Filing home warranty claims can help you manage repairs, maintenance, and replacements. We discuss the home warranty claim process and how you can lodge it.
The cost of elevating your social status by buying a house is more than just the property price. You go through a long and tiring process filled with hurdles and formalities before you can call yourself a homeowner.
Once all that is done, the last thing you would want is going like, “When does my HVAC need maintenance?” or “I need to find a professional to fix my microwave oven.”
Apart from avoiding these expenses, you would be looking for peace of mind to cherish your time in your new home. Before you get all frustrated over these repairs and maintenance, you can get reliable home warranty coverage to do it for you.
We will discuss what home warranties are and how they can benefit you. But that won’t be enough. To take full advantage of the coverage, you also need to know the home warranty claim process. That is also something we will discuss.
Let’s start.
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When you have spent so much money when buying the property, you would want to break. Generally, after you buy a house, there will be tons of repair and maintenance expenses waiting for you. But you can be proactive by opting for a home warranty plan.
A home warranty is a service that covers wear and tear, malfunctions, and other breakdowns. So, the repairs, maintenance, and replacements of the home components covered with home warranties are taken care of by a third-party provider.
This can save you a lot of money as you don’t have to pay for the repair or maintenance. In addition to protecting your financial assets, you also don’t have to search for a reliable for the fixing your troubles.
If you are thinking, “What if there’s a natural disaster? Can I file a home warranty claim for that?” The answer is No. That is what the home insurance coverage offered.
You can process a home warranty claim for normal wear and tear of home components.
So, if you start a home warranty claim process after suffering damage caused by a natural disaster, you might not be successful in the end.
Having warranty coverage and not knowing the home warranty claim process is like owning a Ferrari without knowing how to drive. If you are confused about the home warranty claim process, let’s fix that.
Remember, every company may have a specified process for filing a home warranty claim. But most companies follow a simple and customer-friendly home warranty claim process. Here is how it goes.
Does the malfunction actually cover the damage or not? That is something you need to ask yourself before filing a claim. We suggest looking at your home warranty contract to understand the details of your coverage.
Do the affected home components have a history of wear and tear? The home warranty company might want to know about this before approving or declining your home warranty claim.
You might also want to consider the service visit fee and coverage limits for your home warranty. This can impact the overall cost you pay at the end of the home warranty claim process.
Did You Know?
A service visit is when the home warranty company sends experts to troubleshoot the issue and recommends a solution.
Apart from these conditions, think of any other restrictions that might cause the company to decline your home warranty claim.
Once you have confirmed that the home warranty terms cover the breakdown or malfunction, it is time to contact the home warranty company.
Some companies make filing a home warranty claim easier as you can contact them online. But there are others that require a phone call from your side.
You might need to answer a few questions about the incident of the home component breakdown. That is why it was important to understand the breakdown and why it happened.
Pro Tip
Be specific when you are answering the questions by the home warranty company. Maybe the problem can be understood on the phone and prevent a service visit.
After the initial contact, the home warranty company usually gives you two options.
If you want to avoid the hassle of finding a service professional, you can go for option 1. Once you do and the home warranty claim process moves forward, the company will organize a service visit.
When the professional steps foot in your home, you owe the service fees. This service professional will start by diagnosing the problem and recommend whether the home component needs a repair or replacement.
This is also part of the home warranty claim process, where the professional relays the details to the company and sees if it meets the coverage.
Once the professional receives a go-ahead from the company, they will start with the fix or replacement. Usually, this process takes 24 to 48 hours.
When the process of a home warranty claim ends, it is time to pay. This is where you have two major expenses to deal with.
If there is any uncovered or surprise cost during the process, you will have to bear it.
You can’t always have all home warranty claims approved by the company. Here are some common reasons why your home warranty claims are denied.
If your systems or appliances were not installed correctly and that caused the breakdown, companies may disapprove your home warranty claim.
You have already used up the entire coverage limit for all systems and appliances.
Different companies have their own definition of “unusual handling.” If the home warranty company thinks that the cause of the breakdown is unusual handling, they might decline your home warranty claim.
This was all you need to know before filing your home warranty claim. So, the next time you have trouble with a covered home component, you will know what to do.
Are you looking to start your journey as a homeowner and enjoy the perks of home warranties? You can start your property hunt at HAR.com. We have different types of property listings in various locations.
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