When Can You Buy a Home Warranty? Things To Know First

Buying a home is a big step, but knowing when you can buy a home warranty can be just as important. Should you get it before closing, right after moving in, or wait a few months?

The truth is, timing plays a bigger role than most homeowners think.
Here’s how to decide when to lock in coverage that actually works for your home and budget.

Why Should You Get A Home Warranty?

Owning a home means more than just enjoying your space. It also means keeping up with repairs and maintenance that can add up fast. The average U.S. homeowner spends between $4,000 and $22,000 annually on home maintenance and repairs, depending on the property’s age and size.

Compared to that, a home warranty typically costs only a few hundred dollars a year. It’s an affordable way to cover system or appliance breakdowns without putting extra strain on your savings. It serves as a financial safety net that helps you manage those wear-and-tear repairs so you don’t get caught by surprise.

• Budget protection for home systems: Unexpected breakdowns of major systems, such as heating or plumbing, can hit your savings. A warranty gives you a predictable annual cost instead of a large, sudden repair bill.
• Simplified service and contractor access: If you’re not up for hunting down a reliable technician or juggling service calls, a warranty provider steps in to coordinate the fix. It saves you time and removes the hassle of vetting contractors.
  
• Coverage for normal wear and tear: Typical homeowners’ insurance covers disasters (fire, flood, etc.), but not the gradual failure of a HVAC compressor or water pipes corrosion. A warranty picks up those everyday breakdowns that slip past insurance.
• Ideal for new homeowners or older homes: If you’ve just moved in and aren’t sure about the condition or age of your home’s systems, a warranty can offer valuable coverage. It also provides an added layer of protection for older homes with aging appliances.

When Can You Buy a Home Warranty? Best Times to Get Covered

You don’t have to wait for a breakdown to think about home protection. A home appliance warranty can be purchased at several key stages of homeownership, each offering unique advantages. Whether you’re buying, selling, or managing an older home, it’s important to know when you can buy a home warranty. Understanding the timing helps you plan smarter and save more in the long run.

1. When You’re Buying a Home

The best time to purchase home warranty services is during the home-buying process, often right at closing. It’s often added right at closing, giving new homeowners immediate coverage for unexpected repairs. In some cases, sellers even include it as an added incentive in the deal.

Buying a home involves several expenses, and a warranty can help you manage the costs that come after move-in. Many providers also offer discounts if the plan is purchased within 30 days of closing, giving you affordable protection from day one.

Key Benefits for New Homeowners:

• Helps with budgeting: Offers predictable repair costs during the first year of homeownership.
• Covers wear and tear: Protects against common breakdowns that occur as systems and appliances age.
• Saves time on repairs: The appliance warranty company arranges for a technician when you file a claim, simplifying the process.
• Bridges coverage gaps: Fills the space between your homeowners’ insurance and manufacturer warranties.
• Boosts property confidence: Provides reassurance when buying a pre-owned home with older systems or appliances.

2. When You’re Selling a Home

Adding a home appliance warranty while selling can make your property more attractive to potential buyers. It signals that you have taken steps to protect the home’s systems and appliances, which helps reduce buyer hesitation during negotiations.

For home sellers, it can also make the selling process smoother. Buyer, especially those purchasing their first home, often have tight budgets. Knowing that repair costs for major items are covered for a limited time can make your listing stand out and encourage faster decisions.

Key Benefits for Home Sellers:

• Adds market appeal: It can make your property more desirable to cautious or first-time buyers.
• Encourages smoother negotiations: Buyers are more confident when repair costs are already covered for key systems.
• Helps prevent closing delays: If an appliance breaks before closing, warranty coverage can handle the repair quickly.
• Shows good faith: Including a warranty demonstrates care for the home’s condition and fairness in the transaction.
• Supports post-sale confidence: Buyers feel assured after the purchase, which can reduce post-closing disputes or callbacks.

3. When a Builder or Manufacturer Warranty Expires

If you’ve recently bought a new home, it likely came with a builder or manufacturer’s warranty. These usually cover only major structural components for a limited time. Appliances, HVAC systems, and plumbing fixtures are often left out or covered for a much shorter period.

Once those warranties expire, unexpected repair costs can fall entirely on you. This is when home warranties become a smart addition, offering ongoing coverage for the systems and appliances you rely on daily.

Key Benefits After Builder Warranty Ends:

• Provides continued protection once initial coverage expires.
• Helps manage repair costs for everyday systems and appliances.
• Simplifies the process of getting service when issues arise.
• Offers flexible coverage options suited to your home’s age and needs.
• Reduces out-of-pocket expenses on sudden breakdowns after the builder’s warranty period.

4. When You Upgrade or Renovate Your Home

Homes evolve over time; maybe you’ve remodeled your kitchen, upgraded your HVAC, or added a hot tub or second laundry area. Each new system or appliance adds comfort and value, but it also means more to maintain.

That’s when reviewing your home coverage makes sense. You can buy a home warranty anytime, and it’s invaluable when your home setup changes or expands with new features that deserve added protection.

Key Benefits When Updating Your Home:

• Extends coverage to new or upgraded systems and appliances.
• Keep maintenance costs predictable as your home evolves.
• Offers flexible plan options that match your updated setup.
• Helps manage the upkeep of high-value installations or add-ons.
• Let you adjust coverage anytime without waiting for renewal periods.

How Long After Buying a Home Can You Get a Home Warranty?

You can buy a warranty at any time after purchasing your home, but the timing can impact how soon your coverage begins. Many homeowners choose to enroll right after closing or once their builder’s warranty ends to avoid gaps in protection.

Most providers have a short waiting period, typically between 30 and 90 days, before coverage becomes active. Some may also request a home inspection, especially for older properties or existing issues. Buying a plan before high-usage seasons or warranty expirations ensures continuous coverage and helps you plan repairs more confidently.

Home Inspections to Complete Before Buying a Warranty

Before purchasing a home appliance warranty, it’s a good idea to schedule a thorough home inspection. This helps identify existing issues that might not be covered, as most home warranties exclude pre-existing conditions.

An inspection also gives you a clear picture of your home’s current condition, helping you decide which systems or appliances need coverage and which might need repairs first.

Why is this important?

• Avoid coverage disputes: An inspection report documents the home’s condition before the warranty starts.
• Save on future costs: Fixing issues before they occur prevents surprise repair bills.
• Plan your coverage: Know which systems need immediate attention and which are in good shape.

What to inspect before buying a warranty:

• Roof and exterior for leaks or wear
• Plumbing for leaks, pressure, and drainage
• Electrical systems for safety and functionality
• HVAC for consistent performance
• Interior surfaces and built-in fixtures
• Major appliances for proper operation
• Attic for insulation, moisture, or air leaks

How Soon Can You Start Using Your Home Warranty?

You can purchase a warranty at any time, but coverage usually begins after a short waiting period. With Select Home Warranty, most plans include a 30-day waiting period before claim service requests can be submitted. This helps ensure that covered items are in proper working condition when the plan begins.

Key Takeaways for Homeowners

• Knowing when you can buy a home warranty helps you plan coverage that fits your needs and budget.
• Home warranties help manage repair costs for systems and appliances that wear out over time.
• You can purchase a plan at any stage, before closing, after moving in, or later in homeownership.
• Your home warranty coverage begins after a short waiting period, typically 30 days.
• A home inspection before purchase helps spot issues and avoid coverage exclusions.
• The right timing ensures your home stays protected without unexpected repair costs.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide guidance on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.

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