You may not be aware of increased popularity for home warranty products available to homeowners in the West Cobb area. A home warranty is a service contract that protects a homeowner against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of major systems and appliances that break down due to normal usage.

Who can purchase a home warranty? Any current homeowner or resale home buyer can purchase a home warranty on their existing home. Coverage is also available to home sellers during the listing and escrow period to help them keep unforeseen breakdowns from potentially delaying the close of sale.

This has become a very popular sales feature and most real estate agents today are recommending home warranties to sellers. As a Home Seller, a home warranty can help to provide a competitive edge over other homes on the market, cause your home to sell for a higher price as a buyer may feel protected from unknown after-sale problems and it can discourage downward price negotiations. As a Home Buyer, a home warranty can provide peace of mind knowing you're protected against unexpected repair or replacement costs after closing. They also provide you with budget protection from the high cost of home repairs in your newly purchased home and the convenience of calling a home warranty company to request service.

How do I determine which home warranty company to select and is it really worth the cost? There are several home warranty companies available to homeowners in our area. The cost or annual premium is always a primary consideration, however, many of the companies offer different coverage options and different trade fees which make the decision a bit more complicated and requires careful consideration and comparison between the companies.

The life expectancy of certain covered items is an important consideration. The National Association of Home Building Economic Department indicates the following estimated life expectancy guidelines:

If your home is new construction or a resale less than 7 years old, the above life expectancy guidelines indicate that one might not immediately benefit from a home warranty. If you home is 7 - 11 years old, you might benefit from a home warranty as some of the items above in your home may be in need of repair or close to their life expectancy. If your home is older than 11 years, and any of the above items are original or replacements close to the life expectancy years above, you will benefit from a home warranty.

Home warranty companies maintain a network of qualified independent service contractors and are dispatched quickly to make all repairs. Most warranties also have a specific trade fee, usually between $35 and $75 per service call, which is your responsibility to pay at the time of service.

Overall, I recommend a home warranty to all my clients both buying and selling a home. I even have a home warranty on my own home! Feel free to contact me at 678-521-5876 or Todd_Moschner@simplysold.com for a list of recommended home warranty companies that my clients have used and been pleased with.