They Do What They Say They’ll Do
Pat McGinnis is no stranger to the home warranty industry. As a real estate agent for Douglas & Cannon Real Estate out of Chapin, SC, with over 31 years’ experience, Pat has been on both sides of the coin—recommending one warranty or another to her clients, as well as choosing one for herself. “We’ve used a lot of different warranty companies,” Pat said, and due to a recent experience, she will only be recommending one particular company from now on: America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW).
When Pat and her husband recently purchased their home, Pat made sure the seller included a home warranty with the listing, “because the house was over 20 years old,” she said. Within a month of moving in, they noticed a leak under one of their sinks.
“Plumbing is not my husband’s forte,” Pat joked, “and I encourage him not to try things like that. I have my favorite plumber out here who I can call almost any time for me or my clients.”
Then Pat remembered their home warranty and went to review it again, to see if her leak might be covered. “I had no inclination that they would replace the faucet, but I read the fine print again, and it said I had some allowance,” she said. She called and filed a claim, and the plumber called APHW back on his cellphone a little bit later, after he had assessed the situation.
“He explained what it was to them, then handed his phone to me with a very, very nice lady,” Pat said. “She asked if I could hold for a minute, and she came back very quickly with an answer.”
APHW was able to assist Pat with a healthy amount of the payment she would need to cover the plumber’s fees and the purchase of a new faucet. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Yes! Go ahead!’,” Pat said, pleased with the help. Beyond that, the customer service representative advised Pat that she could expect her payment to arrive within about a week. Pat held off on reviewing APHW online until it arrived. “I wanted to see if they did what they said they would, and doggone it, they did!” she exclaimed.
Pat’s Google review of APHW was glowing, revealing her experience with prompt, friendly service and an easy claim process. “They’re the only company I will be suggesting to my clients from now on,” Pat said. “And on my other house that we moved out of, which will be listed in the next week or so, I’m going to encourage my husband to go ahead and get a warranty on that too, because it’s so awesome.”
Choice Is Where It’s At
When you think about real estate agents, you tend to think of them as business entities, far above and beyond simple things like a leaky pipe. But Cardinal Realty Group LLC Realtor Janie Baylis out of Prattville, Alabama, would disagree—she’s had several household leaks, and several experiences in dealing with them for the better… or the worse.
Janie’s most recent experience involved a plumbing issue with her shower, the only one in her household. Her career in real estate had led Janie to obtain a home warranty from America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW), for one particular reason: It came with the ability to choose her own contractor.
“I have a local plumbing company that I prefer to use,” Janie said.
A past claim with a different home warranty company had taught Janie exactly how much that choice was worth. “Years ago, I had a warranty where I couldn’t choose my own contractor. My air conditioner was going out and I had to go with a local company.”
After the first contractor visit had left her dissatisfied, Janie’s warranty company had sent another, but he wasn’t any better. “He replaced an air exchanger, but didn’t put the drain pan under it,” she said, adding that she had advised the contractor of its regulatory requirements. “Between the time he installed it and brought back the drain pan, the drain had backed up and leaked through the ceiling into my bedroom and onto my floor.”
Now Janie takes advantage of her option to choose, even going so far as to select a contractor that quotes her a higher price. “I know they cost a little bit more, but I’ve always felt like their experience is worth it,” she said, adding that she knows the job will get done right the first time. “They have an excellent reputation, and I know this company only hires the best.”
Janie always makes sure her clients understand what they’re getting when she recommends adding an APHW home warranty to their home sales or purchases. “We need to educate our clients,” she said, adding that it helps foster realistic expectations. “They have to understand that they’ll need claim approval before the work is done, and that if the repair or replacement cost is higher than the coverage, that they’ll have to cover the rest. But you get a choice,” Janie said, “And to me, that’s worth it!”
These days, APHW is the only company Janie refers to clients and colleagues. “I like what America’s Preferred Home Warranty has to offer,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed helping clients with their warranty, and I’ve enjoyed using it myself. I tell other Realtors® all the time—APHW is my choice.”