If you’ve ever bought an extended warranty that wasn’t what you expected or shopped for home insurance and become overwhelmed by the options, you’re not alone. Home insurance, home warranties, extended warranties, and other service contracts can all start to blur together. They aren’t the same, however.
If you’re looking for protection that’s cost-efficient and easy to manage, there is a plan that’s right for you. To avoid surprises, you need to know what they all mean.
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Understand Your Options
Protection options for your home and products are plentiful, but they’re not always described clearly. With so many terms for available plans, it can quickly get confusing. It’s time to set the record straight.
Manufacturer Warranties
Many product manufacturers and sellers offer their own warranties as a promise to stand behind their products. Commonly included with electronics and large or built-in appliances, a manufacturer warranty promises to repair, replace or refund the product within a certain period of time for mechanical breakdowns. You may need to provide proof of purchase or register the product, and the warranty period may last anywhere from 90 days to one or more years.
Extended Warranties
Extended warranties are also available when you buy major appliances or gadgets from retailers. They don’t come with a product automatically though; you have to purchase them for added protection. Unlike a manufacturer warranty, an extended warranty is actually a service contract or maintenance agreement. It adds a level of protection for consumers beyond the standard warranty.
Home Warranties
A home warranty is a residential service contract that guarantees to pay the cost of repair or replacement if covered items wear out, break down, or stop working during the contract period. Covered items should include most of the major systems in your home, including:
- Heating
- Air conditioning
- Plumbing
- Electrical
Most likely, a home warranty will also cover major appliances like washers & dryers, refrigerators, and stoves/ovens.
Home Insurance
Home insurance covers structural damage to your home caused by disasters like fires, floods, and storms. It may also cover your personal property if it is damaged or stolen in an emergency such as a fire or break-in. Unlike a home warranty, home insurance doesn’t cover the replacement or maintenance of appliances and systems in your home or day-to-day wear and tear.
How Service Contracts and Warranties are Different...or Not
If you just read that and you’re still wondering “What’s the difference between a warranty and a service contract?”, we don’t blame you.
Despite what anyone calls them, the only true warranty is a manufacturer’s warranty. Home warranties and extended warranties are actually service contracts, not warranties. The main difference? A manufacturer’s warranty comes included with the product (its price is built into the product's price) whereas service contracts cost extra. What you get in return for that cost, though, is arguably far more valuable than a simple product warranty.
You get ongoing, on-demand service and extended protection for your home products and appliances. So you don’t have to worry when your AC goes out in summer or your smart thermostat starts acting stupid.
Choose the Right Home Protection Policies for Your Home
Now that you know what’s available, you can choose the type of plan that fits your needs. If you dread the idea of surprise costs or hassle that arise when things in your home go haywire, a home warranty could be right for you. From AirPods to smart thermostats to your Top-Chef-worthy kitchen, home warranties offer an extra sense of peace in knowing that if anything breaks or starts acting funny, it’s taken care of.
When it’s time to choose the home protection mix that’s right for you, ask yourself:
- Do you want on-demand IT services like device configuration and troubleshooting?
- Are you looking for a service agreement to cover ongoing maintenance and repairs?
- Do you just want to make sure your products are covered in case anything goes wrong?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, fixHomz has a solution for you.
Healthy Home on Demand
If you want on-demand setup and configuration of your wifi and smart home technology including personal devices, plus on-demand troubleshooting, this plan is for you. We’ll also keep you safe with regular inspection of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, regular cleaning and changing of HVAC filters, and more.
Whole-Home Warranty Protection
Cover your whole home for complete comfort and peace of mind. With full-unit coverage for appliances, HVAC, and other major systems, plus the option to bundle with other on-demand services and extended warranties. We tell you exactly what’s covered, and what’s not.
Extended Product Warranties
We offer extended product warranties so you can protect just the products you choose, without having to pay for double coverage. Anything you own from home stereo systems, game consoles, and computers to built-in grills and more - it’s covered.
You may not have found the right 'fit' with other home protection companies. You may hate shopping for home protection services. We totally get it. But fixHomz is different.
Our plans let you cover only what you need, or cover your whole home for complete peace of mind. Our claims process is simple and our coverage is transparent. No matter your home protection needs, we’ve got you covered.
Discover a new way to experience product care and home service. See our Plans.
