Protect your home, lifestyle with home warranty

Staying in your home as you age doesn't have to be intimidating or worrisome when you take the steps to make sure any help you might need is covered. Realtor Mark Hite of Keller Williams shares how something as simple as a home warranty can ensure you're living the life you want without the worry.

"As we age, there's some things that are just a big liability on our homes," he explained. "From repairs that need to be made on heating and air units to unexpected expenses that you may not have planned on major appliances or systems, a warranty can cover the services you need."

Hite went on to say that when home owners purchase a home warranty, they can address things like leaking water heaters, failures of systems including plumbing and electrical and have writers added to help with other day-to-day or month-to-month expenses like managing a pool all for an annual or monthly payment.

"All you have to do from that point is call on the warranty, and a licensed contractor or electrician or whatever you need is sent out to begin the work for you," Hite said, nothing that deductibles on most plans range from $75-$100.

Reasons for home warranties are many from covering the lifespan of major appliances to insurance on home systems like heating and air or plumbing. For many seniors, it may have been 20 or more years since they've had a provider like a plumber out to their home, so it's nice to have a warranty from a company that get a qualified, licensed professional out to you with one phone call.

Along the lines of guarding the longevity of your appliances, if you're not already aware of what they typically are, here's a quick list of how long the biggest ones last on average:

{C} Water Heaters – 10 – 11 Years

{C} Washing Machines – 5 – 15 Years

{C} Refrigerators – 9 – 13 Years

{C} Microwave Ovens – 9 Years

{C} Electric Ranges – 13 – 15 Years

{C} Gas Ranges – 15 – 17 Years

{C} Gas Ovens – 10 – 18 Years

{C} Dryers – 13 Years

{C} Dishwashers – 9 Years

{C} Food Disposal Units – 12 Years

{C} Compactors – 6 Years

{C} Freezers – 10 – 20 Years

For those who are currently looking to sell their home in an effort to downsize, Hite is offering any home that's listed with him from now to May 31 a free one-year home warranty.

"And if you list it with me, and the home needs any work or service done during the listing period, you as the seller can also use the warranty," he added. "Plus potential buyers can buy with confidence and feel good knowing that the warranty is good for one year after the purchase."

Furthermore, if the goal is living more independently and redoing an existing space for an extended stay or getting ready to downsize, the Mark Hite team offers a vast range of services to help seniors get to their next stage in life with as much ease as possible. From interior designers to estate sales, his team can do it all.

"We have a number of referrals at our side from interior designers to estate sale companies," Hite noted. "We have a whole team that's built around the buying and selling process, and we'll help about 600 families this year, so we've got our boots on the ground in terms of experience."

To learn more about home warranties and the protection and peace they can offer, contact Mark Hite at 423-664-1900 and schedule an appointment today.

Noteworthy:

"From repairs that need to be made on heating and air units to unexpected expenses that you may not have planned on major appliances or systems, a warranty can cover the services you need." - Mark Hite