready? How much does a $7,500 furnace cost after you pay the $65 for the home warranty?

I’m waiting… WRONG! The correct answer according to her CPA is $6,935 because now that she has chosen that furnace she will get an energy tax credit. Don’t ask me how that works since she didn’t buy it herself, but I’m going to trust her CPA.

So make sure you get those inspections and also pay the money for the home warranty because it may just get you that thank you call and your clients and extra $435 and a new furnace in their home as well. Who do you think they are going to refer their friends to if they don’t have to pay for a new furnace?


Comments (18)

Maureen Fukumoto
Help-U-Sell Realty Pro - Mililani, HI
Maureen

What a great story.  Many of my clients have benefited from the home warranty but none have gained $6935.  That is amazing.

Dec 15, 2010 07:48 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Home warranties perhaps make the best closing gifts!

Dec 15, 2010 07:49 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Sounds like Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday all rolled in one.

Dec 15, 2010 09:07 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

That's a great plug for home warranties, Todd...it seems that very few houses offer them as part of an incentive to buy here but it's a great program to help the buyer out as you experienced. 

Dec 15, 2010 10:15 PM
Kathryn Maguire
GreatNorfolkHomes.com (757) 560-0881 - Chesapeake, VA
Serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, VA Beach

Excellent story!  Those thank you calls are definitely the best, no matter what prompts them.

Dec 15, 2010 10:31 PM
Lisa Matondi
RE/MAX Professional Associates - Brookfield, MA

I always encourage my buyers to purchase a home warranty if it is not included as part of the sale.  They don't always do it though, and I have had too many clients call to say they wish had!

Dec 15, 2010 11:57 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Sounds like a real wining situation for your client.  Sure is a nice Christmas present.

Dec 16, 2010 12:12 AM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate

Stories like that are great Todd, I am sure you'll be hearing from more of their referrals soon.

Dec 16, 2010 12:19 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Great story Todd! We totally agree on the home warranty, well worth the money, and what a relief when something does go wrong.

We had a client's home listed, her furnace died, for $75.00 she had a brand new one installed, and her house never sold!!

Dec 16, 2010 12:36 AM
Robert Schwabe
Herron Real Estate - Orange Park, FL
Orange Park Real Estate

Todd - I always suggest my customers to buy a home warranty. You just never know what might happen.

Dec 16, 2010 12:43 AM
Rita Norman
Walnut Creek, CA
Your Agent in Walnut Creek CA

Todd: Might I add that you have your clients read the Home Warranty upgrades that are offered. It doesn't cost that much more to go beyond the basic Home Warranty and avoids disappointed clients who get the Home Warranty and then find out that what they needed wasn't covered in their package. Great Post!

Dec 16, 2010 12:58 AM
Retired from ActiveRain
Baker, OR

One of the Realtors that I work with always includes a home warranty with her listings.  It has paid off more than once, resulting in forestalled problems and fewer headaches later.  Rita makes a good point about upgrading the warranty too.

Dec 16, 2010 02:09 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Todd, Home Warranties are getting more common around here, especially for getting first time buyers into a house. I recently saw an article on providing mortgage warranties. For probably the cost of a home warranty, depending on the size of the house and mortgage, a seller can provide a policy that would pay up to 6 months mortgage payments if the buyer were to lose their job. Not a bad thought given the current state of the economy.

Dec 16, 2010 02:30 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Todd - a great post and a happy story -- congratulations.   In our market, home warranties are almost always a part of the closing process and in most non-short sale/non-reo sales paid by the seller.   I am sure many more referrals from this happy client are on their way to you.   

Dec 16, 2010 02:42 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

The words, Thank you and you are welcome don't expire in my book... 

Dec 16, 2010 04:23 AM
Sandra Pearce
Republic Mortgage Home Loans in Olympia Washington - Olympia, WA

That's AWESOME!  Great way to make Raving Fans!  also nice to have another opinion on the home warranties as everyone has a different idea of if there clients should get or not get a home warranty.

Dec 16, 2010 08:58 AM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

that is terrific!! They better send you a Christmas present too!!! that was quite a savings for them.. I agree that a home warranty is always a good idea.. and an inspections is a must even on a new home..

Dec 16, 2010 03:48 PM
Lori Churchill Cofer
Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA
Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

Todd,

That is great!  I bet she will be talking about this with lots of her friends...and that is a good way for her to tell everyone how fantastic her Realtor was  :)

Dec 17, 2010 12:01 PM