Tag: Home Warranty in Phoenix

Home warranties have many benefits for homeowners that protect their homes and offer peace of mind.  When it comes to buying and selling homes,  both buyers and sellers can benefit from having a home warranty.  One might think that, when selling a home, a home warranty would only benefit the buyer who will take over the home but, in fact, it benefits everyone.

The first and most important benefit for sellers is that it offers a competitive edge in the housing market.  When you go to sell your home, you want to sell it quickly and for top dollar.  With a home warranty, buyers will be that much more attracted to your home because they will feel safe and covered should something go wrong and they will also know that you have taken good care of your home.  If they are considering a similar home in the neighborhood, having a home warranty may give your home the competitive edge it needs to be out the other home.  Additionally, having a home warranty may help lessen the amount of negotiations with the buyer after an inspection because they will feel covered should something go wrong.  Another benefit for sellers is that the home will be covered and protected should something go wrong or break while the home is listed or in escrow.

The seller is certainly not the only one who benefits from a home warranty, the buyer benefits immensely from purchasing a home with a home warranty.  First, purchasing a home is very expensive and you will be spending money on not just the home but on moving expenses and decor. If you purchase a home that has a home warranty, you will not need to worry that a huge repair will pop up, costing you money you may not have readily available.  A home warranty protects home buyers from additional costs for surprise repairs.  Additionally, buyers will have peace of mind that their new home is covered should something break down.

When you move into a new home there is a lot to learn about the new home and having peace of mind that your home is protected is priceless.  An existing home warranty will also make home ownership easier.  When things break down, it can be very frustrating to try to find a reliable and knowledgeable handyman or repairman that can do the job. When you purchase a home with a home warranty, you simply need to call the home warranty company and let them handle it from there.  They will send a trustworthy and experienced handyman to handle your job and will handle all of the legwork.  A home warranty is simply a good choice for both home sellers and home buyers.

The very first thing you’ll want to do is install smoke detectors in your home near any sources of fire, such as your stove, oven, fireplace and dryer. If you already have smoke detectors in your home, test them at least once a month and make sure that they’re using fresh batteries. You’ll also want to keep your detectors free of dust by vacuuming them out in addition to having an escape plan and practicing it with your family in case there ever is a fire in your home.

As far as Christmas trees go, make sure that you buy one that has a fire resistant label. Decorative lights should never be used on a metallic tree under any circumstances since there’s a strong possibility that you could electrocute yourself. If you prefer to have a real tree in your home, make sure that the needles on the tree are fresh and that they aren’t falling off. Falling and hard needles can cause a fire. If there are any falling needles on the tree, make sweeping them up part of your home maintenance routine. It’s also a good idea to get rid of your live tree as soon as possible since a majority of home fires occur either after or on New Year’s Day.

Before you start a fire in your fireplace, make sure that you remove all decorations and that you have the flue open. It’s also a good idea to use a screen over your fireplace in addition to a fire resistant mat or carpet. Should you decide to use an electric heater, only use outlets that are designed to handle the amount of electricity required to operate an electric heater. Something else to add to your home maintenance list for the winter is to have your fireplace professionally cleaned. With kerosene heaters, check to make sure that you’re using the right fuel and that you only refill them outside. Kerosene will also expand when it’s inside of your home, so you don’t have to fill it up all of the way.

While cooking, make sure that you never leave your food unattended and that you keep all towels, potholders, papers and all other flammable materials far away from the stove and oven. Never try to move a pan of grease that has caught on fire. Instead, put a top on the pan to smother the flames before you turn off the heat. If you have small children, always turn the handles of pans and skillets toward the back of the stove so that curious kids won’t be tempted to reach up and pull them down to see what’s inside.

Seasonal home maintenance should also involve making sure that you have fire extinguishers in your home. You’ll also want to think about taking a fire safety and fire extinguisher class in order to make sure that you know the right way to use a fire extinguisher. Should you ever have guests over during the holiday season, make them aware of the fire escape plan as well and ensure that they know where the fire extinguishers are.

Use caution when enjoying your holiday season, and make sure that you adjust your home maintenance schedule as necessary during winter in order to stay safe.

