Home Warranty Company Recommendations

[SHIBUMI]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

[retiredguy123]

My recommendation is to not buy a home warranty at all. They are a ripoff. Budget and self insure for home repairs. You will have more control and can hire high quality repair companies, and you can decide when you want to repair or replace an appliance. With a home warranty, you have no control about who will show up, when they will show up, or whether the appliance should be repaired or replaced.

[Rango]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

Ditto

[Boffin]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

No.

[Michael G.]

We requested a 1 year home warranty from the seller when we bought our home.

Had a electrical problem.
Call them up, electrician came to the house,
looked at the problem and said: "You need a electrician".
I said: "What are you" He said: "Not a electrician"

True story.

[villagetinker]

I agree with above, these "warrantees" are generally not worth the paper they are written on. Many of these have way too many out clauses which are then used to deny coverage. For example: any electrical device connected to a water line may not be covered for a lightning strike, think, dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer, water heater, water softener, etc, you get the idea.

[gatorbill1]

No NO NO

[ehendersonjr]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you
Had American Home Shield
June 16 - Clothes washer failed to drain. Called AHS and was charged $125 deductible immediately.

June 23 - Earliest a tech could arrive. Diagnosed failed pump assemblies. Said parts would have to be ordered snd would put a “Rush” order in.

July 10 - Called local appliance parts store and was told necessary parts were available.

July 21 - Tech arrives and repairs washer with parts ordered from out of area.

July 24 - Cancelled contract with American Home Shield and will never use a home warranty company again. 6 weeks without a washer was horrible but at least we had a local laundromat. What if we’d had a problem with the HVAC? Could you live 6 weeks without A/C?

[HiHoSteveO]

What to Know About Buying a Home Warranty - Consumer Reports (https://www.consumerreports.org/buying-a-home/what-to-know-about-buying-home-warranty/)

Why You Should Avoid Home Warranty Choices - Consumer Reports (https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/09/why-you-should-avoid-home-warranties/index.htm)

[retiredguy123]

Had American Home Shield
June 16 - Clothes washer failed to drain. Called AHS and was charged $125 deductible immediately.

June 23 - Earliest a tech could arrive. Diagnosed failed pump assemblies. Said parts would have to be ordered snd would put a “Rush” order in.

July 10 - Called local appliance parts store and was told necessary parts were available.

July 21 - Tech arrives and repairs washer with parts ordered from out of area.

July 24 - Cancelled contract with American Home Shield and will never use a home warranty company again. 6 weeks without a washer was horrible but at least we had a local laundromat. What if we’d had a problem with the HVAC? Could you live 6 weeks without A/C?
Very sad. There are several excellent local repair companies that could have made the repair within a day or two. But, these companies would never share their profit with a home warranty company.

[Rzepecki]

My recommendation is to not buy a home warranty at all. They are a ripoff. Budget and self insure for home repairs. You will have more control and can hire high quality repair companies, and you can decide when you want to repair or replace an appliance. With a home warranty, you have no control about who will show up, when they will show up, or whether the appliance should be repaired or replaced.

I totally agree. That’s what we do. I don’t buy appliance extended warranties either. Recently needed to replace 5 large appliances; paid for them with points on our credit card that we had saved for that purpose.

[loutapes]

I have had Broward Factory Service
For 9 years. They respond within 24 hrs and have excellent service people who know what they are doing.

[Limey]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

We have Broward. Quick to respond, usually the same day, zero fees.

[Pgcacace]

We have Broward Factory. The few times we have used them
(washing machine, A/C), they have send a repairman within a day. The office staff are nice. They use their own repairman.

[Jdburns11]

While we’re on this general topic - we signed up for SECO’s lightning/grounding safe guard for major appliances I think at $6/month - any value in the safety of this or otherwise…. Or am I just throwing money away? Respectfully, DB

[retiredguy123]

While we’re on this general topic - we signed up for SECO’s lightning/grounding safe guard for major appliances I think at $6/month - any value in the safety of this or otherwise…. Or am I just throwing money away? Respectfully, DB
There have been several other threads on this topic. Personally, I think it is a waste of money. Read the SECO warranty, especially the "exclusion" section, where the lawyers have tried to exclude any damage that you could possibly experience.

