Is a Home Protection Plan Right for You?

Guest Post By Sharon Lougee of Cinch Home Services, (919) 749-7071, slougee@cinchhs.com

Given all the costs that come with homeownership, you might be wondering about the real value of a home protection plan. That’s understandable. Like any important purchase for your home, it’s worth some extra consideration upfront. A little bit of planning in advance can potentially save you a lot of time, money, and unnecessary stress in the long run.

That’s exactly why a home protection plan is a smart investment for many homeowners. You could think of it as an investment in peace of mind and protecting you from the sudden financial burdens that are not covered by traditional homeowners insurance policies. Rather than dealing with the sudden expenses of repairing or replacing your appliances and home systems, have a plan that keeps you covered.

What’s the difference between a home protection plan and homeowners insurance?

While homeowners insurance often protects your home from unexpected perils, such as fires, property theft, lightning, windstorms and hail, it doesn’t cover normal wear and tear in your home. That means common household appliance breakdowns and major home systems like air conditioning and water heaters aren’t covered. That’s where a home protection plan comes in.

A home protection plan serves as a service contract between the homeowner and a company, such as Cinch Home Services, offering coverage of repair and/or replacement costs of designated home items. This can include the furnace, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems. Depending on the plan you purchase, home protection plans may also cover major household appliances like your refrigerator, dishwasher or washer and dryer.

What are the benefits of a home protection plan?

A home protection plan can be a great form of financial protection against unexpected and (more often than not) expensive home repairs.

Purchasing a home protection plan can often alleviate these sudden financial burdens new homeowners face after purchasing a home. In addition. it offers peace of mind since you are protected by a pre-screened network of experts.

A home protection plan might be right for you if…

You just moved or are considering moving.

If you just purchased a new home or are considering moving, a home protection plan, just like all warranties, provides you protection and further offers you peace of mind knowing your emergency fund and savings stay untapped. Home protection plans also act as a critical buffer for budget-conscious homeowners with limited or no emergency funds available in the event of an unforeseen expense. Homeowners with home protection plans can rest easier, plan farther and save securely.

You can ask for a Cinch home protection plan to be included with the house when you make an offer. That way, you can settle in with less stress.

You’re selling your home.

Putting your home on the market is already complicated. While you’re focusing on paperwork and transaction details, a sudden appliance or home system breakdown can create yet another obstacle. With a home protection plan, you can help show your home at its best and avoid the chaos of gambling with an unfamiliar service technician or repair service.

A home protection plan can help your property stand out. Potential homebuyers are also juggling many priorities, and by providing confidence in their major home systems and appliances, you can create a smoother process that puts their minds at ease.

You’re busy and a breakage could throw off your whole day, week or even year.

Although homeownership is certainly rewarding, it is not always easy, and your busy day-to-day schedule of balancing work, family, and everything in between isn’t going to slow down or stop when something at home breaks down. With a home protection plan, the potential for added stress to your already busy schedule is conveniently alleviated. With a team of dedicated service professionals readily available, you can take back your day, saving valuable time and unnecessary stress.

You’ve purchased an older or a newly constructed home with limited information.

Oftentimes, homebuyers are unable to obtain extensive details around the quality of the purchased home, whether old or new. A home protection plan can often provide reassurance to homebuyers who have limited information on the level of care an older home received. Similarly, in cases of new construction, homebuyers may not have the resources to investigate how well the home was built.

In some cases, home sellers may be willing to offer the buyer a paid-up, one-year home warranty with the purchase to provide a measure of protection against potential buyer complaints. If you aren’t able to negotiate this from the seller and aren’t confident in the level of detail disclosed by the seller on any known problems the home may have, a home protection plan is a wise investment to help avoid the unknown.

You aren’t handy and have no immediate resources available.

Not everyone is handy at home, and you shouldn’t be expected to fix repairs on your own. Having a home protection plan is an ideal safety net for homeowners whose talents are better suited elsewhere.

If you currently own a home or are thinking of purchasing one, we recommend a home protection plan that protects your investment, alleviates unnecessary stress, and saves your wallet, and calendar, from the unpredictable.

With a Cinch home protection plan, we make sure you aren’t taking time away from what matters most in your life to address home maintenance concerns. Remember, the best time to invest in a home protection plan is before you need it!

About Cinch Home Services
Cinch Home Services is the leading home services company that makes it easy for everyone to enjoy their home to the fullest, regardless of whether they own or rent. Building upon 40 years of proven experience, Cinch uses smart, modern tools and an award-winning customer support network to remove the guesswork around preventing, diagnosing, and solving a wide variety of home-related issues. Cinch partners with expert technicians nationwide to provide unmatched service and value and continues to make strides with digital-forward strategies, platforms, and initiatives that are modernizing home management services to address today’s customer needs. Cinch strives to exceed owners, renters, real estate agents, and partners’ expectations, every time. Cinch Home Services, a member company of The Cross Country Group, is headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, with operations throughout North America. To learn more, visit www.cinchhomeservices.com.

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]