If you are a homeowner, then you probably understand that there is plenty of home maintenance for you to attend to all year long. There are certain items that need to be taken care of as the seasons change—especially as you move into summer or start toward winter. In fact, taking care of some of your winterization needs in the late summer can help you prepare some of your home appliances for fall and winter. 3 simple projects that can help you out include checking and replacing filters, draining your hot water heater, and inspecting the hose to your dryer. If you have an appliance with a filter, that filter needs to be changed regularly. This is especially true for items like an air-conditioning unit or any other vents in your house that have filters in them. These filters ought to be changed as the seasons change. When you prepare to turn the cool air on, then you need to change your filters. When you prepare to turn the cool air off for the season, you need to change your filters. A simple inspection should tell you all that you need to know. These filters get dirty over any season, and dirty filters will not filter the air as well as it should. You should also consider getting your air system cleaned by a professional one or two times a year, as that is an important part of home maintenance. Draining your hot water heater is a great way that you can not only take care of the heater for the fall and winter, but it actually helps to keep the heater in good shape and last longer. Over time, sediment collects inside the heater. As the sediment builds up, the heater can become less efficient. Take the time at the end of summer to drain the heater and get out that sediment. If your water heater happens to be tankless, you might not need to worry about this part of your home maintenance. Whenever it is that you purchased your dryer, you probably wanted it to last as long as possible. Some people think that dryers can take care of themselves, but there are home maintenance steps you can take to keep your dryer in good shape. While preparing for the fall season, check your dryer’s laundry hose for lint buildup. You’ll want to detach the hose from the dryer and vacuum out the lint. Lint buildup can becomes a serious fire hazard if left unattended. When you are finished, reattach the hose and you are ready to dry your clothes for the fall and winter! There are a lot of different home maintenance projects that demand your time throughout the year. Although these are not the only 3 things that you can do to prepare your home for fall, changing your filters, draining your hot water heater, and inspecting your dryer hose are great ways to help take care of your home appliances. Naturally, you will want to add other chores to your list, such as putting outdoor hoses away and inspecting your gutters. Just don’t forget that your actual appliances inside the home need just as much love and care as the exterior. Put these 3 things on your fall to-do list, and hopefully your appliances will be sitting pretty for yet another season.]]>

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.]]>

The only thing nicer than having an air conditioner in the summer is having an air conditioner that works. It’s best to make sure that your air conditioner is working before the weather starts to warm up. Prevention is always more efficient and usually cheaper than a solution. So make sure that your air conditioner is in good working order before you need it.

Perform a Home Energy Analysis

A home energy analysis will let you know where most of your energy is going and ways that you can cut back on your energy use. A home energy analysis can also give you an idea of how much it will cost to implement energy saving strategies and how much of a return investment you can see. By getting an energy analysis, you can find out how you’re losing cool air and money during the warmer months of the year. If you like, you can also have a qualified technician personally visit you at your home to perform the energy analysis with special equipment. The technician might also give you some energy saving products that you can put to use, like compact florescent light bulbs.

HVAC Maintenance

If you have a home warranty, it’s recommended that you have a HVAC unit maintenance check performed every six months by your warranty provider in order to catch any minor problems that you might be having before they become major problems, major problems that cost you major amounts of money. Maintenance checks can keep your A/C from going on the fritz and save you from possibly spending days without a working air conditioner.

Enroll in Demand Conversation

Check with your utility department to see if they offer a demand conservation program where they switch on your central air conditioning system, electric water heater, heat pump and pool pump to efficiently and safely cycle your air conditioner’s air compressors for short bursts of time whenever an abundance of energy is being used during the warmer months of the year. Demand conservation programs can actually earn you some money on your summer utility bill.

Look for Energy Efficiency Tips

You can also prepare your A/C unit for the summer by looking up tips online that will help you use your home’s energy more efficiently. If you’re trying to go green or reduce your carbon footprint, home energy is a great place to start. You’ll find that most of the tips probably won’t cost you much at all and that you can start implementing them immediately.
Do everything you can to prepare you air conditioner for the summer season. Not only will everyone in your house appreciate it, your wallet will too.

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.

