Home Warranty Archives | Page 3 of 4

APHW’s Tech Updates Allow Staff to be Safe at Home

Posted on May 7, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Donna was uniquely set to work from home as a Virtual Sales Manager due to recent updates at America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW). “It’s just one of the many reasons why I love working for APHW,” she said. But things weren’t always that way.

In a typical workday, Donna calls real estate agents to set up trainings, conducts trainings and webinars, and supports an ongoing online training and real estate agent support system. “We’re reaching more people as we go along,” she said. “I might see one agent in a given day, or a few hundred. It’s all to continue getting the word out about APHW, and I love it.”

The company supplied Donna with everything she’d need to work from home during this difficult time, but this was largely possible due to recent updates to APHW’s systems—particularly their new cloud-based NetSuite. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this with our previous system,” she said. “We were prepared, and that reminds us that we’re not in this alone: We are a team, and we’re a family.”

With the nation under a stay-at-home lockdown for the most part, Donna feels fortunate to be able to continue working from home. “I love that I can continue helping real estate agents to build skills and knowledge, to ultimately better help their clients.”

Call us today at 800.648.5006 or visit APHW.COM for more information!

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America's Preferred Home Warranty, Furnace Filters, Home Maintenance, Contractor Advice

Contractor Cornerstones: Filters & Finances

Posted on May 4, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Getting ready to switch out your furnace filter for the year? It might be time to consider what kinds of filters you could replace it with.

According to Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning President Todd Desy, the primary difference between one filter or another is how efficiently it will remove particles from your indoor air.

“They rate from 1-inch throwaways that just protect the furnace itself (the blower), on up to higher efficiency air cleaners that will actually filter and improve the air quality in your home,” Todd said.

While the minimum filter is cheaper up front, it only truly blocks larger debris (like pet fur or hair) from your HVAC system, allowing smaller particles of dust, mold spores, and other potentially harmful bits to pass through.

Switching from the basic filter to a higher efficiency filter also keeps your furnace cleaner, increasing its lifespan and saving you money in the long run. Though it’s important to ensure you’re not using a filter that’s too strongly woven (which can make your furnace work harder to bring air through). Check out this detailed list with Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Filters.*

Regardless of which efficiency level you choose, make sure to select the correct size and shape of filter to fit well in your particular furnace. “The minimum would be a basic mechanical air cleaner that has to be replaced once a year,” Todd said.

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with HVAC.com in any capacity.

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Because That’s Just What We Do

Posted on April 9, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Have you ever avoided salespeople? I don’t appreciate a forceful sales pitch either… but not all salespeople are like that. Definitely not Suzann Blades—as far as she’s concerned, friendship is far more important.

“I truly do care about every one of the real estate agents I work with,” said the America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) Area Sales Manager. “If you give me business, I appreciate it, but I reach out because I sincerely want to know how you are doing.”

Times Are Hard

Like everyone else, social distancing dramatically changed Suzann’s routine. Her typical day used to involve visiting agencies, meeting real estate agents for coffee or trainings, or delivering updates about their clients’ home warranty experiences. Now finding new ways to make and continue those connections without actually being around people—but this isn’t really new to her.

“We’re used to dealing with various disasters in Louisiana,” Suzann said, indicating events like Hurricane Katrina. “We mobilize and get things done, and we check on each other because that’s just what we do: We care. Now we’re all working together to come up with a different way of doing business.”

Honesty Helps

This straightforward integrity and caring attitude have earned Suzann loyalty within the real estate community over the years. “I’ve had agents go out of their way to stand up for me when I’m not even in the room,” she said. “They know that no matter when they call, I’m going to pick up and I’m going to do what I can to help.”

And Suzann has a message, both for real estate agents and everyone else: “As strong Americans, we will get through this,” she said. “This is a time to reflect, but we will make it through this gauntlet and rise above it.”

Louisiana real estate agents can get in touch with Suzann at 225.400.7447 or [email protected].

Call 800.648.5006 today to find your state’s area sales manager, or visit APHW.COM for more information.

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America's Preferred Home Warranty Receives NHSCA Accreditation

APHW Achieves NHSCA Accreditation

Posted on March 16, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

The National Home Service Contract Administration (NHSCA) officially accredited America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) Tuesday, March 10, recognizing their full compliance with a recently created, nationwide standard for home warranty companies.

“This gives consumers and real estate agents added confidence to know they’re doing business with a reputable company,” said APHW CEO Rodney Martin. “And we’re very excited to receive this important designation!”

The NHSCA shared their thoughts in a blog post last September, regarding the new accreditation:

“The award of the NHSCA accreditation logo demonstrates to consumers and the industry our membership’s commitment to proper regulation and compliance,” says John Walsh, General Counsel for NHSCA member Cinch Home Services, Inc., based in Florida. Walsh, also the NHSCA Treasurer/Secretary, added, “NHSCA membership is what REALTORS® look for when recommending a home warranty provider. This program is just another step forward to assure regulators and consumers [that] we take our responsibility seriously to meet their expectations.”

