Finding the Best Home Warranty – Where to Start
Home warranties continue to grow in popularity because they just make sense. You’ve put a lot of money into your home and into what’s inside it. Naturally, you want to protect those investments, and a home warranty is the best way to do that. Now the question is to find the best home warranty for you.
What’s Covered?
Consider what you’d like to be covered in your home warranty plan. Do you want your kitchen appliances-dishwasher, fridge, and oven range-to be included? Or are you only concerned with the major systems-plumbing, air conditioning, heating, etc.? Once you’ve decided exactly what you want your plan to cover, take a look at different warranty companies. Some of them offer plans that can be customized to your needs while others have certain types of plans to choose from.
Are There Pre-Existing Conditions?
Some companies have pre-existing conditions to watch out for. There’s nothing more frustrating than paying for the coverage you think you’re getting, only to find out when something breaks that the company won’t cover it due to a pre-existing condition. Read the fine print.
Does the Plan Replace or Repair?
Some plans offer replacements for broken appliances or systems, but others will only repair them. For minor repairs, this is no big deal. However, if you have an appliance that continues to break down over and over, you’re probably going to want a replacement. You’ll also want to find out what they’ll replace broken items with. Will you be able to get the exact same item or better? Or will you have to settle for less?
Does the Warranty Provider Have a Good Reputation?
It’s so easy to find reviews online so why not check them? Try to find reviews in more than one place to be sure you’re getting a good picture of the provider. One person who had a bad experience may be angry and make the company sound worse than it is, or they could open your eyes to what the company is really like. It’s always best to read several reviews. It’s also wise to check the Better Business Bureau for complaints. You want a provider with good customer service as well as a provider that has someone available to answer questions and help whether it’s during the day, at night, or on weekends. If your fridge breaks on Friday night at 6 p.m., you won’t want to wait until Monday morning at 8 a.m. to get assistance.