If you’re buying a home, you’re taking on a big investment and a big expense. Most of us try to buy as much home as we can afford, possibly leaving us with little leftover cash for a while. If an appliance or major system in the home has a problem that we didn’t foresee, it can get very expensive. For this reason, many homebuyers look to new construction so that all the appliances and systems are new and under warranty.
However, it’s not necessary to avoid buying older homes. And, in today’s market, it’s easy to get a great deal on an older home. And, if you get a home warranty that covers the home’s major systems and appliances, you don’t have to worry that you’ll have to pay for a major repair in your new home.
Home warranties can be written to cover plumbing, heating and cooling systems, some structural systems like roofs and your major appliances, like the range. Home warranties can be constructed in many different ways to fit your specific needs. You can get the home warranty for the first year, and then renew at the end of the first year if you choose.
Home warranties are not expensive, but as a home buyer, you shouldn’t worry about paying for it at all. Rather, you should request it from your seller when you are negotiating the contract. In today’s market, sellers expect such a request, and are usually more than happy to provide a home warranty as an incentive to get buyers to consider their home for purchase. And, since they are not expensive, sellers are usually willing to allow you to choose the warranty, up to a certain dollar amount, and have them pay for it at closing.
You may even find that some home sellers are offering a home warranty as part of the sale of their home. However, if they are not, you should ask for it when you make an offer.
A home warranty can provide you peace of mind about the major systems you’re purchasing in your new home. With most home warranties, you call one number for any problem that you have and they find the right professional to complete the repair. Some even offer a toll free number that is open seven days a week. So, don’t forget older homes when you’re house hunting, and when you find the right home, don’t forget the home warranty.…