Register Real Estate Advisors

Written by: Cherie Johnson, Senior Account Executive, American Home Shield

With over 26 years in the business, I have seen American Home Shield pay out many claims for home owners.  First-time home buyers often stretch themselves financially to afford the down payment and monthly mortgage costs.  Being hit with the high costs of home breakdown repair and replacements soon after moving in can be financially overwhelming.  When buying a house, you always want to be sure to get an American Home Shield Warranty so you can rest assured you’re going to be protected.  Breakdowns are inevitable and always seem to happen at the worst possible time for your wallet and for your schedule.  An American Home Shield Home Warranty (AHS Home Warranty) can offer you quick relief, sensible protection and affordable coverage that could save you up to hundreds of dollars and hours of frustration.  Always ask for it in your home purchase offer.

A home warranty is a renewable service contract that covers many of the most frequently occurring breakdowns of home system components and appliances that are not usually covered by homeowner insurance.  Home warranty plans offer coverage of many of the critical major system components and appliances in a home that are high failure and high cost items to repair or replace.  This valuable coverage can pay for repair or replacement of covered items that break down due to normal wear and tear.

For more information please visit our website at www.ahsflexplan.com

By: Shannon Register, Coldwell Banker United, Realtor

You may not be thinking about selling your home right now. However, if you maintain it well, when you do get ready to sell it will be ready for the buyers. Buyers look for clean houses that they can visualize their families living in. They like neutral colors they can paint over if they prefer. They appreciate sellers that leave behind manuals and have maintained their systems and appliances throughout home ownership. Putting some thought into what a buyer wants now can make you money in the future.

Appliances are not built to last forever. The average life expectancy of some of your most critical home appliances is 13 years and the average replacement cost for a home system or appliance is $1,388.00[1]. Proper maintenance of these appliances will ensure a smooth transaction when you decide to sell your home.

The following tips for home maintenance come from the Home Care Tips for a Happy Home Pamphlet provided by American Home Shield Warranties:

· To ensure efficient operation, check filters on your heating and air conditioning system monthly and clean or replace as needed. Trim shrubs and plants that are near the condensing unit to ensure proper air flow and circulation. If you see bent condensing unit fins on your air conditioning system you can straighten them with a fine comb. If you smell gas odors around your heating system have it inspected by a licensed HVAC dealer. Having an annual system maintenance service performed one month before the heating season and one month before the cooling season begins will detect most problems in the unit.

· Routinely make sure there are not too many appliances plugged into one circuit and use the self-test button on ground fault circuit interrupters/arc fault circuit interrupters to ensure proper working order. This will help prevent power outages. If you are having electrical problems, you should call a qualified professional.

· To prevent plumbing problems, toilet paper should be the only product flushed down a toilet. Water filters and ice maker filters should be changed according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Professionals recommend draining sediment from your water heater once a year.

· If you have a self-cleaning oven, do not use any other method to clean it. Mineral deposits on the electric heating element can be cleaned with vinegar. Don’t forget to clean or change out your range hood exhaust filters regularly. If you have a gas burner and it does not light, repair or replace the spark igniter and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for relighting the pilot. If it won’t relight, you may have to replace the thermocouple.

· Routine maintenance tips for your refrigerator include cleaning the interior shelves and gaskets every three months and the coils on the back and underneath once a year. The coils can be vacuumed. If the door gasket is sealing properly, it should hold a dollar bill in place when closed.

· Many consumers overlook the utility room where they do laundry, but the washer and dryer require maintenance as well. Adjust the level of your washing machine or dryer by turning the legs clockwise to lower them or counter-clockwise to raise them. Clean the lint screen on the dryer after each load of laundry is dried. If your washer should fill with water but the machine does not turn on, lighten the load and wait 15 minutes for the motor to reset. It might just be too full. If your dryer takes a really long time to dry clothes, you may need to replace the heating element.

· Lastly, clean the garbage disposal. Feed a full tray of ice cubes through it while running cold water. Always run water at least twenty seconds after you finish. If the flywheel is jammed, free it using the supplied tool or use a long wooden spoon handle and push the reset button. Only dispose of materials allowed by the manual.

