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wahoo92 Forum Rookie
Joined: Sept 30 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 59
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Posted: June 08 2011 at 1:55pm | IP Logged
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Do any of you have experience with the purchase and use of home warranties? We are buying a new (to us) home with multiple systems and appliances that have the potential to need major repairs or replacement in the first few years we are there. American Home Shield was highly recommended to us, but in talking to their representative on the phone, I was not impressed, and review sites online in general rate them poorly (as they do many of the companies). I know people who have recently purchased warranties with various companies, but they haven't had them long enough to have experience with their service when a service call or replacement has been needed.
Just looking for some feedback on what company you use and your satisfaction with it, particularly if you have had ailing systems, a heat pump or large appliance, for example, and if you were happy with how the company handled the decision making process of repair vs. replace, then reimbursement.
Thanks! Sarah
__________________ Sarah
Ellie,11, Madeline, 8, Lucy, 5, Evelyn, 1
herdingturtles101.blogspot.com
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cathhsmom Forum Newbie
Joined: April 25 2011
Online Status: Offline Posts: 40
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Posted: June 08 2011 at 3:58pm | IP Logged
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We had a warranty through American Home Shield for the first year after we bought our home - I wasn't impressed. It was $50 service fee every time something needed done {even if the repair cost less than $50}, and they didn't want to replace anything, even appliances which sorely needed replacing. When they did replace it was with the cheapest possible item.
I don't know about other companies though.
If you're paying for it yourselves, save the money and just use it to do your own replacing and repairs. It will be much easier and cheaper overall.
__________________ Come visit our blog - http://lifeatthepines.wordpress.com/
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Dana Forum Newbie
Joined: April 19 2010 Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline Posts: 40
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Posted: June 08 2011 at 4:16pm | IP Logged
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We had AHS when we bought our house and I was not impressed at all. We never did get replacements for what needed to be replaced and I guess we were lucky we hadn't paid for the warranty and then the replacements.
I know another woman in our church who bought a home with AHS warranty. She bought a home for her and her seven children to live in after a tumultuous divorce and annulment. Anyway, they gave her a hard time about somethings, but luckily a wonderful lawyer in our parish took on AHS for her pro bono and managed to get the necessary repairs and replacements done.
I would not purchase it with my own money. If it's something the sellers are offering maybe they would be willing to replace some of what needs replacing instead?
__________________ Dana
wife to Andre and mother to dd (06/07), ds (12/08), dd (7/10), and ds (6/12)
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 17702
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Posted: June 08 2011 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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We had the Home Warranty for our first house, and it was helpful. We used it twice, I think, for the A/C and heater. Saved us a bit of money.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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sewcrazy Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2006 Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline Posts: 735
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Posted: June 09 2011 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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We have an appliance insurance plan with our utility company. It costs us $14 a month. It pays 100% cost of repairs up to $500 per visit, and if the repair costs more than 75% of the replacement cost, they will pay for a new appliance. It covers all of our appliances, our furnace, water heater and water softener. We have never had a problem with getting repairs done in a timely manner.
__________________ LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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kristinannie Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011 Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1363
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Posted: June 09 2011 at 9:40am | IP Logged
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We have AHS with this house. The previous owner had stuck paper up the toilet and while we were on vacation, it flooded our master closet. They didn't fix it because it had been tampered with...um...not by us! They did fix a leak in our shower that was getting water into our crawl space. We are in the process of trying to fix our heat pump (it has been almost a month without a/c), but the main problem here is that the heat pump is new enough to be under manufacturers warranty so we are having to deal with them. They KEEP trying to fix it and it never works. I am just praying they authorize a new one. We have to pay $60 every time they come out, but they always come out within 24-48 hours.
That said, I am glad we have it. The previous owner's purchased it so it didn't cost us anything. I wouldn't buy a house without it. Will you have to deal with an annoying insurance company? YES! However, it is better than having no protection at all.
__________________ John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
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