A common question I get as a Kansas City real estate agent is, “What is a Homeowner’s Warranty?” A homeowner’s warranty is a policy that covers the cost of replacement or repair of major appliances and home systems, such as your HVAC, that is caused by every day wear and tear or age.
Any homeowner may purchase a homeowner’s warranty at any time. There are many home warranty companies to choose from and I’m happy to recommend a few if you need a recommendation. Each company, like insurance, offers several different policy options. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a homeowner’s warranty such as coverage needs, overall cost as well as deductibles, and terms of the policy.
Things to consider when purchasing a homeowner’s warranty:
- Coverage Needs – When you are buying a newer home, you may not need as much appliance coverage as say an older home or home with older appliances may need. Same goes with home systems like plumbing, HVAC, air conditioning, etc. They do need to be covered if you don’t want to purchase new appliances outright when needed.
- Overall cost is the upfront cost of the homeowners warranty policy that is paid in one lump sum and the deductible for each claim. An average policy is around $600 and the deductibles range from $50 to $100.
- The terms of any policy should always be looked at carefully.
Pro Tip: Before you go with any particular company, check out their reviews. You never want to deal with a company that is slow to respond and repair a major appliance in your home.
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Heather Brulez, REALTOR®
ReeceNichols – A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate
913-948-3918 | 913-323-7222
heather@heatherbrulez.com
