The “discount” was basically a coupon for disappointment.
That line sums it up. I swear, those “discounts” are just a fancy way of saying, “Congrats, you get to pay slightly less for something you didn’t want to buy in the first place.” I tried one of those home warranty plans when I refinanced—figured it’d be peace of mind. Instead, it was more like a scavenger hunt for loopholes. Honestly, just stashing cash in a rainy day fund has worked better for me. And yeah, sellers will act like a 12-year-old water heater is “vintage charm.”
Yeah, the whole “vintage charm” thing cracks me up—like, I’m not sure 12 years is old enough to be charming, just old enough to break down at the worst time. I actually debated getting one of those home warranties too, but after reading the fine print (and some horror stories), I bailed. Ended up just budgeting for repairs myself. It’s less stressful than waiting on hold with customer service trying to convince them my leaky faucet isn’t “pre-existing.”
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve bought a handful of places over the years and honestly, those home warranties are hit or miss. Had one cover a busted water heater once, but another time they tried to wiggle out of fixing a fridge because it was “normal wear and tear.” Ended up just setting aside a repair fund for each property. Less hassle, and you’re not at the mercy of some random claims adjuster’s mood that day. Twelve years isn’t vintage—just means you’ll probably be replacing stuff soon.
I hear you on the repair fund idea—it’s honestly less stressful than waiting for a warranty company to decide if your claim is “valid.” I’ve had mixed luck with those policies too. Sometimes I wonder if they’re more hassle than they’re worth, especially once appliances hit that 10-15 year mark. At that point, stuff just starts breaking down no matter how well you maintain it... budgeting for replacements seems smarter in the long run.
budgeting for replacements seems smarter in the long run
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a home warranty save my bacon more than once—especially with the HVAC. Yeah, claims can be a pain, but that one $4k repair made the hassle worth it for me. Guess it depends on your risk tolerance and luck with appliances.
