Are home warranties necessary? 6 reasons why you may want one
Whether you’re currently a homeowner or looking to purchase a home soon, it might be worth investing in a home protection plan. A home warranty is a contract that helps cover repair and replacement costs for major appliances and built-in systems. When something breaks, the homeowner requests service and pays a deductible. It’s often a more affordable way to deal with repairs.
Unexpected emergencies are inconvenient, expensive and difficult to plan for in your budget. These are just some of the many reasons you may want to get a home warranty sooner rather than later. Take a look at the following information we’ve gathered to help you decide whether a home protection plan is right for you.
Increased peace of mind offered by home warranties
Imagine it’s laundry day and your clothes washer breaks. To make it worse, you’re leaving tomorrow for vacation. You try to fix the problem yourself, causing a lot of frustration. After searching for a service technician to fix the appliance, you discover no one is available for a few days. You’re now stuck lugging your laundry to and from the laundromat, a friend’s house or a relative’s home — upset and stressed.
Imagine now that you have a home warranty that covers your washer. As soon as you detect a problem, you make a simple service request online. A professional service technician, already vetted by the home warranty company, will be dispatched once an appointment is confirmed and will come to your home to diagnose the failure and recommend a repair.
One of the top benefits of a quality home warranty is the increased peace of mind it offers to homeowners. Unlike your home insurance policy that protects against accidents and natural disasters, home warranties cover problems that happen from normal wear and tear within your home. Consider purchasing a home protection plan to lessen stress, frustration and worry when it comes to major home appliance or system emergencies.
Additional coverage for major appliances beyond the manufacturer’s warranty
When you buy a new appliance, it usually comes with a manufacturer’s warranty that’s valid for a set length of time. The standard coverage varies depending on the appliance and manufacturer but could be anywhere from six months to a year or so. After the warranty expires, your appliance is left unprotected, and it’s your responsibility to pay for repairs or replacements as needed. Depending on your policy, a home warranty can offer additional coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty for major appliances, such as:
- Clothes Dryers
- Clothes Washers
- Cooktops
- Dishwashers (Built-in)
- Food Centers (Built-in)
- Freestanding Ice Makers
- Microwaves (Built-in)
- Ranges
- Range Exhaust Hoods
- Refrigerators
- Trash Compactors (Built-in)
- Wall Ovens
If you’re buying an older home or currently own one, many of the home’s appliances might have expired manufacturer’s warranties. Getting a home warranty before something fails would be a smart choice. Whether you’re a new homeowner or a current home seller, Cinch Home Services makes it easy to find the right home warranty for you.
Avoid large, unexpected repair bills
It can cost thousands to repair major home systems, like your HVAC or septic system, and there’s no guarantee that it won’t break again soon after it’s fixed. Unexpected replacement costs can greatly hurt a homeowner financially, even those with a large emergency fund. However, if you have a home warranty, you can easily budget a consistent monthly payment and take advantage of preset deductibles for service calls.
Some home warranty providers, like Cinch, have a workmanship guarantee. Our industry-leading 180-day workmanship guarantee protects you from additional expenses if something breaks again within the covered time frame. Every Cinch home protection plan includes this guaranteed service benefit and protection for unknown pre-existing conditions, discounts on new appliances and rust and corrosion coverage.
Flexible coverage options depending on your needs
Most home warranty companies offer different home warranty plans. It’s not a one-size-fits-all type of industry because each home and homeowner has unique wants and needs. A home warranty company typically has three types of plans. One for major appliances, one for built-in systems and a complete home option that covers both.
Covered items under a Built-in Systems home warranty usually include:
- Air Conditioning Including Ductwork
- Electrical System
- Heating System Including Ductwork
- Plumbing System
- Smoke Detectors
- Sump Pump
- Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispenser
- Whirlpool/Jetted Tub (Built-in)
When you commit to a home warranty, choose the plan that offers the coverage you need. The annual premium charged by your home warranty provider will vary depending on the option you choose.
Easy access to qualified service technicians
One of the hardest parts of home repair is finding a qualified service technician you can trust to fix the problem. With a home warranty, you won’t need to find and determine quality service companies or contractors. The warranty company uses an established network of vetted technicians in your locale to answer your service calls. They do all the legwork so that you don’t have to, which is especially useful if you’ve just moved into the home and are new to the area.
Warranty providers will also set up appointments at your convenience to connect you to the best people for the job. Cinch makes home protection and repairs easier than ever. Our nationwide network of service pros ensures your repairs are done right and in a timely way. When there’s a problem, you simply log in to your digital dashboard and:
- Tell us what’s broken in your home.
- Pick your appointment.
- Pay a service call fee.
Customers pay a service call fee to open a service request. We then apply the fee towards the covered repair or replacement. Getting everything back up and running as quickly as possible is our top priority. That’s why we make it easy to access a network of competent service professionals.
An added bonus whether you’re buying or selling a home
In real estate, home warranties are popular among both home buyers and home sellers. Real estate agents sometimes buy a home warranty as a thank-you gift for their buyers, too. Sellers sometimes offer a warranty as an enticing selling point to secure the sale. It also gives them protection after the home has sold since it eliminates liability for major appliances and system breakdowns.
Buyers feel that warranties offer a guarantee that appliances will be in working condition in the new home. It’s important because it’s not always possible to know the complete history of the home. Home warranty coverage also reassures buyers that if anything were to break soon after buying the home, it would be covered. A buyer can get a home warranty to protect their new investment even if the seller or real estate agent doesn’t offer one.
Discover the best home warranty plans with Cinch
The life span of your appliances and systems is an estimate, and homeowners insurance doesn’t typically cover the normal wear and tear of your indoor systems. A comprehensive home warranty covers major items from air conditioning systems to garbage disposals. You’ll also never have to worry about finding an electrician or a plumber to come help in an emergency since your warranty provider takes care of that for you.
Cinch is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited company that leads the industry in home warranty options. We aim to be as transparent as possible — we don’t hide anything in the fine print — so that you’ll completely understand your Cinch home warranty coverage and exclusions.
Check out our home protection plans and our customer reviews to find the best annual plan for you. You can also request a free quote on any home warranty plan to secure the best home warranty contract with Cinch today.