The Major Benefits of Having a Home Warranty

 

Here’s my recent conversation with Molly from Home Warranty of America.

Today I’m joined via Zoom by Molly Stewart of Home Warranty of America to remind us howtheycan help you out as a homebuyer or seller. Molly has been our preferred warranty representative

for years, and we can’t wait to hear from her.

When you ask us to help you sell your home, one way we add value is by providing a home warranty. We want our clients to maintain their homes inexpensively. If you want the HVAC fixed, for example, that’s a $50 fee, but it’s not due until closing. You can get up to $1,500 in damages covered for that issue.

"It’s a great thing to invest in."

If you're a seller, purchasing a home warranty for your buyer is a great idea. I know we’re in a seller’s market where homeowners are calling the shots, but it really is about mitigating post-sale issues. Molly works in claims every single day, and she says the bulk of their claims come in the 30 days after a buyer moves in. A home warranty gives buyers and sellers peace of mind during a transaction.

Many of us have moved into houses and had things go wrong right away. A home warranty like the ones from HWA help protect you, mitigate your costs, and give you peace of mind. If you show a buyer that your HWA warranty covers up to $15,000 for other claims, they’ll be much more excited about buying your home. A home warranty costs around $600, but our Shine Team clients saved $78,000 alone in 2021 by having a home warranty.

As you can see, a home warranty is an important thing to have whether you’re selling your home, buying a new one, or both. It’s also a great thing to invest in if you’re an investment property owner.

If you have any questions about home warranties, give Molly a call at 847-943-7117. If you have any other real estate-related questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Here’s what buyers and sellers need to know about home warranties.

Today we’re glad to be joined by Molly Stewart from Home Warranty of America. She’s saved us

a ton of money, so we couldn’t be happier to talk to her. We had a great conversation about

what she does and what she can do for you, so let’s get into it. 

"If you have a warranty when you list, buyers will have peace of mind."

What do you do for Home Warranty of America, and what can you do for our buyers and sellers?

We have been around since 1996, and our main product offers buyers and sellers 13 months of coverage. For those 13 months, we cover plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, cooling, and heating. If you move into your home and things start to fail for whatever reason, you can put in a claim, and we’ll send a contractor to your house to diagnose the problem. Depending on what’s wrong, we’ll cover up to $5,000 for your HVAC and $15,000 for claims. 

It’s clear why buyers should have a home warranty, but why should sellers get one? 

We offer a product called Free Seller’s Coverage that covers sellers during the listing period for up to $1,500. When buyers tour your home, your Realtor can give out cards informing people that your house is covered. This will give your buyers the peace of mind they might need to make an offer. 

We’d like to thank Molly once again for speaking with us today. We’re big believers in home warranties; they’ve saved us a ton of money over the years. Even on new construction homes, the inspection always reveals little issues. With a warranty, you don’t have to worry about any of them spiraling into something bigger. 

If you want to reach out to Molly, give her a call at 847-943-7117. As always, if you have any questions related to real estate, please call or email us. We’re always willing to help.

Speaking With Kimberly About Home Insurance

Here’s what Kimberly has to say about insurance in Central Texas.

This market is so fast-paced and crazy that by the time you close your home, you may not have even

thought about insurance. Do you need it? How much does it cost? These are important questions,

so to help us answer them, we’re speaking with Kimberly Curb-Bridenstine, our favorite Allstate

Insurance representative.

How long have you been in the area?

I’m from Killeen; in fact, I’m a generational Killeenite. I’ve grown up here and had the opportunity to see the city change and grow.

How long have you been in the insurance business?

I’ve had my Allstate agency for 16 years, and it’s been a great opportunity. I love being able to serve our military.

So what are some common things people need to know about insurance?

Whether you’re looking at a forever home or an investment property, insurance is crucial. Rates can differ based on area, but Central Texas is in a pretty good spot. We don’t get the hailstorms that Dallas and Oklahoma do, and we don’t have to worry about hurricane season as much as the Houston area. No matter what your insurance needs are, talk to a trusted representative so that you’re sure to get the best rate possible and adequate coverage.

What are some things people need to beware of when it comes to insurance?

The biggest trend in insurance is online shopping and out-of-area quoting. These features are incredibly convenient, but they come with risk. Algorithms never truly see your home or understand where you live, so they can easily under- or over-insure you.

"A local representative will know your area like the back of their hand."

We’d like to thank Kimberly once again for speaking with us. If you want a quote or just have questions for her, you can reach her at 254-526-0426. As always, if you have any real estate needs, please call or email. We’d love to hear from you.

Speaking with Chuck from Connect My New Home

Speaking with Chuck Bell from Connect My New Home about his great service.

Today I’m pleased to be speaking with Chuck Bell from Connect My New Home. He’s a bonafide expert

when it comes to preparing properties, and he’ll share some of his advice with us in this conversation.

Chuck has educated my team on things that even we had no idea about, so I’m sure everyone

will learn something from what he has to say.

You can watch our full conversation in the video above, or you can skip to each

topic using the timestamps provided:

0:00 - Introducing Chuck and today’s topic

1:14 - How Chuck helps his clients and why his service is free

2:39 - Chuck helps you avoid the traps big companies create to get you to pay more

3:53 - How Chuck helped our team pick an electric company

4:28 - Our clients have been pleased with Chuck’s service

6:04 - How you can reach Chuck 

6:52 - Wrapping up today’s topic

If you want Chuck to help save you money, just visit his website, www.connectmynewhome.com. As always, don’t be afraid to call or email my team with any questions. We’d love to help!  

Interest Rate Questions With Cyd West

Cyd West, an interest rate expert, is here to discuss where they’re headed.

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Throughout January, everyone has been asking what interest rates are going to do this year. So today I have Cyd West from First Community Mortgage with me, our local expert on interest rates. We’ll discuss what’s been going on with rates and where they’re headed. We want you to be informed about interest rates so that you can make the best real estate decisions for yourself and your family.

Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video:

0:00 — Introduction to today’s topic

1:15 — Rates recently increased almost a full point in just one week

2:55 — The Federal Reserve will soon start tapering their bond purchases

4:05 — Look closely at how your rate will affect your payments

5:20 — An example of how a higher interest rate affects your monthly payments 

6:15 — Wrapping up today’s topic

If you have more questions for Cyd, give her a call at (254) 690-3765. As always, if you are considering buying or selling or have any real estate questions, call or email me. We want to know what you’re thinking: Do you think it’s a good time to buy or sell? We look forward to hearing from you.