It’s the holiday season, and this year it’s your turn to host the family party. You’ve been looking forward to the festivities with mixed feelings. Your oven’s been on the verge of going out for a while. You just haven’t gotten around to having someone fix it. A family party holiday potluck doesn’t sound great, but it’s your best option.
A Home Warranty to the Rescue
Did you know that you could avoid this holiday fiasco with an easy home warranty plan? If you had a home warranty, there’s a good chance that you’d have called out a repair technician earlier in the year. In fact, there are some other things around the house you would have gotten fixed before the family showed up. (Remember that dripping bathroom faucet?)
But you didn’t have one, and so you didn’t make the call. Now you’re wondering if it’s too late to get the warranty. In fact, it isn’t. However, there are some things to consider.
Six Things to Consider Before Choosing a Home Warranty Plan
There are plenty of excellent home warranty programs. Finding them doesn’t have to be difficult when you know the questions to ask.
- Contact options. Work with a company that offers around the clock assistance. You don’t need a warranty plan that maintains bankers’ hours. Dollars to donuts, your microwave won’t go out between nine and five but instead choose the wee hours of New Year’s Eve to quit working.
- Age restrictions. Your oven’s not that old. Nevertheless, it’s not new, either. A good home warranty won’t exclude this appliance because it’s not brand-new off the retailer’s show floor.
- Appointment waits. You notice that the oven’s going out. It’s not going past 350 degrees, and the fish sticks need at least 450 degrees. You give up after a half-hour of waiting. How long should you have to wait for an appointment with a contractor? Ideally, you should hear from a service provider within 24 hours.
- Service fees. There are service fees each time a provider comes out. However, what happens when the fix is so easy that you’re somewhat embarrassed that you even called in the first place? In these scenarios, you should only pay the actual cost of the service if it’s less than the service fee.
- Replacement times. The service technician determines that your oven needs a new part that isn’t on the truck. That happens. Maybe your oven is beyond repair, and it makes more sense to get a new one. How long should you have to wait for a part or replacement? Industry standards suggest that the wait time shouldn’t exceed seven business days.
- Premium coverage. You don’t want to pay for what you don’t need. At the same time, you like the idea of having extra coverage for the odds and ends that can go wrong. Case in point is the door seal of the dishwasher. Plans typically don’t cover that. But if your seal goes out, it sure is nice to have someone fix it for you under the premium home warranty.
It’s Time to Make the Call
For current homeowners, a good-quality home warranty plan maintains the functionality of the home. You don’t have to instruct guests how to shut off the faucet in the bathroom or use the oven in the kitchen. There’s no need to tell the babysitter about putting down two towels before running the dishwasher.
Most importantly, the plan gives you the peace of mind you need. When the next family holiday party comes, you can confidently schedule it and plan to dazzle the fam with your hors d’oeuvres.
