Man, I feel this. I keep going back and forth on whether those warranties are worth it or just a money sink. Part of me thinks, what are the odds everything breaks at once? But then I hear stories like yours and it makes me second-guess skipping them. It’s such a gamble. On the other hand, sometimes I wonder if I’m just being paranoid and over-insuring everything… There’s gotta be a middle ground, right? Either way, it’s rough when stuff hits the fan so soon after moving in.
Honestly, I think a lot of people overestimate the value of those warranties. If you run the numbers, most of the time you’re paying for peace of mind, not actual savings. I’d rather set aside a reserve fund for repairs—at least then you’re not locked into a contract with exclusions and hoops to jump through. Sure, sometimes you get unlucky and everything breaks at once, but statistically, that’s rare. I’d rather self-insure and keep control over my cash flow.
I get where you’re coming from—warranties can feel like paying for a safety net you might never use. I’ve seen landlords who swear by self-insuring, especially when they’ve got a few properties and can spread out the risk. On the flip side, I’ve also watched folks get hit with a string of bad luck—HVAC goes, then a water heater, then a roof leak—and suddenly that reserve fund’s wiped out. It’s kind of like picking your poison: steady small payments or the occasional big hit. Personally, I lean toward keeping some cash on hand and only buying warranties for the really expensive stuff that would wreck my budget if it failed.
I get where you’re coming from—warranties can feel like paying for a safety net you might never use. I’ve seen landlords who swear by self-insuring, especially when they’ve got a few proper...
Honestly, I’ve been burned by skipping warranties before. Had a fridge and a furnace go out the same year—ended up costing way more than a few years of coverage.
- Agree with you on only covering the big-ticket stuff.
- Still, sometimes it feels like a gamble either way.
- “Steady small payments or the occasional big hit”—that sums it up. Tried riding it out with just a reserve fund, but my luck wasn’t great.
“Steady small payments or the occasional big hit”—that sums it up.
That line really hits home. I’m in my first year of owning, and honestly, I’m still nervous about what could break next. I went with a warranty for the HVAC and appliances—just couldn’t stomach the idea of a surprise $2k bill right now. Maybe I’ll feel different once I’ve got more saved up, but for now, paying a little each month helps me sleep better. Guess it’s just about what kind of risk you’re cool with.
