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Why Do I Want A Home Warranty?

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty BK 3030920

I've had buyers ask me why they would want a home warranty, and it seems more at the lower price point and As Is properties, where, frankly, I would think the protection offered my a home warranty would be a tad more tangible. 

It's really simple: it's an insurance policy for your home's appliances.

Literally, depending on the policy, it can cover: 

  • Water Heater
  • Kitchen appliances, including garbage disposal
  • HVAC system
  • Garage door opener
  • Plumbing stoppages and leaks
  • Swimming pools

You pay a trade service call and place your repair request with the home warranty company, instead of calling your AC guy.  I just placed two service calls for my heating system and my garbage disposal. 

I've already had my HVAC inspected: it needed a capacitor, and will need a coil as well as a few pound of coolant; all told, without the home warranty, I could have been looking at $2000 out of pocket to repair the system. it's the original system, so then the consideration would have been for $3000 more, I could get a whole new system.

Inform your buyers of the home warranty options available as well as your sellers - it just makes sense!

Posted by

Carol Zingone is a full service Broker Associate proudly affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty in Atlantic Beach, FL.  I help buyers and sellers locally, regionally, and internationally.  With hundreds of happy buyers and sellers over the course of my career, I'm thrilled to help first time buyers, military buyers, seniors, investors, 1031 exchange properties, short sales and REO's.  I have spent hours honing my expertise, including the designations of: Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Loss Mitigation Certification (LMC) , Short Sales, Foreclosures, REO's, (SFR), and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES).  I pride myself on providing excellent expertise to all buyers and sellers. Search the MLS via www.carolzingone.com  for Jacksonville and area listings!

 

Comments (5)

Wika Hutchinson
Eugene, OR
Broker, CRIS, SFR, CDPE
Carol, I think a home warranty is a great time to include when purchasing a home; however, we need to carefully read the policy and what the warranty covers. Some home warranties are kind if useless.
Mar 05, 2013 10:34 PM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

Having a  Home Warranty offers peace of mind as well as financial assistance. The coverage on certain items is helpful when problems occur.

Betty

Mar 05, 2013 10:36 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Good explanation of why someone would want to look into a home warranty.  

Mar 06, 2013 04:11 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Carol.  In our market there are not many warranties offered.

Mar 06, 2013 07:10 PM
Potranco Realty
Potranco Realty - San Antonio, TX
"Sold with Potranco Realty"

Good Morning Carol, Home Warranties protect both the Seller and Buyer just in case after moving in the HVAC goes out it shows consideration to the Buyer by saying to the best of my knowledge all works but here is some security just in case.

I highly recommend all buyer and seller to consider offering a warranty the only ones who want are the REO listings but that's the price for buying a foreclosure. Buyer Beware

Great blog post, thanks for sharing your knowledge...

Mar 06, 2013 09:18 PM