These are all routine maintenance tips that your next home owner will appreciate having been done. Keeping your home in working order keeps it ready for resale. Keep your systems and appliances running smooth. To request your free copy of Home Care Tips for a Happy Home Pamphlet provided by American Home Shield Warranties you can call or email me with your name and address and I will be happy to get that to you. It contains more maintenance tips to keep your home ready to sell.

What is 13 SEER?  SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is an energy efficiency rating that is applied to all heat pump and central air conditioning equipment or components.  As of January 23, 2006, in an effort to increase America’s energy efficiency, the U.S. Department of Energy enforced a new regulation that required all newly-manufactured heat pump and central air conditioning equipment or component ratings to be increased from 10 SEER to 13 Seer.  This resulted in a phase-out of less efficient machines and components.  When the components rated less than 13 SEER are depleted, you could face high, unexpected repair costs or replacement of your entire system.  An American Home Shield Warranty includes coverage that addresses the 13 SEER capability issues if you have not already addressed them.

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors has partnered with American Home Shield to provide a Home Warranty to both our Selling and Buying Clients. I always offer my clients the protection of an American Home Shield Home Warranty. Both Buyers and Sellers should insist on an American Home Shield Warranty because they are the founding and leading Home Warranty Company with over 35 years experience caring for customers. With over 1.3 Million Home Warranties Nationwide, and over 11,000 Contractors within their service network, they lead the industry in delivering innovative home warranty products to customers. When I list your house for sell, I pay for the home warranty for you from the time you list with me through your closing date. This protects your home while it is on the market which can protect you from investing more money into your home while you’re trying to sell. It lowers your cost for repairs that may need to be completed before closing and helps avoid delays on closing due to unexpected breakdown of systems. Having a warranty also attracts buyer and adds value to your home. It demonstrates an intent to sell your home in good working order and gives the buyer an avenue of restitution, other than you, should any covered systems break down after purchase. When I list your home, I will go over the contract and explain the warranty options available and help you decide which warranty best suits your needs. Your American Home Shield Warranty provides your buyer confidence before and after their home purchase. Should your home require service, repairs, or replacement of covered systems while it is under contract for sell, you the seller will only pay your service charge for each trade service call. (An example of a trade service call would be an electrician, another service trade might be a plummer.) Most buyers insist on a home inspection before purchase and want repairs made when necessary. In that instance, you would only pay the one time service fee. I promote the American Home Shield Warranty because it is a product that can save Sellers money and puts your home on a pedestal by making it appealing to perspective buyers in todays heavily inventoried market. This warranty will also make your home more competitive with newly constructed homes. With American Home Shield Warranties, you have the flexibility to create the plan that fits your individual lifestyle and budget.  This way you don’t pay for coverage you won’t use.

For my Buying Clients, I always negotiate a FREE home warranty for the first year. This protects you from the high cost of unexpected, covered repair expenses after you move into your home.

What is a Home Warranty? It is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of many of the most frequently occurring breakdowns of home system components and appliances. Everything in the home is not covered, but most of the system components and appliances that break down frequently are covered. Your home is likely your biggest investment. Unexpected repair or replacement costs can strain your budget. Plus, a home warranty takes the hassle out of finding an approved and insured contractor to solve your problem. A home warranty cannot prevent systems or appliances from breaking down, but it can help make covered repairs or replacement easier and less costly for you.

Should you have a breakdown of your covered system or appliance American Home Shield is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. America Home Shield is a company committed to and solely focused on providing you an outstanding customer experience. To request service on a covered item there is no need to call me, just call America Home Shield Directly at 1-800-776-4663 to speak to a customer service representative or go online to www.ahsservice.com.

Not selling or buying a home, but think your house needs a home warranty? Call me for a FREE Quote or go online to www.ahswarranty.com for more information.

Last year in Texas, AHS spent $57,973,407.00 honoring their service promise. Nationally, AHS spent over $297 million in 2006 to help protect their clients from the hassle f unexpected, expensive home repairs.