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Handling the Holidays: Part II of III

Posted on November 29, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

You’ve made it through Thanksgiving, and hopefully gotten a head start on the rest of the year! Here are a few more checklist items for you, to keep you on track.

Dec. 1 – 8

Gifts En Masse – You’ve got neighbors, coworkers, associates… so many people, so little money. This is where buying gifts in bulk, like holiday cookies or boxes of candles, can come in really handy! It shows you’re thinking of them, without breaking the bank. Throw a bow on top, and you’ve even saved yourself some extensive wrapping!

Menu Planning – This helps to organize what you have vs. what you need to get, as well as what can be cooked the night before vs. what needs to be made that day. Did you know most potato dishes can be made a day early?

Review Your Décor – Every year there’s something broken or missing hooks to go buy. Save yourself some grief and look through your decorations now, so when the time comes to put them up, you’re ready and don’t have a last-minute trip to make in the blinding snowstorm that inevitably happens.

Dec. 9 – 15

Clean (part of your) House – You’ve got a lot of house if you’re throwing a party, so you might as well break down the cleaning schedule into manageable tasks. Clean the less-used rooms in this go-around, such as guest rooms, to get started.

Distribute the Décor – Did you know that live greenery lasts longer outside than in? You can put it up earlier and it will still look beautiful at your holiday party. Don’t forget to doublecheck your electrical connections for safety! Go ahead and do your indoor decorations too, though you may want to put any indoor live greenery out closer to your event.

Finish Your Philanthropy – AKA, finish up your gift shopping and get the rest of those presents wrapped. You have enough to do with food and place settings the day of your event without having to worry about last minute wrapping, which just makes another mess to clean up. This also allows you to ship gifts early enough to arrive for Christmas, if you’re shipping them out.

Create a Playlist – Whether your event is a block party or a quiet holiday dinner with family, set the mood with the perfect playlist, so you can have it keyed up and ready to go the day of.

Don’t miss Part III of this series, coming soon, and you can also find some awesome holiday ideas on our Pinterest page. Have more useful tips? Comment on our Facebook page!

APHW Employee & Veteran Husband Volunteer for Veterans Day

Posted on November 12, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

There are more than 20 U.S. veteran suicides every day. Every day. This statistic disproportionally affects older veterans, such as those who served in the Vietnam War, who found they weren’t welcome back home.

“We were spit on, yelled at, cursed… most of us took off our uniforms and never spoke of our service again,” said Mike Jambor, a U.S. Army veteran and husband to America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) Area Sales Manager Team Leader Kathy Jambor. Veterans like Mike came home before there was help for people with PTSD. “It was very clear to me that Mike was majorly impacted by his service when he returned,” Kathy said. “Returning to civilian life was really challenging for him.”

Times Have Changed

Fast forward 20 years, and these two have found their place together—not just as part of society but as members of Band of Runners, a non-profit organization which helps veterans and their surviving family members heal through trail running.

“When we got the opportunity to enhance the lives of our returning veterans through physical and social activity, we jumped in with both feet,” Mike said.

Veteran’s Day Weekend

Kathy and Mike signed up as volunteers for the Band of Runners Annual Veterans Day Weekend Trail Running Camp, with high hopes of making a difference.

“Think of how isolating it would have been for those who came home with combat-related stress or injuries, plus the impact that had on their families,” Mike said. “The purpose of the trail camp is to introduce veterans—and surviving family members who have suffered the loss of a soldier—to the therapeutic benefits of trail running and the trail running community. It’s so welcoming and supportive, and if we save one person by connecting them to their community, those positive ripples go out forever.”

“It’s amazing what happens at these camps,” Kathy said. “It’s just a whole different level of connecting with people.”

Both Mike and Kathy have gained immeasurably from these experiences in volunteering. “Veterans are such a valuable asset to our communities and, by extension, our country,” Mike said. “These people understand service, loyalty, integrity, teamwork… we owe them an assist back into the larger community after their service.”

Veterans Crisis Line

If you or someone you know is a Veteran in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255 or text 838255. Volunteers are available 24/7 for a confidential conversation by phone or text.

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What is a Home Warranty? Let’s Talk.

Posted on October 24, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

The first thing you need to know is the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance.

Homeowners insurance is essentially hazard insurance. This covers damages to your property as a result of external forces (i.e., flooding, fire, etc.)

A home warranty, on the other hand, is not insurance but a service contract. It offers coverage for failures of your major systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear.

A home warranty is not a replacement for homeowners’ insurance, and neither is homeowners’ insurance a replacement for a home warranty—but they can work well together.

Now, why would you want a home warranty?

The answer is to potentially save you money in the long run. It can help in terms of budgeting for those times when a home’s system fails and lessen the financial burden of repair or replacement of a covered failure.

When you buy a home, there is a high likelihood that a major system or appliance will fail in the first year of home ownership. This could cost thousands in repair or replacement costs. A home warranty lessens the burden of the cost of large, unexpected repairs required when any covered systems fail due to normal wear and tear.

As with all contracts, it is vitally important that you thoroughly read and understand the details of your home warranty.

Home warranty companies generally cover most major systems and appliances. However, there are differences in base and optional coverages. Therefore it is crucial to read the contract and its terms and conditions.

Better education creates better understanding of your coverage and can help you avoid unmet expectations. If there is ever something you don’t understand, ask—there is always a customer service representative more than willing to answer your questions.

America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) has three main differentials that set us apart from other home warranty companies: Control, Security, and Easy Claims.

Homeowners are in control with America’s Preferred Home Warranty because they choose their own licensed contractor. This offers homeowners a third-party review of their failed item, as well as someone with zero contractual obligation to us—these contractors work with and for the homeowner.

APHW gives homeowners security. If a homeowner adds our warranty when listing their home for sale, they receive coverage toward repairs or replacements of covered items for the duration of the listing (no expiration date), and our ListSecure® program provides them up to 2 years of post-sale legal protection should a legal dispute occur after the sale of the listing. Payment is not due until closing, and once it is paid, the home buyer receives a Supreme Home Warranty for 1 year.

Our 3-step, easy claims process provides 24/7/365 person-to-person service.

Whenever you need us, we are here to help. All of us at America’s Preferred Home Warranty are looking forward to working with you! Please contact us at 1-800-648-5006 or visit www.APHW.com for more information.