Tag: Home Warranties

New home constructions come with state of the art appliances, upgrade HVAC systems and are frequently built with energy efficient materials. People purchase new homes for a plethora of reasons, but one major motivator is a home warranty. New homes that come with a warranty cost homeowners fewer out of pocket expenses. While older homes also qualify for home warranties, there are a number of restrictions and pre-existing conditions that are taken into consideration when plan costs and coverage rates are calculated. Homeowners that choose to have their houses custom built can also find independent warranty companies and purchase a plan directly. Home warranties provide comprehensive protection, and buyers can choose to extend their plans when the original coverage runs out. When you first get a new home warranty, you will need to check the guidelines. Although most repairs will be covered, you cannot assume that servicing and other fees will be included. If your warranty was automatically included with the purchase of your home, there will be no additional fees or premiums for you to pay. Homeowners that purchase their warranties direct are expected to keep up with their payments or else they risk losing coverage. Once you understand your home warranty’s guidelines, scheduling repairs will be extremely convenient. You will be given a customer service phone number that you can access whenever you want to have your home repaired. Some warranties require homeowners to work with a list of approved vendors, but others allow homeowners to choose the companies that they want to work with freely. Find out what types of coverage restraints you may face, such as 30-day waiting periods and exclusions. Some consumers confuse homeowners insurance with home warranties. While both of these products do help homeowners to pay for repairs, they are actually quite different. A homeowner’s insurance policyholders is required to submit claims in order to be reimbursed for its expenditures. These claims must be approved before a check is cut by the homeowner’s insurance company. With homeowners insurance, property owners might have to wait months before even being partially compensated. The homeowners insurance claim process can be further complicated by a denial. With home warranties, very little paperwork is needed to get approved for home repairs. The guidelines detailed in home repair service plans tell homeowners what is covered versus what isn’t. A service technician can be sent to your home the same take that you make a repair request, and rarely are homeowners required to pay any money. If any of the guidelines included in your home warranty or unclear, you should immediate seek clarification. If you are about to purchase a new home, find out if it comes with a warranty included. While new homes are considered easier to maintain, there are a lot of things that can go wrong soon after moving in. Buying a warranty for your new home will allow you to free up more money and alleviate stress. It will also help to streamline the home repair scheduling process, so you won’t have to keep close tabs on your contractors or feel obligated to check behind their work. A home warranty won’t replace homeowners insurance, but it can work as a great second line of defense.]]>

Getting your roof in shape now will give you peace of mind knowing that when the monsoons hit later your home and belongings will stay dry. By following a few steps you can easily determine the condition of your roof. You should start with inspecting it to make sure it is in good enough condition to move all that rain water away from your house. You can also do most of the minor repairs at the weak spots you find before the water can do any more damage.

Start by inspecting the roof from the outside. You may need a sturdy ladder that’s tall enough so you can see every part of the roof or be able to climb up onto it. Look for any roofing material that’s come loose. You may want to carry a hammer and the other materials needed so you can replace loose or missing shingles or tiles as you find them. Wood shake style shingles can be very slippery when wet so be very careful walking on this type of roof. You will want to check for corrosion or rust if you have a metal roof. No matter what type of roofing material you have, if there are slopes check the valleys where water or debris can accumulate and cause mold or rot. There are also often flashings in these areas, which are metal pieces used to deflect the flow of water. You will want to check to make sure any of them are still securely held in place.

After finishing inspecting the top of the roof you may want to walk around the parameter of your home and visually inspect the gutters. They should be securely fastened to the house. The downspouts need to be facing outwards so that the water will be diverted away from your foundation. While walking around your home you can also inspect any eaves or overhangs to make sure they do not show any signs of water damage. If there are water spots on them you may want to double check that section of roofing material to find the problem.

You may want to go inside your home next to check the ceilings for any signs of water damage. They are easy to spot because your ceiling or drywall will be discolored. A flashlight may come in handy when there’s not a lot of light. You can use the flashlight too when inspecting the attic if you have one. Safety is extremely important when trying to navigate around all of the beams and rafters. You should look for any problem spots or rotted wood where you can see that water has leaked inside your home. Any insulation material near a leak may still be wet. You can also check for leaks by turning off your flashlight and looking for any places where you can see the sunlight coming in from outside. If you can see the sunlight coming in from outside that means there’s a hole there that needs to be fixed. If you have any questions about any repairs you may want to talk to a roofing professional to avoid doing anything incorrectly.

Once you have completely inspected your home and fixed any minor repairs you may want to check your current homeowner’s insurance policy to see if have roof leak coverage. Many policies cover damage from hail, lightning and other types of storms. But you may need to get a separate coverage to protect yourself from expensive leak damage. If you do not already have it you may want to talk to an insurance agent. Extensive water damage can be costly and it may require you to have an entirely new roof installed, as well as replacing damaged support beams and drywall inside your home. Roof leak insurance may be an affordable and cost effective way of protecting your home.

