Remember Me
forgot your password?

How to Protect yourself When Purchasing a Home

When you are purchasing a home, whether it is your first or not, it is important that you protect yourself and your investment. Many people will make sure their appliances have warranties, as well as their vehicles. Most people will not make a big purchase like those without a warranty, so why is it that so many people make the biggest purchase of their lives (a home) and do not get a warranty?

There are many things you can do to protect yourself when you buy a home but probably foremost is ensuring that you have a warranty on that home. A home warranty is not a new product - in fact, home warranties have been around for quite some time. In the past, however, most people thought that home warranties were only offered by builders on new homes, but that is not the case. In fact, you can purchase a home warranty on any home, new or used.

Usually, either the buyer or the seller will purchase a home warranty. A buyer purchases a home warranty on an older home to safeguard themselves from any major repairs that need to be done that can't be seen on inspection, or foreseen. It's hard to tell that the water heater or furnace is about ready to kick the bucket and need replacing from looking at it. A home warranty protects from those repairs and replacements for the term of the policy. A seller will purchase a home warranty for the home they are selling as a selling feature. A home warranty helps secure their pricing near where it's listed at. Also, many homes that come with a home warranty will sell much quicker than one without.

With this, it is important then that when you are purchasing a home that you ensure you have a home warranty. A home warranty will save you a lot of time, money and trouble if something major should go wrong. In most cases, a home warranty will cover:


  • Air conditioning system
  • Built in dishwasher
  • Built in microwave
  • Built in trash compactor
  • Ceiling fans
  • Central heating unit
  • Duct work
  • Electrical systems
  • Garbage disposal unit
  • Plumbing systems
  • Refrigerator
  • The oven or range
  • Washer and dryer
  • Water heater


Here is a list of things that are generally not covered with a home warranty:

  • Outdoor sprinkler systems
  • Outdoor water systems
  • Faucet repairs (unless otherwise stated in the policy)
  • Spas (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Pools (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Hot tubs (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Permit fees
  • Hauling away debris
  • Hauling away old appliances


There are items that are often not covered by some plans, which are covered by others, including:

  • Washers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
  • Dryers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
  • Garbage disposals
  • Garage door openers
  • Refrigerators


The best thing to do is to talk to the agent you are dealing with and ask what is and isn't covered in detail with your policy. Anything you talk about should be put in writing and signed by the agent. If he says the garbage disposal is covered, then ensure it is written in the policy.

It's best to take some time and do your research if you are purchasing your own home warranty package for a home. The rates, coverage and deductibles vary from company to company, and from state to state. There are many options available to you, so talk to a qualified home warranty agent to discuss what type of home warranty program suits your needs the best.

If you are buying a home that comes with a home warranty, it's important to remember that this type of warranty is non-renewable; whereas if you purchase your own, it is likely able to be renewed when the initial year-long period is up. Again, it's important to ask of the seller what is included and not included in the warranty before purchasing the home. Read through the policy to be sure you are clear on what is and is not covered.

Buying a home is an exciting time, but it can also be quite daunting. You never know what you are getting when you purchase an older home, but a home warranty can help dispel any misgivings you have.

Stephanie Larkin

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics involving insurance including Home Owners Warranty | Best Home Warranty

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Home Security Articles
  • More from Stephanie Larkin

A Brief History of Lockssmiths work, we provide 24 hour locksmith service

By: ariel | 10/11/2009
A locksmith’s job involves installing, fixing, picking and removing lock systems and to do so a basic understanding of how a lock works is needed. The basic system of a lock, whereby a key is used to move a metal peg into a hole in the door frame is essentially the same across designs. However it is the manner by which this is achieved that has changed and evolved over time.

Getting locked out san fransisco lockout services san jose lockout services 24 hr locksmith services locked out we are the soulotion

By: ariel | 10/11/2009
Getting locked out is a problem that’s almost as embarrassing as it is frustrating, and it can lead to all sorts of other difficulties and really off-set your plans for the day. After a long-day’s work the last thing you want to be doing is standing around outside your home in the rain, and if you’ve got a long list of appointments its even worse. Breaking a window is of course an option but that will cost you money and could even lead to an impromptu interview from the police. Looking into way

24hr locksmith service san francisco locksmith san jose locksmith oakland locksmith

By: ariel | 10/11/2009
Increasing security in your home is important for many reasons, protecting both your belongings and your family (not to mention yourself) from intruders and even helping to lower your home and contents insurance (and preventing you from having to make claims on it). As such there are a large variety of different security systems you can install in your home that will help protect you from people breaking in.

ADT Alarm System: Full Protection of Your Home and Family

By: quinlanmurray | 10/11/2009
With ADT alarm systems, like home alarms and fire alarms, you can protect your family and home from burglary, fire and break-ins.

home security Front Door Security

By: Wilburn Ferrell | 10/11/2009
Home Invasions are dramatically on the rise! The FBI says that a home is invaded every 12 seconds by someone going right through the front or back door. Door frame failure is almost always the cause. Door frame reinforcement is a must.

Why Home Security Cameras Are Not Enough To Deter Criminals

By: Greg Davis | 10/11/2009
Over the past few years, security cameras have become increasingly popular with residential consumers. This is mainly due to more affordable pricing along with several beneficial security features that have been developed in recent years.

How To Buy A Gun Cabinet

By: James Dulas | 10/11/2009
If you are shopping for a locking gun cabinet, bear in mind the essentials before committing to any purchase. There are many types, styles and sizes to choose from...

How a Home Warranty Handles Appliances Broken Beyond Repair

By: Stephanie Larkin | 18/03/2008 | Home Security
One of the chief reasons that many home owners purchase a home warranty is for appliance warranties. Appliances can be very costly to replace and for many, having a major appliance break down beyond repair is a cost they cannot afford to incur themselves.

Age of a Home and a Home Warranty-what's the Connection?

By: Stephanie Larkin | 18/03/2008 | Home Security
Many people think that home warranties are reserved for new homes - which home builders provide them for the new homes built in case something goes wrong.

Standard Coverage for a Home Warranty-what to Expect

By: Stephanie Larkin | 24/02/2008 | Home Security
Home warranties have been around for years. However, until recently, home warranties were a well kept secret. Today, home warranties are much more common and are steadily rising in popularity.

How to Protect yourself When Purchasing a Home

By: Stephanie Larkin | 24/02/2008 | Home Security
When you are purchasing a home, whether it is your first or not, it is important that you protect yourself and your investment. Many people will make sure their appliances have warranties, as well as their vehicles.

Common Mistakes of First Time Home Buyers

By: Stephanie Larkin | 24/02/2008 | Home Security
Buying your first home is exciting. No more rental payments to a landlord making money for someone else. Instead, you are purchasing your own home and investing in yourself. Money paid to your home mortgage is really investing in your future.

Your Crawl Space Can Attract Termites

By: Stephanie Larkin | 03/02/2008 | Landscaping
No one wants a termite infestation to hit their home, but if you are not careful you might actually be attracting the pests. If you have a crawl space to allow for access to your home's foundation, you could have an environment that's ideal for termite colonies to live in and thrive.

An Overview of Termite Baiting

By: Stephanie Larkin | 03/02/2008 | Landscaping
You screamed when you saw your cupboard filled with white, ant-like insects, eating the boxes of your dry goods.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.21, 6, w1)