June 10, 2011

Homeowner Warranties: A Safe Bet to Quickly Selling Your Home in an Unsecure Market

Since our most recent economic recession, real estate sales have been dominated by a buyer's market. Despite this, home sellers are having difficulty selling their home quickly. Sellers can pick and choose which homes they prefer as a result of this weakened market. Buyers have so many options available to them in terms of homes on the market that you might begin to wonder how you can guarantee a quick sale on your own home.

Familiarize yourself with the concept of a homeowner warranty. Savvy sellers use homeowner warranties, also known as simply a home warranty, to benefit them and get buyers to purchase their homes. A guarantee that the home they're considering purchasing is in good shape is exactly what a buyers want. Buyers will alternatively want a guarantee that the previous owner is willing to fix any defects that later happen to occur within the first year of the home being purchased. You as a buyer will ultimately end up with a quicker sale since a homeowner warranty offers the assurances most buyers want.

Is the cost of a homeowner warranty imposed on the buyer or the seller? Sometimes local customs dictate, but ultimately each state has their own general policies. It makes sense that a seller would pay for the warranty in many locales, because selling the house more quickly as a result is a benefit the seller receives. It stands to reason that there's less inclination for a buyer to require the seller to fix something that subsequently breaks if the buyer didn't have to pay for the warranty in the first place.

The cost for a homeowner warranty is also relatively minimal. A typical warranty usually ranges from $250 to $400, depending again on your location, as well as what specifically is covered under the policy. The policies must be prepaid one year in advance. They can expire at the end of that term but also can be renewed on an annual basis.

There are limits to what a homeowner warranty covers, despite a seller's initial leeriness about offering too much coverage for too long of a time period after the sale of the home. Not every plan pays for indoor appliances, and most outdoor items like sprinklers, spas and pools are not covered unless a buyer specifically requests coverage. In the event that a buyer has improperly installed or maintained something, has violated a code or creates unusual wear and tear, coverage can also be denied.

Even though a buyer can often require a homeowner warranty in a market like this, you as seller have a lot of control over the actual content of the warranty. As a seller, offering a homeowner's warranty is a wise idea, because it not only helps you sell your home more quickly but also makes a buyer feel more comfortable with the purchase as a whole.

Trying to find out more about Longmont real estate? Maybe you are thinking about real estate in Erie, but need some more info. Enjoy these websites and also search for real estate information on any home that is available on the market.

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