Steve Douglas, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Oro Valley, Ariz., has been a REALTOR® for close to 15 years.
One of the ways he ensures his clients are satisfied throughout the real estate transaction—and beyond—is by connecting them with American Home Shield (AHS®) .
With over 40 years of industry-leading expertise, AHS’ home warranty plans not only go a long way toward streamlining the transaction, they also take the unexpected expense out of home repairs.
“I started using AHS around 2002,” says Douglas. “I’ve tried other a couple of times because of specials they were running, but I like AHS best because of the support they offer in case there’s ever a problem.”
In addition to utilizing AHS’ home warranties on his listings to protect buyers, Douglas also believes that they’re just as important for sellers to possess during the sales process.
“I write AHS home warranties in on almost all of my listings,” says Douglas, who goes on to explain that 95 percent of his sellers—and 90 percent of his buyers—take advantage of AHS coverage. “I always attempt to negotiate a home warranty into the purchase contract,” adds Douglas. “If the seller won’t pay for it, the fallback is a 50/50 split. If they still won’t do it, I recommend that the buyer pay for it out of pocket.”
And Douglas can point to many instances over the years when AHS has saved the day for his clients. From servicing an air conditioner that wasn’t operating at its highest level to replacing a faulty water heater and fixing a trash compactor, AHS’ comprehensive coverage is a boon in today’s market.
Douglas has also found success with the AHS Appliance Discount program, which several of his clients have utilized to save money when buying new appliances at retail.
The program allows AHS home warranty customers to purchase quality, brand name appliances at significant discounts. Not only is this a great way for sellers to enhance their showings with better appliances, but it also allows buyers to save on remodeling costs upon moving into a new space.
“My clients have used the AHS Appliance Discount program a handful of times, and it’s been very successful,” says Douglas. “In fact, I recently had a client who wanted to change his washer because it was on its way out. He was able to use the program to purchase a much higher-quality machine than he had—at a discount.”
It’s no wonder that Douglas is such a strong advocate for AHS, advising everyone he works alongside to follow his lead and add coverage for each and every client.
For more information, visit www.ahs.com/realestate.
