As a homeowner and a person responsible for the welfare and security of your family, you have to make sure that everything is up to speed regarding their comfort and happiness when it comes to your home. Owning property is something everyone strives for but it is definitely not something everyone gets to do. However, purchasing it is hardly the end of it. It is the years of maintenance and protection that is how you truly take good care of a home and allow it to age as gracefully as you do. Along the way, nothing can help you as much as home warranty which is why you need to have it.
Before you do though, you have to know a thing or two about home warranties. What are they, what do they do, and what exactly do they cover? Do you actually need one? Well, you absolutely do, but you already knew this. Regarding the rest of the question we answer them in the following sections. Keep reading to learn more about how warranties help your home and what kind of damages and problems they can help you with. If you are further interested in this and want to find out additional information on the subject, make sure to check out completecarehomewarranty.com.
What Is It?
Do not confuse your home warranty with the insurance policy you have as these are two different things. The warranty is there to give you discounts on repairs as well as replacement services for various different systems and appliances of your home. Most providers offer plans that cover either one of these, or both. There are usually monthly or annual fees and subscriptions for these warranties and whenever something that is covered breaks you will have it taken care of.
Again, this is very different from home insurance that protects the home and everything inside it from theft, damages, weather, and liability claims. They are two inherently different things so you do need both of them. Insurance is the one most people have, but warranties are not. Here is a quick example. Your washing machine breaks and there is water damage to your home. The insurance does cover the water damage but not the washing machine. The warranty however does cover the washing machine repairs, but not the water damage to the floors/walls.
As you can see, you really do need both as they help with different sides of a one larger problem. Think of the home warranty as an umbrella service contract that will help you cover the costs of repairs and/or replacements of appliances you cannot live without. Having such peace of mind is not possible with your insurance policy only. Furthermore, manufactures’ warranties expire after a few years and regular services and replacements are pricey. Therefore, having a one-fits-all solution like this surely helps you in the long run.
What Does It Cover?
Now it is time to talk about the most important aspect of home warranties, which is of course what they cover. What type of appliances are protected when you get it and for how long? In general, most warranties offer plans that either cover separate appliances or whole systems. They are individual. However, there are also hybrid plans that cover both. On new homes, plans are typically time limited and last for around 10 years for structural defects, 2 years for HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, and 1 year for paint and walls. In terms of home appliances, big and small, they are protected for six months.
Appliances
When it comes to devices and appliances, anything you can think of is covered by warranties. Attic fans and garbage disposals are things people forget about most of the time, but not warranty plans. Built-in devices are quite difficult to deal with if they break, but a home warranty does help with food centers, microwaves, and trash compactors that are built-in. Bathroom exhaust fans and freestanding ice makers all fall under the warranties.
Everything you cannot live without in the kitchen is taken care of, including refrigerators, hot water dispensers, kitchen fans and exhaust hoods, ovens and cooktops, and wall ovens. Dishwashers and other types of washers and dryers are covered too. All of these are very expensive to fix and replace individually without any warranty, but with a proper plan they will be much easier to deal with and cover.
Systems
Those were the appliances that you will have covered once you choose a warranty for your home. Now we talk about the systems that make your home what it is. Luxuries like humidifiers, jetted tubs, and built-in showers/baths are covered. Fire alarms, ceiling fans, central air conditioning, and central heating are crucial and therefore taken care of. Doorbells, ductwork, and the entire interior electrical system are covered by every warranty system plan.
Plumbing (fixtures excluded) is a no-brainer, and so are smoke detectors, fire alarms, and burglar alarms. You do not have to worry about toilets and telephone lines. Re-key services are not really a thing you think about except for when you actually need a new key, but the warranty has you covered here as well. Sump pumps and water heaters round up the systems that almost all home warranties come equipped with.
Add-Ons Offered
Apart from the basic appliances and systems to take care of, you can also pick and choose additional perks, benefits, and add-ons for an added cost. Common add-ons most homeowners decide to pick up can be viewed as luxuries because they imply the home has more things that needs coverage. Still, if you do have them, it makes sense to go out of your way a bit and get them a warranty too.
Some of the best extra warranties you can have cover spas, septic systems, pools, wells, wine refrigerators, food loss, guest rooms and houses, lawn sprinklers, external water and sewer lines, extra air conditioners, heaters, ovens, fridges, or freezers, and faucets/fixtures. Having either of these requires warranties and it would be smart to get them if you are covering everything else.
