Published by Paradox M LLC
Selling Your Home? How a Home Warranty Can Help
A seller-provided home warranty can reassure buyers and protect you during the listing period. Here's how it works.
When you list a home, every creaky appliance becomes a potential negotiating point. A home warranty is one tool sellers use to ease buyer concerns.
How seller coverage works
Many providers offer plans that start during the listing period, covering certain failures while the home is on the market. At closing, coverage can transfer to the buyer for the rest of the term.
Potential benefits for sellers
- Buyers may feel more comfortable with an older home.
- A covered failure during the listing period can be repaired without derailing the sale.
- It can be offered as a concession instead of lowering the price.
Potential benefits for buyers
Buyers get help with covered repairs during their first year, when they're still learning the home.
Things to confirm
- When listing coverage starts and what it includes
- Whether there's a waiting period
- How and when the plan transfers to the buyer
- What happens if the sale falls through
Talk to your agent
Your real estate agent can tell you whether warranties are common in your market. To see what plans cost where you live, compare home warranty quotes. Our FAQ covers transfers and cancellations.
Related reading
- Just Bought a Home? How to Choose a Home Warranty for Your First Year
New homeowners face unknowns with every appliance and system. Here's how to decide whether a first-year home warranty fits.
- Home Warranty Waiting Periods: Why They Exist and How to Plan Around Them
Many home warranties don't start covering repairs right away. Here's what a waiting period is and how to avoid getting caught by one.
- Is a Home Warranty Worth It? An Honest Way to Decide
A home warranty is a great fit for some homes and a poor fit for others. Use this simple framework to decide for yours.