Thread: Home Warrantee: what is it?

It's a warranty for appliances and other stuff that you can get during a transaction. That gives peace of mind for a buyer who purchase a home and not to worry if the fridge or washer give up 2 days after closing.
However, lots of home warranty companies have a vicious pleasure to find anything to make sure the situation is not covered.
My last story: A A/C compressor died. Call the warranty Co, send a tech and see that the unit was 5 feet 5 inches below the deck. Not covered since the unit should have been 6 feet minimum from the deck...
I had 3 problem so far in my career, 3 time it's was not covered...

I had the bottom fall out of a water heater one week after we closed on a home. Home warranty gave me a new one, no deductible. Only thing I had to do was put it in the dumpster that I was already using to gut the master suite.

You should negotiate for them during the home purchase process.

I have also had troubles with mechanical systems in my own home and the home warranty company covered both a water heater and fixed the furnace.
I know some people keep them on their homes for peace of mind.

If you already own the home you would contact a home warranty company for a policy. If you are buying a home it will likely be put in place at the time the home transfers.

If you are not already under contract for a home purchase, ask the seller to pay for a home protection plan for you when you write an offer. A good realtor will always ask for one for their client.

If you are under contract, most protection plans can be purchase up to 30 days after closing date. But... if you have any issues in that interim, it is not covered. Not all plans are equal, shop for a protection plan that fits your needs and budget.

Ask your real estate agent for their recommendation, they should have one.

I have heard the horror stories, like the ones posted, but I have my own story. I had just sold a home to 1st time home buyers and yes, I did get them a home warranty. Two weeks after they had been in the home (and while I was in another state) I get a call that there has been a flood in the master bath, a pipe had busted. I got on the phone and contacted the warranty company and a plumber was sent out right away. Not only did he fix the pipe in the master bath, he checked out the plumbing throughout the house! No extra charge!

This has been some very helpful info. We tried to get the seller to pay for home warrantee in our offer but said no. So my agent says he will pay for it himself out of his comminssion.

One suggestion when anyone goes to view a home is try and go on a rainy day or just after a rainstorm to get an idea how the house/yard/drainage holds up. You can also download an inspection report free from the net to give you some ideas what to check in a home. It helped me see things I would have easily overlooked otherwise.

Speaking of insurance, does anyone have any recs for homeowner's insurance?

Don't waste your time with home warranties. Do you really think they would be profitable if they charged you 300-400 dollars and really fixed things that broke in your home. I have been through many and have just had complaints from clients left and right. Nothing is ever covered for whatever reason, and what you really get is a "network mechanic", who is just going to try to upsell your services and new equipment.

OK. Now, what about homeowner's insurance? Is it standard in pricing by the square footage of the home for fire insurance? and does anyone know a company in california with the lowest rates or can I ask this here?

I like home warranties. The only problem I have had with them is that they don't always want to replace an appliance or water heater even though it's obviously beyond it's useful life. They will usually only authorize a repair.