Anyone who has ever owned a home knows that it’s the relatively little expenses that can break you. After raising all the money to buy a home, and coming up with the money to pay the mortgage every month, there may not be much left over to cover the unexpected costs that come along when something needs repair or replacement. Home insurance can cover things like storm damage, but it usually won’t help if your refrigerator suddenly stops working
Home warranty companies promise to help homeowners with these problems by offering plans that will help them with repairs or replacements of appliances and other features. But some experts warn that home warranties aren’t always all they are cracked up to be.
Read the fine print
The first thing to do when considering purchasing a home warranty is to make sure you know what it covers. A home warranty is not a general guarantee on everything in the home. It is a contract between the buyer and the warranty seller, and will cover only what is covered in the terms of the contract.
For example, the home warranty contract may state that it covers dishwasher, refrigerator, laundry machines and other appliances. That could be a great help for you, especially if the appliances in the home are on the older side. However, it’s possible those appliances are already covered under their own warranties. If so, you probably do not need another warranty for them. Double check to make sure you’re not paying for something you won’t need.
Get professional advice
There are many things to consider when buying a home, but do not lose sight of the fact that transfer of property is a legal matter. A lawyer can help buyers or sellers through many stages in the process, advising clients on their options, assisting with paperwork, resolving new problems and helping clients to avoid potential problems in the future.