When the summer hits, you may cringe when you see your electric bill in the mail. Not only does it seem to get higher every year, it seems unusually high this year and you begin to wonder if the problem is in the cooling system itself. You get your answer when on the hottest day of the summer, it dies. You and your family end up sleeping a hotel while you wait on the repair man to show up and help you cool off your house. Don’t you wish you had chosen to buy a home warranty? The warranty for a cooling system is usually broad and will give you the ability to fix whatever problem comes up. This is not always the case when you buy a home warranty so be sure you read the one you have carefully. If you know your system is old or seems to be running too hard, you may want to double check your coverage before the system dies. You want your coverage to be comprehensive for the problem you need fixed. The added bonus you receive when you buy a home warranty is the network of repair people that are now at your disposal. The warranty will have a network they prefer and many of these service people are professional and can be available on a holiday. You will not pay more for their holiday time because the service call is the same price regardless of the time of day or the time of year. This is not usually the case when you call a non-warranty company to service your cooling system. They will charge more for after-hour calls and even for holiday calls. Since you don’t know when your system will go out, you will have to be prepared for any cost without a home warranty. When you buy a home warranty, you are not only protecting yourself from surprise repairs and exorbitant bills that wreak havoc on your budget, you are protecting your house. If the cooling system breaks in your house and you are unable to pay for a new one, your house will get abnormally hot and humid. Your cooling system provides an equalizer of sorts between the outside heat and humidity and the coolness in your house. It will keep the floors from warping and the paint from peeling. When your house is properly cooled, it will also protect the appliances, electrical outlets, and your own belongings inside the house. If you house gets too hot, things can start to melt, crack, and swell. When this happens, it is difficult to fix when the cooling system is finally fixed. A cooling system that is left too long without being used either for cooling purposes or heating purposes can begin to have other service problems that may have nothing to do with the original problem. Vents can become clogged and dirt can build up within the ducts. When you’ve had the cooling and heating system off for any period of time, turning it on can produce a lot of dust, bugs, and sometimes even critters that found their way into the house and didn’t need to leave when the system was turned on. Choosing to buy a home warranty can help you make necessary repairs in a timely manner.]]>

Owning a home is something many people dream of and once the big day arrives when they sign the final papers it’s a real cause for celebration.  However, many new home owners are surprised to discover just how difficult caring for a home can actually be.  There are many things that can go wrong and, if left unattended, those little problems will quickly turn into something big.  There are a number of ways that a home owner can prepare themselves for the eventual effects of wear and tear; preventative repair, home insurance, and regular maintenance are just a few of the ways that home owners choose to safeguard their property from the results of normal use.  Another excellent way to make certain that your house gets the care it needs is to purchase a Phoenix home warranty.  As you’ll see, this simple purchase can make all the difference.

One of the most important things a Phoenix home warranty will do is provide the assistance a home owner needs when it’s time to make wide-spread repairs in their homes.  Heat, electricity, plumbing, and ventilation systems will function reliably for many years, though eventually each of these vital systems in your home will start to work less effectively.  Unfortunately, repairing these systems can be especially expensive because of the large amount of work required.  Many components will need to be replaced and upgraded in order to ensure that each system performs correctly.  So long as the repairs and upgrades are necessary to correct problems due to normal system use, your Phoenix home warranty will be able to help cover it.

There are other things that a Phoenix home warranty can cover.  Major appliance repair can also be covered, which means that the cost of maintaining dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, and ovens can be taken care of, provided you have purchased the appropriate warranty.  These major appliances are expensive to purchase and you want them to last for many years.  However, many people believe they are saving money by not purchasing a warranty that covers these and other large appliances; they figure it’s better to replace a worn out appliance years later than to spend a little money on a warranty now.  This way of thinking is understandable, though not necessarily accurate.  A warranty costs considerably less than a brand new appliance and you’re likely to pay a lot more for a replacement appliance in the future than you are spending on one now.  Further, there is never a convenient time to replace something as important to a household as a dishwasher or refrigerator.  Instead of creating a problem that you’ll have to take care of later on, simply purchase a warranty when you have the opportunity.

It’s clear that it’s better to purchase a Phoenix home warranty early on, before there’s a problem that’s expensive and inconvenient to address.  Trying to cover expensive home repairs and appliance replacements years down the road is a terrible inconvenience and you’ll be wishing that you had made a different choice when you had the opportunity.  You can do yourself a big favor by purchasing a home warranty at the time you move into your new home.  This helpful policy will allow you to address some of the most important repairs your home might ever need.

