Are Appliance Repair Plans Worth It?

Learn about what a home warranty is, how much it costs and whether it is worth it when considering buying an extended warranty for appliances.

Are Appliance Repair Plans Worth It?

When you buy a big-ticket item, it's hard to resist the sales pitch for an extended warranty. But are these plans really worth it? In most cases, the benefit of these contracts starts to disappear when you consider their cost and the relatively small odds of actually redeeming them. Home warranty covers repair or replacement of faulty systems and appliances, while home insurance covers your home, other buildings you own, and your personal property against losses due to natural hazards and theft. Having both will protect your home and appliances in most situations.

Buying a home warranty can help ease some of the financial burden faced by new homeowners when an appliance or large home system is turned off. Yes, you'll pay the guarantee upfront, but the savings could be worth the extra expense. This is an overview of what a home warranty is, how much it costs and whether it is worth it. An extended warranty for appliances can help pay for problems that unexpectedly arise with major appliances.

Buying coverage may be a good option if you have older appliances or if you know you won't be able to handle the cost of any major repairs or replacements out of pocket. A home guarantee can be a great option to protect your home investment when combined with a good homeowners insurance policy. However, if you purchased a new home, many home systems are covered by manufacturer's warranties. It would be wise to ensure that each of your appliances and systems is covered by the appliance insurance under the warranty you purchase.

Without a home warranty, you could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars repairing or replacing important appliances or systems. Third-party insurers often hire local appliance repair experts who will come to your home for service. Generally speaking, extended home appliance warranties can be purchased from retailers and manufacturers, while an appliance warranty always comes from a third-party home warranty company. Your claim must be accepted within 24 to 48 hours and a warranty provider will arrange for a contractor to come to your home to inspect the appliance and manage repairs. Home warranties are renewable residential service plans that offer discounted repair and replacement services for covered appliances and home systems. However, household appliance insurance is more necessary when the appliance ages and approaches the end of its useful life.

The appliance insurance provided by the manufacturer is of two types, usually referred to as an appliance warranty and an extended warranty. In the event that a large household appliance suddenly stops working, it can be repaired or replaced inexpensively, which a new buyer will appreciate. The extended warranty on an appliance is an alternative to paying for a home warranty plan that covers the appliances you are concerned about. If an appliance needs to be repaired under an extended warranty or home appliance insurance, the first thing to do is file a claim with the warranty provider, either online or by phone.

Jayne Viviani
Jayne Viviani

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