So many times when we represent buyers we encourage them to request a home warranty with the purchase of their new home. Home Warranties come with all kinds of small print so do not assume that all warranties are the same. So we would like to share an experience we had with our own home and the Home Warranty we have with Fidelity National Home Warranty.
Who Says Home Warranties Are a Waste of Money
As Murphy’s Law would prove to us. We had a cold front come through recently and low and behold, our heater was blowing out Luke-warm air and never getting to the temperature it was set to. So we called in to Fidelity National and they sent out an AC/Heating Company here locally. They determined that the reversing valve was bad and not functioning properly. Naturally a new reversing valve had to be ordered but the technician explained that using the Emergency Heat Function was not an issue and to be honest, it worked fine, warmed our house relatively quick.
To this point we have expended $65.00 for the service call. On Monday January 8th the repair company came back with the reversing valve, installed it, and proceeded to do their checks and the heat worked for about 2 minutes and then started blowing cold air out. Now the really good thing is that with AC Systems here in Florida they say that a really good temperature for AC is blowing out at 55 degrees. Ours was blowing out at 48 degrees in the heat mode!
After about 4 hours the technician came in and said that his boss is submitting to Fidelity National a recommendation to replace our compressor and air handler first thing Tuesday morning. Now during his visit, he must have put about 4-5 pounds of Freon/Puron into the system, which is not cheap by any means. (still no charge to us)
About 930am Tuesday morning the Home Warranty Company calls Nick and says that they have approved a brand new AC System to be installed. They did inform him that there would be a $50.00 charge for the permitting since the warranties coverage was up to $250.00 and Pasco County charged $300.00. So now our investment is up to $115.00.
Around lunchtime the AC Company called and informed us that they had ordered the AC System and it should be here in the next day or two and then they would call us to schedule the install. So when people say that home warranties are not worth it, we have to disagree. $115.00 for brand new Carrier 5 Ton 14 Seer System with a 10Kilo Watt Heat Strip for $115.00. Our warranty cost right around $600.00 which covers:
Buyer’s Standard Coverage
• Central Heating System • Electrical System
• Air Conditioning/Evaporative Cooler • Telephone Wiring
• Duct work • Central Vacuum System
• Plumbing System • Garage Door Opener
• Plumbing Stoppages • Ceiling Fans
• Toilets • Attic and Exhaust Fans
• Sump Pump (Permanently installed) • Kitchen Exhaust Fan
• Built-in Whirlpool Bathtub Motor Pump • Doorbell
• Recirculating Hot Water Pump • Smoke Detectors
• Garbage Disposal • Dishwasher
• Instant Hot Water Dispenser • Range/Oven/Cook-top
• Water Heater • Built-in Microwave Oven
• Trash Compactor
We added the following
Washer/Dryer/Kitchen Refrigerator w/Water Dispenser & Ice Maker
Pool/Spa Equipment (Includes salt water pool equipment.No additional charge if separate equipment)
We have not priced out what the new system would cost, but we know without a doubt that it would north of $5,000.00 not to mention the charge for recharging the system, just to find out it still would not work.
So when you are getting ready to submit your offer on your new home, you should always ask for a Home Warranty. Again our experience is with Fidelity National Home Warranty and we encourage you to check out some of limitations with the other companies. That is why we recommend Fidelity and have their protection on our personal home.
Need to find your new home here in the Tampa Bay Area? Or do you just have a question you need answered? Nick & Cindy Davis with RE/MAX Premier Group are here to assist you. We are always a just a click here away or call 813-300-7116