As a homeowner, you always make sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s when it comes to protecting your household. You have homeowner’s insurance. Your carbon monoxide and fire alarms always have fresh batteries. Your inspector went over everything with a fine-tooth comb before you bought your house. 

But do you need home warranty protection, too? We think you do. When you have a home warranty, you can spend less on repairing and replacing appliances and more on things like fun garden gnomes or a DIY bathroom reno. What’s more, home warranties are worth it because they take worry out of the homeowner equation. Let’s take a closer look at why you need a home warranty. 

Do I need a home warranty? 

If you’ve just purchased your home, an excellent place to start if you’re asking yourself “Should I get a home warranty?” is to review the inspector report and see if there are any red flags. If your inspector noted that some appliances or home systems might have future issues or that they’re older models, you might want to look into exactly how much buying new ones would cost (hint: replacing you’re A/C can cost upwards of $5,000).  

If you weren’t able to get an inspection or if you’ve lived in your home for a few years, a home warranty is the right choice. You’ll need a home warranty to cover things like normal wear and tear and to protect your budget in the event of a breakdown—because no one wants to pay for A/C repair in the heat of summer.  

Next, find out if there are existing warranties on your appliances, and if there are, exactly what they cover. If you’ve been in your home for a while and have already had to replace appliances or home systems, check the paperwork to see the warranty details. Sometimes appliance warranties only cover defects, which means you would be responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing your items when they break down. This is where a home warranty can help.  

Do home warranties work? 

So you’ve done your research, and your “Should I get a home warranty?” has turned into “It can cost thousands of dollars to replace a heater, and the one I have is the same model that was in my grandma’s house when I was a kid. Bring on the coverage!” You now know you need it for your household, but do home warranties work?  

This is where the importance of the company you choose is essential. American Home Shield believes in being transparent when it comes to our home warranty coverage. Our plans cover up to 23 key home systems and appliances, and we offer optional add-on coverage to meet the needs of your individual household. We’re here to protect your budget and your sanity when items in your home break down. Shop our plans. 

Should I extend my home warranty? 

One of the most important things to do when asking yourself, “Should I renew my home warranty?” is to do the math. Review your home warranty policy and add up the any deductibles, service fees, and the monthly plan costs. Take note of any caps in coverage amounts and what they do and do not cover. Then, figure out roughly how much it would cost to replace some of the items in your home and on your property. Often, the price of a home warranty will be much less than repairing or replacing appliances or systems in your household, so an extended home warranty makes financial sense. 

Renewing your home warranty after the one-year contract is up is also just plain convenient. As an American Home Shield member, if something in your well-maintained household decides to throw a wrench in your day-to-day operations, submit a service request, and we’ll send a qualified contractor to your door. And with our 30-day workmanship guarantee, renewing your home warranty is almost a no-brainer. If you have a problem with the repair within 30 days of the service, it will be fixed at no extra cost to you.   

So, are home warranties worth it? The short answer: Yes. Your household and your budget will benefit from purchasing a home warranty.