A home warranty is a contractual agreement between a homeowner and a private company that covers the maintenance, service, and replacement of household items that may breakdown over a period of time. A warranty can reduce unexpected expense and stress that often come with buying a house. Typically, basic warranties will cover the repair or replacement of kitchen appliances, washers and dryers, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. A home warranty is not an insured policy, it is a service plan. It typically has a service deductible, which may be charged for each item repaired or replaced. The warranty may require the homeowner to use the service contractors that are stipulated under the plan. Most warranties are for 12 months and only allow for approved service providers to be used for maintenance calls. To understand the true value of a home warranty, you should have realistic …show more content…
Service contracts vary on what items are excluded from coverage, these items may include: intentionally damaged appliances and systems, appliances that have been misused, pre-existing conditions, and appliances that have not been properly maintained. Pre-existing conditions are typically noted in home inspections, usually, the appliance or system issue is noted in the home warranty. Claims may also be denied because homeowners cannot prove the problem wasn't pre-existing or that routine maintenance of the item was performed. Although having home warranty sounds good; you have to know that there are also limitations to the service. Not all appliances will be covered for repair. Therefore, you really have to find out what is covered and what is not so that you won't feel scammed when you're denied coverage. It is also important to pay attention to fine points of the agreement. If you want a more comprehensive plan, you can do it by adding a few hundred to the basic fee and you will gain more