The Philadelphia Inquirer: SCIC Home Coverage (print & online)
SCIC Home Coverage Philadelphia Inquirer (print & online) March 2011
1. PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PHILADELPHIA,PA (517,807) 03-18-2011
Home warranties can reassure worried buyers
2. Philly.com (Philadelphia,PA) PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA (2,923,318) 03-18-2011
Home warranties can help sellers, buyers
3. PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PHILADELPHIA,PA (517,807) 03-18-2011
Before buying warranty policy, consider these consumer tips
4. Philly.com (Philadelphia,PA) PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA (2,923,318) 03-18-2011
Tips on buying a home warranty
In searching the publicly accessible web, we found a webpage of interest and provide a snapshot of it below. Please be advised that this page, and any images or links in it, may have changed since we created this snapshot. For your convenience, we provide a hyperlink to the current webpage as part of our service.
Home warranties can help sellers, buyers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 03/18/2011
Page 1 of 2
News Sports Entertainment
Your Money Market Stats Your Tech
Business
Business Wires
Mar 18, 11:13 AM | Traffic
Restaurants & Food
Living
Sign In Register Mobile Home Delivery
Search for : Japan Quake – Mob Scene – Jobs search
Video Classifieds Shopping
LOOKING FOR WORK
60 profiles in 60 days
Jane Von Bergen profiled the unemployed. The last of 60 days of profiles:
EMAIL PRINT FONT SIZE 0 COMMENTS
Posted on Fri, Mar. 18, 2011
Home warranties can help sellers, buyers
Buyers these days are very picky, and with so many existing houses for sale on today’s market, they can afford to be.
Agents and brokers say buyers, especially first- timers, are wary of houses that even hint of problems.
These buyers feel that because they have had to stretch limited funds to cover down payment and closing costs, and with credit so tight, the last thing they need is having to replace a furnace when they move in.
One answer, and the emphasis is on “one,” is a home warranty, typically bought by the seller to cover the first year after the house is purchased. At year’s end, the new homeowner has the option of renewing the warranty.
Unlike homeowners or renters insurance, which cover specified damage to your property, home warranty insurance covers specified repairs that might later need to be made.
Recommend
1
Home warranty insurance covers specified repairs that might later need to be made. (Shutterstock)
Post a comment
RELATED STORIES
Tips on buying a home warranty Spring brings flowers to decor
DIY vs. Don’t you dare
Prioritizing projects in your new home Moving in on the best deals
Q&A: How could our home price increase? Tips for spring cleaning
A new home for old materials
Follow us on twitter: @PhillyComHomes
Advertise Here
Each policy will specify which types of repairs are LATEST BUSINESS NEWS
Dell’s merger with Boomi results in a win-win for area workers
HARRY GROSS
Want a dividend? There’s no app for that
Latest Blog Posts
Winging It: Southwest’s turn to apologize to a Customer – 10:48am
PhillyDeals: 8 million Americans are still millionaires – 9:55am
PhillyInc: : Protesters disrupt speech by Sunoco CEO – 03/17/2011
Bruce Hahn, president of the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance and the American Homeowners Foundation, recommends that buyers get a home inspection.
“That way, preexisting conditions can get corrected before settlement, and you’ll have documentation that both the air conditioner and furnace were working at the time of purchase, even if one of them didn’t the first time you fired it up several months later,” he said.
Many warranties cover some, but not all, components of systems such as furnaces or appliances regardless of age, manufacturer, or model, but the best advice is to comparison-shop and read carefully before you buy.
Michael Garden, an agent at CityScape in Center City, said one-year warranties were well-suited to buyers without significant cash reserves who buy older homes.
“This gives some protection while the homeowners get to know the systems,” he said. Do all agents and brokers recommend home warranties to their sellers?
Bari Shor does not.
“I don’t believe that a home warranty is a deciding factor that would lure a buyer to a house,” said Shor, an agent with Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors. “I think offering one might even raise a red flag that there may be issues.”
Shor believes, however, that a warranty is useful in negotiating an inspection.
“Instead of being part of the home sale, it is something additional a seller is giving to the buyer,” she said.
Center City agent Mark Wade, of Prudential Fox & Roach, believes “a good handyman can be better than a home warranty,” adding that less than 1 percent of his buyers opt for one.
Marilou Buffum of Eichler & Moffly Real Estate in Chestnut Hill rarely recommends warranties, but “if a seller gets a policy at the onset of a listing and something breaks during the listing period, the warranty might cover some or all of the repair cost.”
John Badalamenti, of Prudential Fox & Roach in Wayne, said coverage for sellers during the listing period means “they can have the issue addressed fairly quickly, reduce the risk of a major expense, and not impede showings.”
One company, American Home Warranty, lists these under basic coverage:
Heating, plumbing, and electrical systems; water heater; ovens, ranges, and cooktops; dishwashers; built-in microwaves; garbage disposals; exhaust and ceiling fans; plumbing stoppages; and ductwork.
Additional items – central air, clothes dryers, spas, and swimming pools – can be added at increased cost.
A trade group, the Service Contract Industry Council, provides education on home warranties and other extended plans. Its members sell about 80 percent of these warranties nationally, although exact numbers of policies could not be provided.
Scenes from Erin Express
Fear in Japan
More scenes
from Carnival 1950s
History of Philly crime
History of Philly sports
History of Philly music
Updated: Places not forgotten
Share Page
Digg This
Stumble It!
Twitter
Like Recommended Connect via Meebo
Page: 1 of 2 ViewAll
Recommend One recommendation. Sign Up to see what your friends
recommend.
