A home warranty is a service plan or contract providing coverage for repairing and replacing major appliances and systems in your home. Once you have one, you can have peace of mind when home appliances like freezers, air conditioning (AC), and heating furnaces break down.
In fact, there are many instances when having a home warranty is essential. With that in mind, here are five cases when you should consider getting one:
You’re Buying an Old Home
Are you thinking about buying an old home for your family? If so, a home warranty is one of the factors you should definitely consider before you buy the property.
A home warranty will protect your investment – especially when you choose a very old or older previously owned property. This is because they cover unexpected repairs and replacements on major appliances and systems.
You Have Little or No Experience with Home Repairs
If you are not an expert in home repairs, having a home warranty is something you shouldn’t ignore. After all, they give you access to professional technicians.
It means that when your freezer breaks down, someone is on the other side to fix it. You can resolve all the home repair issues without spending time and money. It saves you money when you have a fixed home maintenance budget.
You Have Aging Appliances and Systems
Consider a home warranty when you have aging appliances and systems at home. That’s because when your home appliances age, they become more prone to breakdowns and failures.
If the heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) system, plumbing, kitchen appliances, and freezer are nearing their lifespan, a home warranty should give you financial protection against costly replacements and repairs.
You Have Limited Emergency Savings
A home warranty is necessary if you don’t have an emergency fund for home repairs. They will help you handle any unexpected home repair costs that may affect your budget.
Instead of paying the total cost of repairing the air conditioning, the home warranty will cater to the expense.
You Want Peace of Mind
Whether selling or buying a home, a home warranty goes a long way towards providing home owners with much needed peace of mind. In fact, they’ll act as an incentive to attract the right buyers when selling your home. The warranty assures potential home buyers that they won’t bear the total cost of home repairs for all items covered.
Additionally, most people prefer the peace of mind they get once they have one. Knowing that all the major home appliances are covered can eliminate worries about unexpected home repair expenses. This also gives you a sense of financial security at home.
Final Thoughts
A home warranty is a good cover for many property owners. If you’re buying your first home, you should find out if the house has one from a reputable company. This will give you peace of mind because you won’t pay for repair, maintenance, and replacement of essential home appliances like deep freezers, and HVACs.
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Paul S says
I would imagine the age of appliances serve as exclusions. Surely it must be like Amazon Prime for people. When I would order expensive and heavy shop tools, I would join Prime for the free delivery, then cancel it before the month was up.
Anyway, I know a warranty won’t cover an aging roof, for example. 20 year old fridge? Doubt it. I have owned a home for over 45 years. Replaced two HW tanks and they are easy to install. One clothes washer packed it in, and I picked up a used one for free. While I do everything myself, including new construction and installations, you are farther ahead to hire it done in my opinion as opposed to paying for an insurance plan.
Len Penzo says
Here is my experience with installing a water heater … my father-in-law did most of the work.