JYB Realty Blog
RSS Feed
Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 14 Posts
- 2025 | 48 Posts
- 2024 | 48 Posts
- 2023 | 48 Posts
- 2022 | 48 Posts
- 2021 | 48 Posts
- 2020 | 48 Posts
- 2019 | 48 Posts
- 2018 | 30 Posts
Atlanta Neighborhoods | 12 Posts
Atlanta, GA | 194 Posts
Buckhead GA | 1 Posts
Buy a Home | 56 Posts
College Park | 1 Posts
Giving Back | 1 Posts
Hogansville, GA | 1 Posts
Home Safety | 1 Posts
Homeownership | 83 Posts
Newnan GA | 1 Posts
Sell a Home | 29 Posts
February
27
27
Is a Home Warranty Right for You?
Whether buying a cell phone, a toaster, or a car, you're often asked if you would like to purchase a warranty. In some cases, they are great to have. In others, we are throwing our money away. Our real estate agents want to give you the information you need to determine whether purchasing a home warranty is wise.
- What is a home warranty?
Simply put, a home warranty is a service contract that will cover repairs to the house for the plumbing and electrical systems, the heating and cooling system, and major appliances. It will not cover structural features such as doors, windows, or small appliances. The first thing to ask yourself is whether the home or the appliances already have warranties. New construction almost certainly does. But older homes may as well. Most large appliances such as HVAC units, stoves, and refrigerators, and even smaller appliances like dishwashers and water heaters come with a manufacturer's warranty to protect you from breakdown.
What if you're looking at older Atlanta homes for sale? The previous owner may have purchased appliances that are under warranty. You want to be sure you have all the paperwork, and it transfers to you. If not, and especially if the home inspection revealed that some major units are nearing the end of their useful life, you may want to consider a warranty, but you need to make sure the items in question would be covered in the case of failure.
- How does a home warranty work?
When something breaks down, your first call should be to the warranty company. Its representative will either find and hire a service professional or provide you with a list of covered contractors. In most cases, the warranty company pays directly for the work. Sometimes, you must pay for the work and ask for a reimbursement. It's important to know in advance how the company operates. - How is coverage determined?
Coverage will not be unlimited. Companies will offer defined dollar amounts, which can be per item, per repair, or per year. Replacement of a large item, such as an HVAC unit in January, may mean the water heater that fails in July may not be covered, even if it otherwise falls within the guidelines. - Can coverage be denied?
If the company determines that the item to be repaired has not been properly maintained, it may deny coverage. Since this can be difficult to prove or disprove, a homeowner can get stuck holding the bag for big repair bills that should have been covered. Another issue is that the warranty company will decide whether to repair or replace the failed appliance. You will not have any recourse if you disagree with the decision. If they do replace, it will often be with the cheapest model possible, also not of your choosing. - How do I know if the company is reliable?
If you decide that a home warranty is a good idea for you, check the Better Business Bureau rating and complaint record. You want to look for a rating of A or A-plus. A rating of B or below means unsatisfied customers have filed complaints that were not resolved. Don't rely on one family member who had a good experience, as that may not be indicative of the company standards.
If you are looking for an Atlanta home, contact us for professional guidance.