Obtain Home Warranty

TLDR: A home warranty is insurance against interior routine maintenance issues. Before closing, you’ll have the option to select a home warranty regardless of whether the seller agreed to pay for it.

If homeowner’s insurance is protection from major issues with the house, a home warranty protects against the smaller interior issues that arise. The coverage will vary depending on the plan selected, but often includes repairs or replacement for plumbing, appliance issues, or HVAC problems. All properties require regular maintenance, and the last thing you want is to close and move in only to have the stove stop working a week later. In markets that aren’t extremely competitive, we recommend asking the seller to pay for the first year of a home warranty. 

Example

Common issues that home warranties cover include:

With a home warranty, you can leave the handiwork to the professionals at minimal cost. Before closing, you’ll have the option to select a home warranty regardless of whether you or the seller are footing the bill.

How does it work?

When you experience an issue, you submit a ticket with the home warranty company, and they’ll outsource the issue to a local repair company, who will contact you directly. It’s generally $100 for the vendor inspect the issue, and the home warranty company typically covers any remaining balance. 

How much?

While there are a variety of options to choose from, a standard home warranty usually ranges from $400-600 for a year of coverage.