What is a Home Warranty Plan?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could buy a new home with the same manufacturer’s warranty that comes with your new appliances? Well, maybe you can. A home warranty is not a replacement for homeowners insurance, but can be very beneficial to new homeowners.

How it Works

A home warranty works very similar to a product warranty. For example, if your new refrigerator starts to leak, you can call the manufacturer and (if the fridge is under warranty), they will fix it or replace it at no cost to you. With a home warranty, you protect yourself in the event that something relatively minor goes wrong inside of your home. It is very similar to a service contract which covers certain appliances and systems in your house that would not normally be covered by your standard homeowner’s insurance policy.

Coverage

The last thing any new homeowner needs is a faulty dishwasher, a broken water heater or a malfunctioning appliance. A home warranty does not protect against large-scale disasters or catastrophic calamities such as storm damage, extensive flooding, fires, or theft. That is what homeowner’s insurance policies are for.

The warranty will only pay for either the repair or replacement of an appliance or installed system that malfunctions after you purchase your home, not comprehensive home damage. Because all plans differ, buyers should specifically ask the company what is covered and more importantly, what is not. Ask your real estate agent if upgrades are available after purchasing the home.

Purchasing

A home warranty is often used as an added benefit offered through real estate agents. Sometimes, the real estate agent that sells the house will cover the cost of a one-year home warranty to give buyers peace of mind. In other cases, it may be used in negotiations or the seller can throw it in on their own as an incentive.

In the mix of home buying, a home warranty is an inexpensive way to attract buyers. Typically ranging from $250 to $400, depending on coverage, it’s worth it to shop around for a special sale or discount offer. Home warranty policies are typically sold for a coverage period of one year.

Filing a Claim

Filing a claim with a home warranty company is very similar to an insurance claim. Let's say you just moved into your new home and all of a sudden the air conditioning doesn't work. First, you'll call your home warranty provider (not your insurance agent). There is a deductible, much like a homeowner’s insurance policy, but it is often less than $100 and the warranty company will send out a service expert to your home to complete the repair.

By Matt Reynolds - Google+

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