Choice Home Warranty Official Blog

With big holiday meals, excessive grease and food can find their way into kitchen drains and garbage disposals. Holiday guests equate to extra showers and lots of extra toilet flushes, putting a strain on a home’s plumbing system, which can add up to a potential plumbing disaster.

Below are a few usual tips to help safeguard your home against plumbing problems:

1. If the shower pressure is weak, pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the showerhead, and let it soak. Use a twisty-tie or rubber band to hold it in place overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and use an old toothbrush to gently scrub off the mineral deposits.  This should help restore water flow.
2. Wipe grease from pots and pans before washing. Never put hard-to-grind, stringy, tough waste (poultry skins, carrots, celery, seeds, etc.) into the garbage disposal or sink. The disposal cannot sufficiently grind these items and they will clog your sink drain.
3. Run the clothes washer and/or dishwasher at night or at off times to conserve water temperature and pressure for your guests.

For more useful tips, please contact Choice Home Warranty at 1-888-531-5403 or visit us on the web at www.ChoiceHomeWarranty.com .

Choice Home Warranty can help you stay informed and keep track of maintenance for your home systems and appliances. How often do you think of the maintenance required to keep your home systems and appliances up and running? If you’re like most homeowners, probably not often enough. Follow the manufacturer’s direction on yearly maintenance to extend the life of your unit.

1. Flush out sediments from your hot water heater and test the pressure relief valve, plus other annual inspection duties should be performed according to the instructions in your manual for the unit.
2. Have a heating professional check your heating system every year before the winter season.
3. Protect your home from frozen pipes.
4. Drain in-ground sprinkler systems.
5. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
6. Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.
7. Check painted surfaces for paint failure, water damage, or mildew. Repair or repaint if necessary.
8. Insulate outdoor faucets, pipes in unheated garages, and pipes in crawl spaces
9. Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
10. Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

A home warranty can be very beneficial and save you money when it is understood and used for its intended purpose, which is to properly maintained cover systems and appliances for normal wear and tear.

Florida State Insurance Commission ordered National Home Protection Inc. to stop marketing and selling home warranties. State officials say the firm is not licensed to sell the products and has a reputation for denying claims.

The Office of Insurance Regulation said it began investigating National Home Protection Inc.’s marketing and claims handling practices earlier this year.

“This company has been selling these products without a license all across the country,” said Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. “Florida law clearly authorizes me to take action to stop the practices of unlicensed entities to protect consumers in this state.”

The investigation also revealed that many of the claims made for household repairs or service were denied.

In April 2009, we reported that the New York Attorney General filed law suite against National Home Protection. NY AG office announced that their office received more than 300 complaints against the home warranty protection company from consumers in at least thirty-two states.

The Florida order also requires National Home to honor all policies that are in effect for the duration stated in each contract. The company has 21 days to file a challenge to Florida’s action but it is highly unlikely that the company will contest the order.

Source: http://www.homewarrantyreviews.com/national-home-protection-forced-out-florida

Top 5 Things Homeowner’s Forget to Do Prior to Closing:

1. Bring sufficient money to closing/transfer funds
2. Get a home inspection or walk-thru done
3. Change the mailing address
4. Shut off all utilites
5. Order a CHW Home Warranty!

Choice Home Warranty offers a valuable safeguard on the home’s existing covered major systems and appliances, giving buyers and sellers peace of mind. Experienced real estate professionals know that when they sell a previously owned home, the home buyer will likely suffer a mechanical system or appliance breakdown during the first year of ownership. A Choice Home Warranty is an essential benefit anyone can purchase during a real estate transaction. CHW gives realtors, buyers, and sellers a competitive edge that can make selling homes all the more enjoyable.

Freddie Mac started offering free home warranty coverage for 2 years when you buy bank owned or foreclosed real estate property. The “Smart Buy” program was started in late August and is expected end at the end of October.

