Home warranty (maintenance, business, costs)

[valicon]

I am looking for a home warranty. Can anyone recommend a company that offers these? Thanks!

[VickiR]

If you do a google search, you'll probably find them all.

I know of three:
American Home Shield
First American(usually gives $75 off coupons for Realtors to give to clients) and
2-10 Warranty

Check to see how much the one year warranty costs and
What it covers and
How much the service fee is.

Vicki

[MikeJaquish]

Old Republic Home Protection is another

[jln69]

We use American Home Shield at our office like Vicki mentioned. Some of the other companies like Vicki and Mike suggested are possibilities too.

[valicon]

Vicki, Mike and Jln69 - Thank you for your help!

[sacredgrooves]

A couple things with home warranties;

Keep all your maintenance records. If a system breaks down and is not maintained they will not cover it.

Warranty companies are not in business to pay out claims. If your home is only 5-6 years old, I wouldnt recommend one. If it is a dozen or more, and your systems are original, you will probably benefit from it. Keep in mind though, at $500 or so a year, after 4 or 5 years you have paid for a new HVAC unit etc. There is also a $50 or so service charge for each visit.

[lamishra]

We had 2-10 and dropped them after a MAJOR air conditioner fiasco with them last year. It was a serious pain in the *you know what*. We'll probably never have another home warranty again unles it's part of a sales contract.

[VickiR]

I usually recommend a Home Warranty for my first time homebuyer's because once they buy a home, they are totally outta money!

I usually get the seller to pay for it and get the more expensive warranty.

After a year, the new buyers know the appliances and how they use them and most of them don't buy it the 2nd year.

Vicki

[Erin1264]

I've found home warranties to be pretty useless. They only cover a limited number of things and if you want someone to come and look at a problem, it costs you $100 for them to just walk through the door.

Our microwave broke after we moved in, and it would have been covered, but for $100 I could buy a new one and avoid the hassle.

Our roof leaked also after we moved in and the home warranty definitely didn't cover that!

Only appliances and some electrical systems for our policy.

[VickiR]

I've not seen any of the Home Warranties with $100 service call fee. The two that my clients typically use are $55.

I agree that they don't cover everything but for first time homebuyers with no money left...its better they pay $55 if the dishwasher goes on the fritz than to pay $500 for a new one.

Vicki