Once you’ve bought your home, there’s still work for you to do. And that doesn’t include buying furniture and getting your new house decorated. Protect your new investment with a home warranty and take away some of the worry that comes with owning a home. How to Get a Home Warranty Whenever you make an offer for a home, you have the option of requesting that the home warranty be taken care of by the seller; either that or you can pay for the warranty by yourself. If the seller decides to cover half of the warranty, then it might not last for as long as you’d like for it to, so make sure that you look over the details of the warranty before agreeing to it. Once you close escrow, your new home is covered under the warranty. You’ll be given a plan number to call if you ever have a repair that needs to be taken care of. The repair technician will be one contracted by the company that issued the warranty, and all you’ll have to pay is the trade call fee. What is Covered by a Home Warranty? Incidences covered by a home warranty include garage door openers, duct work, electrical systems, water heaters, exhaust fans, garbage disposals and stoves. Since not all home warranties cover air conditioners, you’ll want to check yours to see if it is or if it isn’t covered. If it is, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have maintenance performed on your air conditioning unit twice a year in order to prevent breakdowns and to keep small problems from becoming big problems. For an extra cost, you can add roof leak repairs, swimming pool equipment and septic systems to your home warranty. Who Should Get a Home Warranty? It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a home for the first time or if you’ve owned four houses in the past, you should still get a home warranty. If it’s your first time buying a home, you don’t know what all goes into keeping a home in working order, so you’ll need every advantage and assist that you can get to keep from wasting money and to keep from having a horrible first time buyer’s experience. If you’ve owned a home before, then you have a better idea of some of the more common repairs that homes need. You also have a better idea of how much they cost, therefore you already know what an advantage it is to have a home warranty. While you might hate having to pay extra for your home to get a home warranty, you’ll certainly be glad you did once you start seeing how much it would otherwise cost you for household repairs.]]>

If you have ever had your air conditioners break down in the middle of the summer or your heater stop working on an incredibly cold day, you know how uncomfortable and inconvenient it is. While it is great to have a home warranty company you can rely on to be there when something breaks, regular maintenance and checks of your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system can save you a lot of time and money by hopefully avoiding a major breakdown. If you have ever had to replace part of your HVAC system, you know it can be very costly. Regular maintenance and checks, coupled with a quality home warranty, can give you the peace of mind that you need as a homeowner.

When considering doing some routine maintenance of your HVAC system, it is not necessary to call a repairman first. As with any home maintenance, it is important to remember to disconnect any power to your unit. There may be more than one thing to disconnect, be sure you have properly disconnected everything or consult a professional to be sure. The first and most important maintenance tip to follow when it comes to your air conditioning unit is to change your air filters regularly. By replacing your filter monthly you protect your air conditioning unit from dust build up and overwork/overexertion which can lead to a breakdown at an inopportune moment. It will also help your air conditioning unit to function more efficiently which can help save money on your energy bills. This is such a simple maintenance tip but one that many forget or overlook, which can be a costly mistake. You will also want to make sure your outdoor unit does not have any debris or clutter too close. You should make sure plants have not overgrown and encroached upon your outdoor unit or that leaves and grass have not piled up near your outdoor unit. In regard to your heating system, you can clean or replace furnace filters monthly. You can also clean your evaporator coil. The coil is located in the air handler/furnace and should be dry. You can clean the coil with the brush attachment from your vacuum.

Seasonal maintenance of your HVAC system is an important step in ensuring your systems will function properly when you need them the most. Studies have shown that without regular maintenance, an HVAC system loses about 5 percent of it’s original efficiency. We are all trying to save money on our energy bills and if our HVAC system is not functioning efficiently we could just be flushing our money down the drain. Avoid a costly and unpleasant breakdown of your HVAC system and have peace of mind that you are protecting your home and your investment.