The promotional program applies to real estate owned homes sold through the agency’s HomeSteps unit, which deals in foreclosed properties that have been turned over to the lender. Called SmartBuy, the program seeks to address one of the major concerns homebuyers have about buying foreclosed property, namely, the potential cost of repairs on a home that may have been poorly maintained or allowed to deteriorate.

Freddie Mac will also pay closing costs of up to 3.5 percent of the purchase price. For example, on a $200,000 home, the program would pay up to $7,000 in closing costs, however it does not cover down payment.

Freddie Mac plays a critical role in the mortgage industry. Serving as one of the nations largest agencies that securitizes conventional home loans, they have been in a precarious financial position over the last two years as home foreclosures have swept over the housing markets. Freddie Mac, along with Fannie Mae, another large national agency covering the mortgage markets, have both received billions of dollars of capital from the U.S. government in the last twenty four months. The companies financial problems escalated as they were leveraging the value of their loan portfolios in multiples over ten percent

Second and vacation homes, investment properties or property purchased solely for rental purposes are not eligible. There is a minimum purchase price of $25,000. More information on the program, including localized listings of eligible HomeSteps properties, are available through the HomeSteps web site. Local real estate agents can also provide information on which properties are offered through the program.

Source: http://www.homewarrantyreviews.com/freddie-mac-is-offering-free-home-warranty

• Homes on the market with a home warranty included sell on average 50% faster than homes without. – National Home Warranty Association
  
• Homes with home warranties return a sales price that averages 3% higher. – Business Week Magazine
  
• 8 out of 10 buyers prefer to buy a home with a home warranty. – Gallup Poll
  
• In 2002, 9 out of 10 California homes sold had home warranty coverage. – Home Warranty Association of California, 2003
  
•  Nationwide, home warranty use is rising with housing trends. – Washington Times, August 2003
  
• The average life expectancy of nine critical appliances/home systems is 13 years, and the likelihood of failure of one of these systems in a given year is 68%. – Home Repair and Remodel, Marshall & Swift L.P., 2004
  
• Homeowners spend an average of $900 each year to repair home systems and appliances. – Consumer Expenditure Survey 2002, U.S. Census
  
• A home system or appliance repair can range from $65 to $2,000 and replacement averages $1,085. – Home Repair and Remodel, Marshall & Swift L.P., 2004

Your home warranty is only as good as the home warranty company that represents you.  While no home warranty company covers every claim since some claims do fall outside of the home warranty contract guidelines, reputable home warranty companies will work with you to help you get back on track.  Even if it’s not covered under our home warranty contract, a good home warranty company will provide you with a referral to a service contractor that can help you with your claim. You can expect the home warranty company to alleviate your problem in any way they can.   

Make sure you have reviewed your contract and home warranty coverage before you utilize it to understand what is covered and what is not. When you purchase your home warranty, consider premium and optional coverage to customize the plan to fit your needs.  A home warranty can be very beneficial and save you money when it is understood and used for its intended purpose, which is to cover systems and appliances for normal wear and tear, that were in working condition before the contract took effect.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.  Did you know that the average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year? Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.

Choice Home Warranty is proud to announce the CHW Green program.  This program covers replacement of covered major systems and appliances with ENERGY STAR qualified products.  ENERGY STAR qualified products can include a variety of energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, in addition to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.

Increasing energy demand, global climate change, and constrained energy supplies are likely to impact how energy affects your home in the future. Is your household prepared for the energy challenges that lie ahead? Choice Home Warranty will help alleviate some of those concerns. 

To read more about Choice Home Warranty and the CHW Green program, please visit http://www.choicehomewarranty.com/chw_green.php.

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard & Linda Fuller.   Today, Habitat for Humanity is a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity is a global home-building movement comprising more than 2,000 local affiliates, state support organizations and national organizations in more than 90 countries. The world is experiencing a global housing crisis. Habitat for Humanity has shown that building homes does more than put a roof over someone’s head. In clean, decent, stable housing, families can provide stability for their children and their children’s future.