[RcCalais]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

My wife took out a home warranty when I was working overseas. At their 1st annual A/C check they claimed we needed to replace the compressor and they just happened to have units at a good price. A reputable company giving a 2nd opinion showed us what they did to make it look like a new one was needed. That same unit lasted for many years.

[jswirs]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you

Most of these warranty contracts are good at finding ways NOT to cover a requested service. Save your money and self insure.

[MSGirl]

Very sad. There are several excellent local repair companies that could have made the repair within a day or two. But, these companies would never share their profit with a home warranty company.
Years ago we used AHS for a home warranty. They were excellent..even went as far as replacing HVAC, furnace, oven, etc. when needed. Today things are different. And they outsource customer service reps if you need to speak to someone in person. When my mother passed, I tried to cancel her policy and had the most difficult time doing so. So I say no to Home Warranty companies today.

[Michael 61]

While we’re on this general topic - we signed up for SECO’s lightning/grounding safe guard for major appliances I think at $6/month - any value in the safety of this or otherwise…. Or am I just throwing money away? Respectfully, DB
Rather than make monthly payments, I just recently paid the one lump sum to SECO. was told 10 year warranty - cost was like $350ish. Still not 100% sold this will be effective or not, but purchased anyway.

[Michael 61]

Good thread - I am in a new village, and all my neighbors are still under the one-year warranty offered on new builds. Our one-year comes up soon (Between November and January, depending on when each neighbor closed). We’re all talking as to whether to seek out a home warranty once our warranty with the Developer expires. Neighbors are mixed on this issue, some feel the need, others see it as a potential waste, and will self-insure against possible appliance failure in the future. I’m leaning towards the later camp.

[Kenswing]

Good thread - I am in a new village, and all my neighbors are still under the one-year warranty offered on new builds. Our one-year comes up soon (Between November and January, depending on when each neighbor closed). We’re all talking as to whether to seek out a home warranty once our warranty with the Developer expires. Neighbors are mixed on this issue, some feel the need, others see it as a potential waste, and will self-insure against possible appliance failure in the future. I’m leaning towards the later camp.

If you haven't done so already schedule an independent home inspection. D'Angelo Inspections are one of the better outfits. Their inspection report goes straight to Warranty and things get taken care of quickly. They found several items that we would have never known about if it wasn't for them crawling on the roof and in the attic.

[trishaf]

I agree with you happy with their service and quick response!

[Michael G.]

I don’t buy appliance extended warranties either.

I agree, but the quality their putting in these appliances today is terrible especially buying
a refrigerator with a built-in ice making.

I talk to people that buy the extended warranty just for the ice makers.

Sad times we live in.

[Always rolling]

I’ve used national companies when I had rentals in the villages and they were ok. But the last 3 years living here I’ve used Broward factory services and their great quick response and I’ve had them out for different appliances so the annual expense has been to my advantage. There are items not covered, but labor is included so we just paid for the part.

[Topspinmo]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you


IMO waste of money, if when have problem most likely the fine print will get them out of paying. At least that’s my observation from neighbors that had them.

[DAVES]

Years ago we used AHS for a home warranty. They were excellent..even went as far as replacing HVAC, furnace, oven, etc. when needed. Today things are different. And they outsource customer service reps if you need to speak to someone in person. When my mother passed, I tried to cancel her policy and had the most difficult time doing so. So I say no to Home Warranty companies today.

When my mother passed we tried to pay her credit card bill. It is sadly funny how stupid some people are. The person with the credit card company insisted on speaking to my mother.

[snbrafford]

Hi,
do you have any recommendations on home warranty companies for the villages.

thank you
I've been here 5 years in a home built in 2012 (some would say older home). I went with Broward gold plan with replacement and have been extremely satisfied. My main reason for getting a warranty was the age of the HVAC system. I felt like any "help" on replacement is better than none. I have had 3 calls to them on the HVAC system where a $150 condenser in the outside unit has failed - no cost. I pay an additional $99 every year to have the HVAC unit inspected. Shortly after moving in, the water heater quit working. They replaced it with a better unit with no questions asked. I have an LG refrigerator that we purchased new and have had six service calls on the ice maker with some parts being replaced - no cost. So I have used the service. BUT, I too have used American Home Shield up north (few choices)and was not entirely satisfied as you did not know who was coming AND there were deductibles. With Broward, they are employees.