The winter season can be particularly hard on our home plumbing. Extreme temperatures and holiday parties with many guests can take a toll on the plumbing. With big holiday meals, grease and food can get in the kitchen drain and disposal and wreak havoc. Ice cold temperatures can cause pipes to freeze. There are some simple steps we can take each year to make sure our plumbing is well maintained through the winter months. First, we all enjoy hosting guests and having parties during the winter holidays. While these gatherings can be a lot of fun they can also cause big problems for our plumbing. There are some simple steps you can take to take care fo your plumbing if you are planning on hosting guests this holiday season. You should avoid pouring any liquid fats down the drain because they will solidify and create clogs. These clogs in our pipes can cause big headaches and it’s simple to collect any liquid fats in a container and throw them away in the trash. Also, you should run cold water down the drain before and after disposer use to clean out waste. When you use your disposer you think whatever you have put in there is chopped up and gone but you need to run the water before and after to ensure it’s not simply sitting in the disposer. Also, you should not put hard to grind foods into the disposer. It can be tempting to just dump everything in there and turn on the disposer but you should be careful to avoid putting hard to grind foods in that will make your disposer work hard or potentially break. If you are hosting overnight guests during the winter season it can be additional strain on your plumbing that your plumbing is not used to. You and your guests should consider spreading out showers over the course of the day instead of everyone trying to take showers all at once. To prepare shower heads for your guests and ensure they are having an enjoyable shower that doesn’t involve clogged shower heads, you should soak you shower heads in vinegar overnight. After soaking shower heads scrub any remaining residue off. Not only will this improve the overall appearance of your shower but it will also improve water flow which will help keep your plumbing functioning properly. When temperatures drop pipes can freeze and that can mean big problems. Use a foam insulation or padding sleeves to protect pipes from freezing. You can save yourself big headaches by simply protecting your pipes each year. You should also run water through all valves periodically throughout the winter, even if typically unused. This will also help prevent any freezing that could occur. These tips are simple lifestyle changes and cost you little to nothing but can save you big this winter. By maintaining your plumbing with each changing season you will add life to your plumbing and ensure that you don’t have to suffer big costly repairs at inconvenient times.]]>

If you have recently purchased a home that can with a home warranty, then you may wonder what exactly is covered. You are not alone with this question, as many people have often asked their warranty companies. You can rest easier knowing that your warranty will cover quite a few appliances in your home for the length of time it has been purchased for. Home warranties have been introduced largely to protect the seller in case problems are found after they have sold their homes. The seller is often the person that provides the home warranty, as they are able to sell a home more easily when they do so. The buyer is also able to purchase a warranty for a home they purchase, which can also be a good protection from any possible problems with appliances. The buyer can also extend the warranty that is provided by the seller for a certain period of time afterward to keep receiving the protection. There are several appliances that could be the source of problems once you move in, and they are often included in a warranty. You can expect your dishwasher, air conditioner, doorbell, furnace, water heater, duct work, garbage disposal, inside plumbing stoppages, ceiling fans, electrical systems, range and oven, and your telephone all to be covered under a general home warranty offered by many companies. There are some variations with several providers, so checking with the provider beforehand is an important step to take. There are some appliances and features of a home that aren’t covered with some plans. There are some companies that won’t provide coverage for refrigerators, washers and dryers, outdoor items, and garage door openers. There are also some that won’t provide faucet repairs, repairs on spa’s and pools, permit fees, and hauling of broken appliances. There are also some instances that occur that will make the home warranty void with some appliances, such as unusual wear and tear, improper maintenance, code violations, and improper installation. You can ensure these haven’t occurred before you move in by having a full inspection done on the home first. It is rather easy to make a claim on an appliance that is covered under your warranty. There are some companies that will provide you with 24/7 access to their claim service, so if you are having plumbing problems they can be fixed promptly. There are other companies that you can call and speak with a representative about the problem you are facing with the appliance, and they will then send a repairman to your home to fix it quickly. If the appliance is found unable to be fixed, the home warranty company will often replace it for you. You may or may not have to pay a small fee when the repairman comes and repairs the appliances. As you can see, there are many appliances that are covered under an appropriate warranty for your home. You may be very happy that you are able to trust in your warranty company for many unpredictable appliances that could have problems already. You may find yourself calling your home warranty company several times, and you’ll likely be relieved in the help they provide.]]>

Just as your house is different from your neighbor’s, your home warranties should be different as well. There are many variances to factor in to your home warranty. Your house will have different needs than another and your warranty should reflect that. Some of the factors to consider when choosing home warranties are the age of the house, current condition, your financial situation and budget, and your ability to fix things around the house. If you are a contractor or have a friend or family member who can fix the major problems that occur in a house you may want to only have minimal coverage for your home. Using someone you know can lower your necessities in a warranty. With that being said you may still want to be sure your major appliances and systems are covered. Cost wise it is a wise idea to cover the major appliances and systems in your home to avoid a high bill during an emergency situation. Home warranties can help you avoid running up a credit card or having to get a high interest loan. If you have recently bought an older home, there will undoubtedly be problems with the house. The previous owner may have installed newer appliances but with age comes problems with the structure of the house and to the systems within the house. Systems such as the heating and cooling can be compromised with age and with improper care. The previous owner may or may not have changed the filters or had the systems serviced. Without the proper care, these systems may begin to deteriorate. When this happens, it can shut down suddenly or you may notice daily changes in the efficiency of the system. Even if you have taken excellent care of your system, it can still wear out. This is when home warranties can be useful. Some families prefer to set money aside for an emergency and while that is a wise practice, there may be more than one emergency in any given month. When that happens, it can be helpful to have a warranty on at least one of the items that has broken. With a warranty on the major items in your house, you can know that the other problems are manageable. Home warranties are not all the same. You should always read the fine print, just as with any document to ensure you understand what is covered. Some items may be covered under certain circumstances and that is something you should be clear about. For example, home warranties may cover the plumbing system in a home only if the pipes are found to be faulty. It may not cover the plumbing system if there is a user accident such as an overflow or stoppage. In order to get the most out of your warranty, it is a wise idea to cover the systems and appliances that you know will need servicing in the near future. If the oven is brand new, you may not want to have it covered, unless it increases the premium very little. Sometimes warranties include all appliances in the kitchen and do not give you options to exclude. Just be sure you understand how your warranty works and what it covers.]]>