In the United States alone, 95 million people, one third of the nation, have housing problems including payments too large a percentage of their income, overcrowding, poor quality shelter, and homelessness. Throughout the world, people live in inadequate housing, and Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to providing decent, affordable homes for those in need. Choice Home Warranty is committed to helping end poverty housing across the globe, that’s why we donate to Habitat for Humanity.

You, too, can help make a difference.  Visit www.habitat.org for more information. 

Have a great weekend!

Jim

Choice Home Warranty is one of the country’s most trusted, professional home warranty providers in the industry.  Choice Home Warranty can help you stay informed and keep track of maintenance for your home systems and appliances.  How often do you think of the maintenance required to keep your home systems and appliances up and running? If you’re like most homeowners, probably not often enough.

Not to worry though, Choice Home Warranty has done the homework for you. Here are several routine CHW maintenance tips for each of your homes major systems and appliances. 

WINTER

• Have your furnace serviced annually by a competent professional for efficiency and safety.  Choice Home Warranty contracts require unit to be properly maintained.  Complaints are common with all home warranty providers if consumers fail to clean or maintain their unit.  This is not a scam, read all home warranty contracts carefully.
• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic.
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.
• Check the attic for adequate ventilation.
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filters.
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, refrigerator icemaker and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles.

SPRING

• Make sure the light bulbs in all your fixtures are the correct wattage.   
• Consider installing a lightning protection system on your home.  Choice Home Warranty does not cover lightening or natural disasters.   
• Protect all your electrical appliances from power surges and lightning.  CHW and most home warranty companies do not cover these types of claims.  A complaint may arise from this type of claim denial. This is not a scam, read your contract carefully.
• Have a professional air conditioning contractor inspect and maintain your system as recommended by the manufacturer.  Choice Home Warranty contracts require unit to be properly maintained.  Complaints are common with all home warranty providers if consumers fail to clean or maintain their unit. 
• Trim shrubs and plants near condensing unit to ensure proper air flow and circulation.
• Check for damage to your roof.  Choice Home Warranty offers roof protection and other optional coverage.  Don’t forget to use Choice Home Warranty promo code SAVE75 when receiving your ordering your CHW Warranty.  Be on the look-out for other Choice Home Warranty coupon codes.   
• Protect your home from sewer or drain back-up losses.
• Drain sediment from water heater tank according to manufacturer’s recommendations.  Contact Choice Home Warranty for step-by-step tips on how to go about doing this.  The CHW staff is knowledgeable and friendly. 
• Check the shutoff valve at each plumbing fixture to make sure they function properly.  Choice Home Warranty does not cover faucets or fixtures.  Common complaints are leaky faucets.  This is not a scam, read your contract carefully.
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer.

SUMMER

• Have annual system maintenance service done before the air conditioning season begins. Choice Home Warranty contracts require unit to be properly maintained.  Complaints are common with all home warranty providers if consumers fail to clean or maintain their unit.  This is not a scam, read your contract carefully.
• Keep curtains closed when temperatures are at their peak.
• Use exhaust fans when cooking to remove excess heat and humidity.
• Close registers in rooms that are not being used. To avoid damage to your central heating system, close no more than one fourth of the area of your home.
• Caulk and weather-strip all windows to close any air gaps.
• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees.
• Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use.
• Move furniture away from vents, registers and radiators.
• Change the filter on forced air units. 

FALL

• Flush out sediments from your hot water heater and test the pressure relief valve, plus other annual inspection duties should be performed according to the instructions in your manual for the unit.  Contact Choice Home Warranty for step-by-step tips on how to go about doing this.  The CHW staff is knowledgeable and friendly. 
• Have a heating professional check your heating system every year before the winter season.  Choice Home Warranty requires unit to be properly serviced. Complaints are common with all home warranty providers if consumers fail to clean or maintain their unit.  This is not a scam, read your contract carefully.
• Protect your home from frozen pipes.
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.   
• Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.

To read more about Choice Home Warranty, please visit http://www.choicehomewarranty.com.