Home warranty

A Home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair and replacement costs of home appliances. The warranty generally covers equipment and appliances such as dishwashers, plumbing systems, electrical systems etc. that fail due to normal wear and tear. Coverage varies significantly across warranty companies. Home warranty contracts do not cover all home repairs.

Coverage

Basic coverage includes plumbing, electrical, heating systems and major appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens. Many companies charge additional coverage for appliances such as clothes washers and clothes dryers, which are generally not covered.

In the United States, home warranty annual premiums generally range from $300 to $450 USD. There will be additional service trace fee (deductible) of 50 to 100 dollars per service incident. Most companies do not let homeowners combine two repairs with one service trade fee. For example, if your electrical switch needs a repair and kitchen sink is clogged, you will have to pay service trade fee twice.

Controversy

Some common complaints that home warranty clients have:

• Fraudulent home warranties companies take money from consumers and then refuse to honor the agreements and vanish completely only to reopen under another name.
• Warranty companies deny the claim citing homeowner's maintenance negligence
• Warranty companies deny the claim because of a "pre-existing problem"
• Warranty companies always repair the appliance even when it is in such bad shape as to be replaced

External links

• Home Warranty at Closing.com