Providing an Added Level of Comfort Among Buyers and Sellers Alike

HSA^SM Home Warranty Paves the Way to Real Estate Success

Kathy Connelly, senior vice president of Corporate Services at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, has more than 30 years in the real estate industry and has developed a broad and diverse range of experience running relocation to business operations.

Since joining Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties in 1994, Connelly has been instrumental in the award-winning company’s growth. Today, the firm has 24 locations serving the entire Metro Atlanta area, from North Georgia to Griffin and everywhere in between.

Introduced through industry events and word-of-mouth recommendations from other industry professionals, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties began working with HSA Home Warranty in 2009.

“The success of any relationship requires alignment of goals, as well as mutual trust and accountability, and the dedicated HSA team we work with locally is the primary key to our success,” says Connelly, who explains that being able to share HSA’s warranty products with their clients immediately enhanced the overall customer service experience for buyers and sellers alike.

Actively engaged in working with the firm’s associates and management team, HSA’s local account reps are visible in the brokerage’s offices, and available for consultation and support. Further, Connelly notes that her associates know they can count on HSA to deliver on their service commitment.

But the biggest thing HSA provides is an added level of comfort.

“Our sellers know that major components of the home will be covered during the listing period,” says Connelly, “while buyers know that our coverage helps to protect them against unexpected costs should something go wrong after closing. When people are making such a large investment, it provides a level of comfort in knowing they can better manage unexpected costs.”

Since no one can predict when something in a newly-purchased home may malfunction, an HSA Home Warranty provides an added layer of protection for the seller during the listing period, and after closing for the buyer. Should something go wrong, the parties in any given transaction know they have a home warranty from a reputable company that will help protect against unexpected covered costs.

In today’s market, after coming through a cycle of foreclosures and short sales, this couldn’t be more vital.

“When we take a listing, we’re marketing a property where we’re relying on the current seller’s report of condition with no firsthand knowledge of how the property has been maintained previously,” says Connelly. “Even with proper maintenance and under the best of circumstances, components of the home can still malfunction.”

In this particular instance, having a home warranty will go a long way toward helping to prevent unexpected surprises for the buyer, as well as helping to reduce risk for the seller during the listing period and post-closing.

Working closely with Fran Stiakakis, Tammy Dale, Evyn Jackson and Monique Guerrero—her local account reps—is an additional benefit of the longstanding relationship.

“They provide educational opportunities, marketing materials, responsive service, agent support and availability in the branch offices and at our company events,” concludes Connelly. “They’ve become part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties family.” 

For more information, please visit www.onlinehsa.com. 

Jameson Doris is RISMedia’s blog and social media editor. Email him your real estate blog ideas at jdoris@rismedia.com.