As a homeowner, you understand the importance of maintaining your property and keeping your belongings inside safe. Home owners insurance can help keep the belongings safe within your home and home warranties can keep the systems and major appliances in your house in working condition. When you purchase your home, you will probably be given the option to purchase a home warranty before you even move in. Whether you are buying a townhouse, condo, or single family home, home warranties are an important purchase to make in addition to the dwelling. Just as with a single family house, a townhouse or condo can have systems fail and be costly to repair. The warranty will cover the existing items in the residence and the systems such as the heating, cooling, and plumbing. Even with new buildings, there can still be issues with things like faulty wiring, pipes, and manufacture problems. Home warranties protect the home buyer, regardless of the type of dwelling. After a move, your budget is usually maxed out with the movers, utility deposits, and anything new you may have to buy in order to make the house suitable for you. You do not want to have to worry about an appliance that stops working or a cooling system that dies in the middle of a hot spell. These can be major budget busters and cause you unnecessary monetary stresses. When there is a warranty on these items, you may pay a small monthly fee to cover the items. It is an insurance of sorts that protects the insides of the home and the appliances within the home. It seems that things almost always go wrong when you are not ready or when you need them to work more than ever. After you’ve moved into your new condo, you may decide to invite your family over for the holidays. This is not the time for an appliance to stop working yet inevitably it can happen. The warranty service will have a list of qualified repair persons that can help you even on the holidays. All you will have to do is call the repair person and they can be out to your home to help you get the holidays back on track. Your family is counting on you and you need to figure out how to fix the problem. Even if you don’t have the money to fix the appliance up front, you won’t have to worry about that as the home warranties may require you to only pay the service fee. These fees can be fairly low and only occur when there is a service call. The price of this service fee is nominal in relationship to the overall cost of replacing an entire appliance. Even the price of a service call can be much higher than that of the service fee so in the long run the warranty can be a wise option for anyone that buys a property whether it is a single family home, townhouse, or even a condominium. These types of properties can all have appliances and systems that fail so having the backup peace of mind of home warranties is a great investment.]]>

Whether you are selling or buying a home, you may want to consider purchasing a home protection plan. You will receive several helpful benefits by either utilizing the protection plan for yourself, or giving it to the sellers of your home. There are many options as far as providers, however, so you will want to ensure you select the right one to get the protection needed. A good reason to consider purchasing a home warranty when you are selling is providing the buyers with the confidence they need to buy your home. They will be more willing to purchase your home when they know you are protecting the appliances within the home. You can also avoid any legal litigation from occurring, because they may come to you for payment once an appliance does break soon after they move in. You can expect to sell your home faster, and stay out of court, when you provide a home protection plan for your sellers. When you are purchasing a home, it is also a good idea to have a warranty. You may never know how the appliances operate within your home, so it may be a good protection to provide yourself. When you first start shopping for the best protection plan for your home, there are some considerations to think of. You will first want to find several companies to compare online. You can often find several providers that can protect your home. Once you have taken a look at the different companies, you can then compare the coverage each home protection plan provides. Several components inside your home should be covered, such as the air conditioner, furnace, water heater, doorbell, electrical system, garbage disposal, plumbing stoppages, and the dishwasher. The protection may vary quite widely, as some may give you more or less. If you know that some of your appliances are getting older, then you will want to make sure you see them in the list provided. Another important consideration when looking for a new warranty for your home is the exclusions. Some companies will have times when they won’t cover the problems that occur for various reasons. You can often read through the policies they provide to ensure the coverage will be there when you need it the most. You can also compare the prices of each home protection plan with the protection they provide, as it may be worth it to spend a little more for more coverage. When you compare several different providers, there still may be some questions left. You can often call a representative to discuss the protection they provide and how much it will cost. They should also tell you how much each deductible will be once you do make a claim. The time length of the plan will also need to be determined, as some will only be offered a year, while others can last several. You should find all of your questions answered after you call and discuss the home protection plan of each company. You can then make an informed decision on the best company to provide you with the coverage you need for your appliances.]]>