Real estate is an undeniably fast-paced rollercoaster of an industry. Agents and brokers need the ability to ride the ups and downs and be a problem solver all the way to the closing table in order to be successful in their business. Some of a transaction’s major hurdles may come from a faulty home system or appliance failure, and while this may cause some stress for the buyer, seller or agent, it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. Not with a reliable home warranty attached to the sale.
David Fogg, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Burbank in California, has armed his listings with home warranties through American Home Shield (AHS®) since he started selling real estate 25 years ago. As part of a mother/son team, Fogg says that 95 percent of the duo’s transactions have home warranties automatically written into the contract, and that the reaction to these included policies is always positive.
“Everybody thinks it’s a good idea. If I’m representing the buyer, I let them know that I’m going to ask the seller to pay for a one-year home warranty to protect the major systems in the property. When a seller is listing a property, I tell them that a home warranty is included in the closing costs that I’ve already quoted them. They smile, and if anything goes wrong, they contact AHS directly,” says Fogg.
Fogg says his clients have had nothing but great experiences with the warranty provider, and that having AHS as a safety net for issues that may arise enables him to focus his efforts on one of the most important facets of his job: going out and securing more listings without being bogged down.
“I think it’s added value to whomever you’re representing,” he says. “I think the buyers in our area expect the seller to provide a home warranty, and I will always coach my sellers, in advance, to do just that. Not only are buyers expecting it, but it’s to the seller’s advantage to provide the home warranty as well.”
With the invaluable protection that a home warranty provides, buyers, sellers and their agents can rest assured that the home is in good hands. Not only is there inherent relief from financial responsibility for all parties should something go awry, but the bonus of having an already instated home warranty plan after the sale is irreplaceable for the buyer.
“As a local agent, I’ve been pleased with AHS,” says Fogg, “so anytime I have an opportunity to tell people how great Janet Dubrasky and the team at AHS are, I do.”
For more information, visit www.ahs.com/realestate.