Your home is made comfortable and functional with the help of several important systems that work hard behind the scenes.  Every day, your plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems make it possible to enjoy living in your home.  As you probably know, these systems can be very expensive to repair if anything breaks or goes wrong.  Everyone needs a little help covering the cost of routine home expenses and your home warranty is one of the best ways to help yourself out.  In fact, HVAC warranty coverage in Arizona is one of the very best warranty policies you can choose for yourself.

There are a number of reasons why repairing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can be so expensive.  To begin with, each of these systems contain many parts and components.  Some of these parts can be replaced with little expense, but because each of these systems are very adaptive and versatile, many components are required to make them work correctly.  While replacing one or two elements might be relatively inexpensive, once it becomes necessary to replace several elements, the cost of repair begins to climb.
Another reason why HVAC warranty coverage in Arizona is so important is because it can help offset the cost of installing those parts.  Installation and maintenance of HVAC parts can be complicated because it can potentially involve the removal of large portions of wall, ceiling and floor.  While it can be unusual that such extensive work has to be done, because your heating and ventilation system stretches through your entire home, is sometimes necessary in order to get the job done correctly.  The extensive work that might be necessary to repair a particular problem can quickly become more expensive than even the parts themselves, so it is good to know that your HVAC warranty coverage in Arizona will help cover those costs, as well.

And finally, the reason why heating, ventilation, and air conditioning repairs can be so expensive is that only qualified specialists are certified to conduct these repairs.  The complex nature of these valuable systems require a lot of training and, in many cases, professional certification as well.  The certification, training, and experience a qualified technician brings to the job is valuable; this kind of work can’t be done by just anyone.  The cost of engaging the service of these specialists is reasonable, though you have to account for the length of time that they may be working on a particular task in your home.

Individually, the parts, service, and agent involved in repairing and servicing the heating and cooling systems in your home are not unreasonably expensive.  However, added together and compounded by additional factors such as water damage, it becomes obvious why having HVAC warranty coverage in Arizona is so important.

Simply put, having HVAC warranty coverage in Arizona is going to help your money go further.  Spending money wisely is an important part of maintaining your home in the long term, not only physically but financially as well.  Think of your home warranty as a way to safeguard your homes physical and financial well-being at the same time.  For just a low annual premium, you can save a lot of money on some of the most important repairs your home may ever need.

There are a lot of places that you can go when you need help around the house.  If you need some basic repair work done, then you can call a handyman service.  If any major appliances break down, then all you need to do is schedule a maintenance check with the dealer you purchased it from.  By the same token, if you need help purchasing a home warranty, then the first stop you need to make is at a Home warranty company in Scottsdale.  A home warranty company will be able to tell you all about the ways that you can protect the long term financial stability of your property by assisting you with the cost of home upkeep, repair, and maintenance.

A Home warranty company in Scottsdale can quickly become your best resource for financial advice regarding the many ways in which you’re able to save money on your house.  It’s no surprise that the cost of home upkeep is rising every year; it’s also no surprise that if you don’t take the time to fix small problems that you will end up having to fix big – and expensive – problems later one.  Either way you look at it, there is money to be saved but only if you make the right choices with regards to your home warranty and service plan.
While it’s obvious that having a home warranty is in your best interest, it isn’t always obvious to people why communicating with a Home warranty company in Scottsdale is so important.  Just as your home warranty policy is going to help your house, so your home warranty company is going to help you.  For example, you may want to have a little guidance when it comes time to file a claim.  A representative from your home warranty company will take the time to walk you through each step of the claims process and can help you speed the process along so that you won’t have to worry about any unpaid bills taking up space in your household budget.  The representative you speak with will also give you valuable information regarding the extent of the coverage offered by your policy.  You can talk to your representative about the cost of premiums and about any programs you can enroll in to help improve your premium.

Purchasing a home warranty is a big step, though an important one.  This is a form of home protection that is going to last as long as you own your home, so it’s important to make a wise decision now.  You can’t accomplish this if you aren’t informed and the only way you can become informed is to visit a Home warranty company in Scottsdale in person.  While a great deal can be covered on the phone, the very best way to meet and get to know your policy representative is to speak with them in person.  That way you don’t have to wait even a day to begin enjoying the protection provided by your home warranty policy.  Simply sign the papers there in the office and you’ll be all set.

Don’t put off making this important purchase.  Instead of delaying the purchase of a home warranty because you aren’t clear on what it does or how it works, simply visit a Home warranty company in Scottsdale.  A representative will be happy to answer all your questions.