What is a home warranty? What is usually covered?
A home warranty is a home insurance protection plan that covers certain items for one year depending on what policy you order.
Most of the companies cover normal wear and tear items during the term of the contract. These items usually include, but are not limited to: Plumbing leaks/breaks in the water waste, vent, or gas lines within the perimeter of the main foundation of the home or garage. Some home warranties cover the water heater. The heating system is covered if it is the main source of heat. Also usually covered are the stove, range, built-in microwave, dishwashers, garbage disposals, etc.
They don’t cover items that have been abused, misused, or if they are missing parts. They also don’t cover pre-existing problems.
You can also upgrade your policy to include washer and dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, limited roof repairs, pools and spas.
Post Specific Disclaimer: All home warranty policies are different. Please make sure you and/or your realtor have read over the warranty terms in their entirety before purchasing a home warranty. I, nor Team Tapper, hold any responsibility for the information provided in this article.
Home warranties have saved us a few times…but then we’ve also run into a couple of denied claims as well. All in all though, I think as a seller its well worth it, especially if it gives you coverage while the home is on the market. It gives buyers a peace of mind too!
Chelle´s last blog post..Year End Questions to Ask Yourself
[...] Friday, I posted an article defining a home warranty. This week I will answer the question, “Should I buy a home warranty when I purchase my [...]
@Chelle, thank you for the comment. Nothing works all the time, and like you said, it’s about piece of mind.
Dave
Pre-existing conditions are the one thing that drives lots of first time home buyers crazy. That is why a thorough home inspection must me done before your purchase a new home and sign on the dotted line. Make sure that if any pre-existing conditions exist, you make it a condition of closing for those items to be fixed. Many times the seller will decline to fix the items but give you an allowance to fix them yourself. You can also use this to negotiate a lower price.
You can try to file a claim on a neglect issue with your warranty company, but if your company knows what they are doing, it will get denied.
Ver true, Allen. The reason most sellers would prefer to give you a credit instead of fixing the problem is because of liability.
It’s best to sell the home AS-IS and have the buyer choose who they would like to fix the problem.
They may have a relationship with a contractor they trust, or be able to shop the price and get a better deal.
Cheers.
Tap