• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Looking for experience with home warranty companies

funknut

funknut

Well-Known Member
Local time
1:51 AM
Joined
Jul 29, 2015
Messages
1,658
Reaction score
2,158
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I'm helping a friend buy a townhome and part of the deal he's insistent on is a home warranty. I have my opinions on these kinds of companies, as I'm sure lots of people here do as well, but he's set on it and that part of the decision is out of my control.

Home warranty will be provided by the seller, so cost is not the primary concern.

I have some experience with American Home Shield and a couple others, but looking for opinions/experience with companies that were not total scams as some of these prove to be.

One that came recommended is Old Republic Home Protection.

I'd appreciate any experience you can provide.
 
NO!
unless he would like his whatever is broken down in whatever extreme, waiting for karen working from home to approve repair after her latte creamawhatever is done
 
I'd never buy one. He should find out what it costs. Then that amount in a separate account every month until it will cover any repair. If he could seed the account (put $2k) to start even better.
 
I have had American Home Shield for 15 yrs on 2 different houses. Both houses were built in the 70's. I pay 50 a month. I've had a/c fixed, replaced, well pump replaced, leaks in the wall replaced etc over the yrs. More than paid for itself.
 
there are two types of waranties.
one, when purchased at closing covers whatever they say, with an 85 bucks or so fee. if they can't fix the unit, they replace the unit for free.ej: furnace,water heater, A/C , this is big. but the monthly service type Warranty is not like that. they charge to do major repairs.
I have been selling houses for 29 years, and home warranties are good for catastrophic episodes like above. but only for the first year. I have seen AHS replace a $5,000 furnace/A/C pack for the 85 bucks. But, only get the warranty that Is pre-inspected, the no Inspection type has a 30 day wait for pre existing conditions
to show up so they won't have to cover.
If the chosen company does not offer pre-inspect, then ask them :is the house covered the minute you close on the house? They have to tell you if they have a clause regarding any pre-existing conditions.(cracked heat exchanger, bad compressor, water heater, etc)
In my experience they have been helpful for my clients in many cases.
However, a few companies will try to limp along with minimal repairs for 11 months 29 days, and 23 hours and 59 seconds! Lol

AHS is headquartered in Minneapolis, and they have an 800 number 24 hours a day to call for Information. Most companies simply have long term contracts with multiple contractors to do the work, whatever it is.
I hope that helps,,, let the seller buy it. It can't hurt.
one time my buyer refused, and a month later the furnace went out,,,,, so it was all on him.
 
the vast majority of clients I have either chose AHS, or the 2-10 warranty. both are good, and can be found on the Internet.they are national, thus more professional.
 
AHS is runned over seas in the Philippines. just be real careful with them I actually just had a claim where the guy came and walked around the house and told me I needed to pay him $1800 to add a clean out but I just didn’t trust the guy so one of my friends sent a repair guy over here I ended up paying 175 after he actually worked and found the clean out.
A week later I look at my credit card bill and I noticed thatAHS actually charged me the deductible to have the guy come out here for five minutes and tell me to give him $1800, so I had to be on the phone for three hours to get that deductible money back
Anyways they came through but it was a lot of time
 
Purepony said:
AHS is runned over seas in the Philippines. just be real careful with them I actually just had a claim where the guy came and walked around the house and told me I needed to pay him $1800 to add a clean out but I just didn’t trust the guy so one of my friends sent a repair guy over here I ended up paying 175 after he actually worked and found the clean out.
A week later I look at my credit card bill and I noticed thatAHS actually charged me the deductible to have the guy come out here for five minutes and tell me to give him $1800, so I had to be on the phone for three hours to get that deductible money back
Anyways they came through but it was a lot of time
Click to expand...
I agree, the service contract warranties I am no fan of, run by anyone. The one year home purchase warranty is the only one worth having in my opinion.
 
