A warranty may be available for purchase or already in effect for the house you are buying.
A consumer home warranty is a plan that pays for repairs and replacements of household appliances and systems — things like disposals, plumbing, furnaces and air conditioning. Some may even cover the refrigerator, washing machine and dryer. It’s a service plan: When you run into problems, you call the warranty provider and it facilitates getting things back in proper working order.
It’s not unusual for the sellers to include a one year home warranty to sweeten the deal. If one is provided to you, you’ll eventually need to decide whether you want to keep it and pay the cost yourself.
If one isn’t provided to you, you may be interested in purchasing one for yourself.
Builder Warranties: The typical builder warranty lasts six months to two years, with some lasting up to 10 years for “major structural defects” like an unsafe roof. If you are buying a house that is less than 10 years old, you may have some coverage remaining under the original new home warranty.
Consumer Home Warranties: Several companies provide non-structural warranties on homes. It’s very important you read over any warranties that you’re seriously considering purchasing to get a sense of what repairs will and will not be covered under your contract. Only then should you decide whether or not investing in one is the right choice for you.
If you are buying a new home, the builder has given you a copy of the warranty provisions. Please read them carefully and know your obligations for making a claim.
If you are interested in obtaining a non-structural warranty, you may contact the companies that provide them, such as 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, American Home Shield, and Blue Ribbon Home Warranty.