Nearly every house today has a variety of appliances and home systems that provide the residents comfort and safety. As people come to rely more on technology, the number and cost of these devices increases. Which means that you are also getting more vulnerable as they can break down at any moment.
If this happens, the unexpected cost of repairs can put a serious strain on your budget. With the average home appliance repair costs ranging from $350 to $195, this incident won’t be “painless” for anyone. You also need to consider the fact that average numbers are rarely reliable and it’s highly likely that you will need to pay a lot more. Should you need a replacement, the cost might get well over $1,000. The majority of people don’t have an opportunity to spend a thousand dollars extra without making a dent in their emergency fund. In fact, many today don’t have this opportunity at all.
Therefore, finding a way to cut home systems and appliance repair costs is essential, and home warranty plans offer to help you do exactly that. Therefore, finding a way to cut home systems and appliance repair costs is essential, and home warranty plans offer to help you do exactly that.
Home Warranty as a Solution for Costly Home Appliance and System Repairs
Home warranty plans offer a kind of protection similar to home insurance, but they cover the costs of repairs in the situations that aren’t included in insurance policies. If the plan you choose is good, it should cover you in case of any possible appliance breakdown and it will cost you $400-600 a year on average. Note that this one plan can cover multiple appliances effectively protecting your whole house.
What’s even better, homeowners using these warranties save not only money but time as well. This is because the warranty provider deals with all contractors, so you only need to contact them and wait for a repair person to arrive shortly.
An important thing to understand here is that there are many home warranty providers available today, so Pennsylvania customers have their options, with the top choices being:
- Select Home Warranty
- First American Home Warranty
- Choice Home Warranty
- Total Home Protection
- Pride Home Warranty
- Advanced Home Warranty
- Hello Super
Some of these companies are relatively new on the market, while others are industry veterans, but all of them offer some good plans that can fit many homeowners’ needs. You also shouldn’t forget that there are nearly 200 businesses in this $2.3 billion market. The majority of these companies offer their coverage in multiple states, including Pennsylvania.
But while many companies are reliable, there are also some that aren’t. And being able to determine which home warranty plan can be trusted is the key to benefitting from it.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Home Warranty Plan
- Read the contract carefully
It’s all in the fine print when it comes to the trustworthiness of home warranty contracts, so it’s imperative that you study it carefully. Never purchase a plan without reading through the entire contract first. And if the company doesn’t offer you a chance to study their terms and conditions in great detail, treat it as a red flag.
The fine print might be written in legalese, so take your time deciphering the real meaning of every sentence. The things to look out for are the many loopholes that companies might be able to use to deny your payout claims.
You should also pay attention to the procedure of filing a claim. How much time do you have to do this? Many companies restrict this to 24 hours, which might make it impossible for you to even file a claim.
All in all, you need to make sure that you understand and agree with all conditions of the contract. Always ask for clarifications if you need them. This will also give you a chance to assess the quality of the company’s customer service.
2. Study customer reviews
You should learn what other people have to say about the company you consider buying a plan from. This should give you some idea of the quality of service on offer. Public consumer forums like Google Reviews and Yelp will be a good place to start.
However, you need to understand that these sources aren’t 100% objective either. While advertisements tend to show home warranty providers in the best possible light, online forums usually show the opposite end of the spectrum.
That’s because people are more likely to share negative opinions online. This means that those who are satisfied will rarely post any reviews, while dissatisfied consumers will happily share their stories through every available medium. Therefore, you should take all information you find online with a pinch of salt. You also should study some independent professional reviews to get a more objective picture.
3. Don’t fall for “amazing” promises
Many situations in life teach us that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The home warranty industry is a good example to prove this rule. When shopping for a plan you will often meet “pushy” salespeople who are reminiscent to used car dealers from jokes. You can also encounter ads that make out home warranty providers to be perfect.
But the truth is that no company is perfect, especially in this business. And persistently trying to present itself as such is another red flag to watch out for when you are shopping for a home warranty plan.
4. Check the company’s standing with the Better Business Bureau
If you want to get a plan from the most trustworthy company, you should find it on the Better Business Bureau website. Check if it’s accredited with the BBB as well as its rating on the website.
The best providers will be accredited and have “B” and higher rating. However, bear in mind that some reliable companies are not accredited yet. However, a reasonably high rating is definitely something to look for in this service provider.
You should also note that having the best “A+” rating is nearly impossible for a company in this industry.
5. Google home warranty scandals
Do not forget to use the power of Google when researching home warranty providers in Pennsylvania. A simple search can show you some very serious scandals these businesses were associated with. You should think twice about purchasing a plan from a provider involved in a major incident, like the Wells Fargo or True Coat scandals.
Keep these tips in mind when choosing a home warranty plan and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the one that you can rely on.