A total waste of money...IMHO. Here's why...You pat say 280.00 right up front and then have a co-pay when service call is made and performed. Now it only costs a few pennies on the dollar to underwrite the contract and then the co-pay sits on top of the cost to the homeowner. Complete profit for the warranty company. I had one already when I purchased my home in 2016 and I let it expire after its time. Never renewed it because of my knowing how they are underwritten. Now I constantly get bombarded by them to renew. I reject these solicitations every time because they are a scam and a rip off to the homeowner. I have had some appliance service calls, and mostly pay out of pocket and I no where have the constant worry about the costs. If one cannot afford to pay for these things out of pocket, I get it. But you can put the money you put down on one of these warranty programs, and use it yourself for the service calls and repairs, then you are doing a big service to yourself and not to some entity that is working from home and faceless to you. Just explain to your Friend what I have explained and tell him to walk away at all costs. Once again...THEY ARE RIP OFFS!!! cr8crshr/Bill:usflag::usflag::usflag:
 
as said earlier, they are only good for catastrophic replacement, not minor repairs. and that type of warranty is only available to the buyer when they are purchasing the house. You can't buy it after the first year,, I agree warranties used for servicing only is a waste of money.

But, if that furnace,water heater, or A/C craps out during that first year, you get a new one for the 85.00 dollar service call.
 
monaco66coupe said:
as said earlier, they are only good for catastrophic replacement, not minor repairs. and that type of warranty is only available to the buyer when they are purchasing the house. You can't buy it after the first year,, I agree warranties used for servicing only is a waste of money.

But, if that furnace,water heater, or A/C craps out during that first year, you get a new one for the 85.00 dollar service call.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure where you're getting your info. I got AHS on my 45 yr old house 2 yrs after I purchased it. I pay 50 a month n it covers a/c, well, electric, plumbing n appliances. I can't remember my one time per incident service call fee, but it's not bad. As I said earlier, I've had a/c fixed twice, replaced the 3rd time, well pump replaced, water pipe in walls leak fixed, all for just the service call deductible.
 
diesel_lv said:
I'm not sure where you're getting your info. I got AHS on my 45 yr old house 2 yrs after I purchased it. I pay 50 a month n it covers a/c, well, electric, plumbing n appliances. I can't remember my one time per incident service call fee, but it's not bad. As I said earlier, I've had a/c fixed twice, replaced the 3rd time, well pump replaced, water pipe in walls leak fixed, all for just the service call deductible.
Click to expand...
I sell them all the time on contracts for many years. but the warranties available here for existing do not cover replacement, only repair.
and, wells and any plumbing connected to a well or septic system are not covered, and plumbing not already up to code in the house are not covered at all.

the original poster can easily look up the two companies mentioned in their area, and they will be happy to tell him, and send a complete list of what they cover, and how much of the home they cover. I do know here country properties do not buy the warranty due to all the exemptions, as listed above.
 
Last edited:
diesel_lv said:
I'm not sure where you're getting your info. I got AHS on my 45 yr old house 2 yrs after I purchased it. I pay 50 a month n it covers a/c, well, electric, plumbing n appliances. I can't remember my one time per incident service call fee, but it's not bad. As I said earlier, I've had a/c fixed twice, replaced the 3rd time, well pump replaced, water pipe in walls leak fixed, all for just the service call deductible.
Click to expand...
Yes you can purchase them years after
 
Have old republic. They will fix stuff until it's unfixable. Had two AC motors fail within 2 months. Bill would have been around 500 each. gave the tech 75 and fixed. The other time the condensor coils cracked. they fixed it and the bill was over 1K. The AC unit should be replaced, but they'd rather throw money at it every year instead.
 
Thanks to all for the replies. As I said I don't love the idea of home warranties, but this decision is out of my hands, so thanks to everyone for their input. He's buying in a spot where he won't have to worry about exemptions, so at least he has that going for him. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Home insurance
2 3
Replies
42
Views
2K
68BabyBlue
68BabyBlue
P
HELP: What is CORRECT speedometer cable for 1971 Charger (B Body) with Auto Trans?
Replies
5
Views
1K
Rick@Laysons
R
Madmopars
Looking for help... Skilled trades...
2 3
Replies
59
Views
2K
Ron H
R
Kern Dog
Bell housing runout
2 3
Replies
42
Views
3K
hunt2elk
hunt2elk
Coledavis01
Looking for Help with a Vinyl Top- KC area?
Replies
5
Views
856
Coledavis01
Coledavis01
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top