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Making the Right Choice in Home Warranty Companies

If you’re looking to safeguard your house systems (like your air conditioner or heater) or major appliances (like your washing machine), then you’re probably looking at a few home warranty companies to find the best choice for you and your dwelling. There are so many of these on the market that you may also be feeling unsure about which you should choose. Use these tips to find the right coverage for you.

1. Make sure the company you choose is licensed by the state your house is in. What’s more, you can check with the agency that issues the license to find out whether or not there have ever been any complaints registered against the company, and, if there were, what they were for. You can use this strategy to compare the providers you’re thinking about using.

2. While home warranty companies don’t offer policies that are the same as your insurance, you can think of the coverage as similar to your health insurance, or HMO. Usually, you will have to pay a flat fee, like a copay at the doctor’s office, for each visit a repair technician makes. Depending on your needs, you can usually pay a little more up front when you purchase the policy to reduce these visit fees, or you can pay a little more per visit, shrinking your upfront payment. Find a policy that warrants what you need it to at a price you can live with.

3. Make sure your read the fine print. You’ll want to compare the coverage between home warranty companies to ensure that the appliances and systems that you need covered are included in your policy.

Check to see that it includes your refrigerator, washing machine and dryer, HVAC system, dishwasher, and any other big-ticket item that you may not be able to replace out of pocket. Read over the fine print for caps on the amount of service you’re entitled to, and look for any exclusions so you don’t accidentally compromise (and in the process void) your coverage.

4. Ask how they handle claims. Find out what the average wait time is to have an item repaired or replaced. Usually, the provider will find the technician themselves to come out to your house. If this is something you don’t like, you should speak with the sales representative to find out the procedure for finding your technician.

5. Make sure it’s transferable. This contract can add value to a dwelling’s potential selling price, and it’s a great incentive for buyers to choose you over other similar places on the market. It gives them peace of mind in knowing that even if there is a system failure, they won’t get buried under unexpected expenses.

Use these tips to help you choose between several home warranty companies. Thinking about how important your systems and major appliances are to the function and comfort of your house will tell you how important it is to select the right one for you.

Author: Mohammed A Bazzoun