One of a homeowner’s most significant expenses is their mortgage. However, homeowners assume multiple additional costs, such as insurance, household maintenance, and repair costs.
Budgeting for household maintenance expenses can be challenging, and your budget may fall short if you have unexpected repair costs. Acquiring a home warranty is one way to manage unexpected repair costs. Let’s look at what home warranties cover, how they work, the benefits of home warranties, and the maintenance costs home warranties don’t cover.
What does your home warranty cover?
Home warranty plans are packages designed to cover the bulk of your maintenance and repair costs for selected household systems and appliances. The exact list of what’s covered depends on the type of plan you choose when you sign up.
Some homeowners may opt for a basic warranty plan covering their furnace, air conditioner, ductwork, electrical system, and water heater. This entry-level plan doesn’t cover maintenance or repairs for any appliances. It’s a great option if you’ve purchased new appliances that are still under warranty. Alternatively, you may opt for a basic plan that covers appliances such as your washer, dryer, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, disposal, and garage door opener if you’ve recently installed a new HVAC unit.
Most homeowners will find that the best home warranty plans cover essential systems and appliances. Comprehensive plans cover your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, ductwork, electrical system, plumbing system, garbage disposal, dishwasher, garage door opener, oven, range, washer, dryer, refrigerator, ice maker, and built-in microwave.
Add additional coverage to your plan based on your needs. Expanded coverage options include coverage for your sump pump, septic system, pool, stand-alone freezer, tankless water heater, and hot water dispenser.
How do home warranty plans work?
Sign up for a home warranty plan from a warranty plan provider. You select your plan based on your coverage needs and budget. You should budget for plan costs and service fees.
Plan costs cover the warranty. You may pay an annual rate or spread your warranty payments out and make monthly payments. Many home warranty companies offer discounts when you pay one annual rate.
You pay service fees when you schedule repairs. Your service fees affect your plan costs. If you opt for higher service fees, you’ll save money on plan fees.
What are the benefits of a home warranty plan?
The primary benefit of paying for a home warranty is cost control. You’ll manage your maintenance costs with a maintenance plan, ensuring you maintain your household systems, so they operate correctly. You’ll also reduce your emergency expenses because you’ll only need to pay the service fee when a system or appliance breaks down.
Convenience and accessibility are additional benefits. You can contact your home warranty company when covered items break down, and they’ll send the right technicians to conduct repairs. You can choose a technician if you have one you prefer, and you also have round-the-clock access to licensed experts who can address your maintenance needs.
A home warranty doesn’t cover some household maintenance.
Although home warranty companies cover many home maintenance costs, some expenses aren’t part of their plans. You’ll need to budget for landscaping services if you need experts to handle lawn and yard maintenance. You’ll also have to budget for cleaners to clean your home’s exterior or perform routine house cleaning tasks.
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Home warranties vary. You can opt for basic plans to cover household systems or appliances or pay for an extensive plan covering systems and appliances.