1| 2
Next»
insured, the limits on coverage, and deductibles, if any. The basic annual cost runs from $250 to $600, depending on the extent of coverage.
Service calls average $25 to $75, according to a review of various warranty providers. In addition, if more than one thing breaks down simultaneously in separate categories – a toilet and a light switch – the repair person charges a separate fee for each occurrence.
Typically, a home inspection is not required before buying a warranty, but existing issues related to improper maintenance may not be covered.
Pennsylvania Gaming Congress coming to Philadelphia for first time
Economic reports: Sunny, partly cloudy Borders outlines additional 28 store closings –
8:52am
Likely Japanese car shortage brings cost hike
PHILLY.COM‘s TOP FIVE PICKS
Corbett may have lost some budget support Limerick’s little radiation pills
Dismay at Fresh Grocer’s closing
Church facing eviction blames city
What could have made cops think this driver was drunk?
More blogs »
2010 Philly Naked Bike Ride
Jessica Biel: Single again
Highest-Paid CEOs
Top Workplaces
Kathy Snead
JOSEPH N. DISTEFANO
SHADES OF PHILLY’S PAST
Inquirer ads:
5 6
3/18/2011
Compare Top 10 Offers for Philly B…
using our FREE comparison site!
Looking for Philly Business Warran…
Get Numbers, Addresses, Directions, Ratings & Other Local Info.
VIEWED
SHARED
Find Philly Business Warranty
Stop searching for Philly Business Warranty. Find it here!
Ex-physics teacher sues woman whose complaint cost him his job, alleging it was revenge for his ending their relationship
Eagles, Phillies top GQ list of ‘Worst Fans in America’
Brand calls Rose’s comment “ignorant”
Phillies moving Singleton’s ‘bat out to leftfield’
Lee’s comments getting old for Yankees GM Cashman
Cops: Drunk man steals airport plow, hits six cars on I-95
Utley visits rehab specialist
It’s looking like Phillies’ Utley will be out a long time
Conlin’s annual Phillies prediction
Morning Bytes: Will the real Phillies fans please stand?
» More Most Viewed
Eagles, Phillies top GQ list of ‘Worst Fans in
America’
Third Wave: Coffee as a craft
White House, GOP clash over new agency Raising hope & veggies in Brewerytown
Ex-physics teacher sues woman whose complaint cost him his job, alleging it was revenge for his ending their relationship
Temple U. to evacuate U.S. students in Japan
Larry Platt: That other March madness
Empowerment High
Cops: Drunk man steals airport plow, hits six cars on I-95
Brand’s competitive fire has sparked Sixers’ success
» More Most Emailed
2 Stocks to Hold Forever
Buy them, forget about them, and never sell them.
Street Authority
Summer World Cruise
Spectacular World Cruise Itinerary Quark, The Polar Adventure Experts
2-for-1 Caribbean Voyage
The Most Unique and Luxurious Way to Experience the Caribbean!
CURRENTLY SHOWING ON PHILLY.COM
Top Fans
Friends
My Profile What’s this?
Top Fans of Philly.com This Week
1234
Miss M.
10500
I Want
Super
Bowl
7510
6
SnapGlow.TV: Wine and cheese party pairs
Pumpkin1
orange rhino
5630 5580
5
7
8
The Gossip: Glamour Girl
A Philly girl’s love for Michael Vick
Comments
0 comments
One Great Idea: John Dougherty on feeding Philly’s hungry
Mob Scene: March Madness
Register to comment
Sign in to post a comment
Already Registered? Sign In
Email address Password
SIGN IN
Forgot Password?
Why are we asking you to register? We’ve made some changes to increase the quality of the user experience and dialogue, and reduce the number of inappropriate or offensive posts. You’re now required to have a registered username and account before adding a comment. This will improve the experience for everyone. We apologize for the inconvenience. Join the conversation!
SIGN UP NOW
today’s PHILLY.COM POLL RECENT ACTIVITY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY What’s this?
latest PHOTO GALLERIES Blue Jays 7, Phillies 6 pt 1
Blue Jays 7, Phillies 6 pt 2 Fear in Japan
Thrashers 4, Flyers 3 St. Pat’s revelry
2011 NCAA Mens’ Tournament
Have you given to a charity…
dgfec By text?
MikeArmstrongunlocked Skimmer badge
23 minutes ago
dcgfe By tweet? esscounlocked Scholar badge
cfedg On Facebook?
23 minutes ago
gfedc Via a web site? esalto2unlocked Welcome badge
cdefg None of the above. Vote
23 minutes ago
View results
Philly.com: Site Services: The Inquirer: Daily News: Classifieds: Partners:
News | Sports | Business | What’s Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs Advertise on Philly.com | View print ads and special sections | Mobile Edition | News In Education
The Inquirer Digital | Columns | Subscriber Services
Daily News Digital | Columns | Subscriber Services
Jobs | Cars on AutoTrader.com | Real Estate | Rentals | Marketplace | Celebrations
Phrequency | Philadelphia City Paper | Philly Dealyo | The Trend | Active Adult Housing | Homes and Living | Communities
Magazine | Employment Weekly | Taste of Philadelphia | Parade Magazine
About Philly.com | Contact Us | Terms of Use & Privacy Statement | Copyright 2011
Latest News Feed
All RSS Feeds
RSS Terms of Use
Share Page
Digg This
Stumble It!
Twitter
Like Recommended Connect via Meebo
5
6
In searching the publicly accessible web, we found a webpage of interest and provide a snapshot of it below. Please be advised that this page, and any images or links in it, may have changed since we created this snapshot. For your convenience, we provide a hyperlink to the current webpage as part of our service. |