Many homeowners are unsure whether a home warranty is right for them. Before deciding to purchase a home warranty, it’s important to review the terms and conditions carefully.
Learning as much as possible about the contract can help avoid claim denials. Frequent maintenance and meticulous record-keeping also go a long way in making sure claims are approved.
1. It saves you from unexpected expenses
Having a home warranty can save you thousands of dollars. That’s because the cost of repairs and replacements can be very expensive. It’s important to have an emergency fund and budget for these expenses.
But even if you’re very careful with your money, unexpected expenses are bound to occur. A home warranty can cover these costs and give you peace of mind.
The most common way to use a home warranty is to pay a service fee to have a technician come out and diagnose the problem. Then, if the technician determines that the appliance or system is covered by your contract, it will be repaired or replaced at no additional cost to you.
2. It saves you from trouble
Home warranties aren’t cheap, but they save you from thousands of dollars in repair bills or replacement costs. Unlike insurance, which only pays out when something goes wrong, a home warranty has flat-rate fixes that can be purchased for an annual or monthly fee.
Home warranty companies also make it simple to access service providers to fix the issues in your house, which can be a huge benefit for those who don’t have time or skills to find and hire someone to do the work on their own. However, some companies don’t give homeowners much choice when it comes to choosing the contractors they hire or the brands and models of appliances they replace.
This can be frustrating for those who want to use a warranty to upgrade outdated appliances and systems in their homes.
3. It saves you time
Home warranties save time because you don’t have to collect contractor quotes or tinker with repair work. Just submit a claim to your home warranty company and they’ll handle it from there.
Manufacturer’s warranties protect appliances and systems from breakdown due to defects in materials and workmanship. But those warranties typically expire after a year or two. That’s why a home warranty makes sense to many homeowners.
A home appliance protection also helps stabilize budgeting for repairs and replacements. With a fixed cost for your annual premium and service fees, it’s easier to predict your costs. That’s why millions of homeowners think it’s worth paying a small monthly fee for the peace of mind that comes with knowing their costly appliances and systems will be covered.
4. It saves you money
Many of the things you buy come with warranties that save you from having to pay out of pocket if they break down. Home warranties offer similar protection for your appliances and systems.
The cost of a home warranty can be covered by an annual premium, paid in monthly or annual installments. There may also be a service call fee, which is an additional amount that you need to pay to have a technician dispatched to your home to repair the appliance or system.
Without a home warranty, you could spend thousands on unexpected repairs and replacements. The savings, peace of mind and convenience a home warranty offers can make it worth the investment for many homeowners. Just be sure to carefully read your contract to ensure it covers everything you need it to.
5. It gives you peace of mind
Regardless of how well you take care of your home’s systems and appliances, eventually something will break down. Without a home warranty, those repairs can wipe out your emergency savings or cause you to have to borrow money. With a home warranty, those costs can be covered by a flat-rate service fee.
However, it’s important to do your research and find a company that charges reasonable premiums and service fees. Also, make sure to read the fine print. Some warranties exclude claims for improper maintenance, which could include things like not replacing a worn part before it breaks down. Still, for millions of homeowners, a home warranty is worth the peace of mind it offers. It can also be a good option for new homeowners who don’t know the history of their home’s appliances and systems.