But then, APHW leadership have always worked to ensure that homeowners come first. “We pay attention to the details,” Rodney said. “Honesty and integrity are part of our core values. Doing it right matters.”

Call 800.648.5006 or visit APHW.COM for more information today!

Home Warranty, America's Preferred Home Warranty, Smoke Detectors

Don’t Become a Statistic: Maintain Your Smoke Alarms

Posted on March 6, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Homeowners love to hate the chirp that smoke detectors emit when the batteries get low. We know these alarms can and do save lives, so we all enjoy the joke—until it isn’t funny anymore. One study found that three out of every five home fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.*Don’t become part of that statistic: Make sure your smoke alarms are working with these tips.

Dual Duty & Destinations

Did you know there are combination smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors? Save some ceiling space by installing one life-saving device that detects both. Install at least one on every floor of your home, preferably adding one to each bedroom as well.

Give it Room to Breath

Did you know that corners where walls or ceilings come together create air pockets that can press smoke away? This prevents your alarm from sensing it. Install your Smoke Detectors at least 4 inches away from any cornered area. The best location is in the center of flat ceilings, or at least 4 inches from the cross section of a peaked one. If you must place your detector on a wall, make sure it is at least 4 inches from the ceiling to avoid the air pocket.

Maintenance Moments

Just remember this sequence: 1-2-10. Test your smoke detectors every month (1), change the batteries twice a year (2)—even if they aren’t chirping—and replace the detectors every 10 years.

A handy rule of thumb is to change the batteries when Daylight Saving Time rolls around—Today! Isn’t that convenient?—so it’s easy to remember when you changed them last. This is also a good time to vacuum away any excess dust that has built up, which can hinder detection. Lastly, if you’re painting the wall or ceiling your detector is installed on, DO NOT paint the detector with it—the paint will block its sensors and render it useless.

Be safe, and don’t forget to Spring Forward your clocks!

^{*National Fire Protection Association; Based on a study conducted from 2009-2013;}^www.nfpa.org

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America's Preferred Home Warranty Recognized in Top 100 Companies Driving Innovation in Real Estate

Housingwire.com Recognizes APHW In 2020 Tech100 Real Estate List

Posted on March 3, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

HousingWire.com awarded America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) a spot in their 2020 HW Tech100, a list of the top 100 companies driving innovation in the real estate industry. The award, announced on Monday, March 2, reflects APHW’s development and successful implementation of their free Real-Pro® app to real estate agents nationwide.

And We’re Stoked!

“We are proud to be featured alongside some true giants in innovation for the real estate industry,” said APHW Senior Vice President of Sales Brendan Morgan. “We always strive to act as partners with brokers, REALTORS® and agents across the nation, and our Real-Pro® mobile app is a huge part of that. It provides them with easy access to all the home warranty documentation and information they need at the tap of an icon, helping them take even better care of their homeowners.”

The Benefits

Agents can order APHW home warranties through Real-Pro® at any time day or night, immediately print the confirmation, and email documentation wherever they need to. The app gives them control over the whole process, while also providing a convenient portal for tracking home warranties across multiple clients with different closing dates. The majority of APHW’s real estate home warranty purchases are now sold through Real-Pro®, with thousands of agents using it every day.

APHW developed Real-Pro® in order to save valuable time for real estate agents. “Real-Pro® lets agents quickly order and manage their warranties, as well as send documents,” said APHW Vice President of Operations Mike Sadler. “It was created with the assistance of plenty of agents’ feedback and suggestions during the creation and testing phases, and we are currently reviewing feedback and user cases to develop enhancements in the future.”

“We are beyond honored with this recognition,” Brendan said. “And we will continue to seek new innovations in the years to come.”

Intrigued?

Call 800.648.5006 today for more information on America’s Preferred Home Warranty, or 855.806.6678 for Real-Pro® app assistance.

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Home Warranty, Home Warranties, APHW, Home Maintenance, Furnace Filters

Contractor Cornerstones: Replace Your Furnace Filter

Posted on February 12, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Hey there! So, we want you to have useful information about maintaining your home systems and appliances, but we also want that information to be fresh! So we’ve started interviewing the experts: The contractors you hire, know, and trust!

To that end, I am pleased to introduce our “Contractor Cornerstones” series, with information straight from the horse’s mouth (so to speak).

Expert Advice

This week we spoke with Service Manager Andy Miller of Jackson, Michigan’s Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., asking what he thought was the most important thing homeowners should be doing at this time of year.

“Changing the furnace filter is number one,” Andy said. “A blocked filter restricts the airflow to the furnace, which can cause it to be far less efficient or even lead to malfunctions. It can drastically affect your electric bill, and if it gets too bad, it can overheat your furnace, leading to a service call.”

Save Money, Change Your Filter

Those service calls typically amount to more than $100, according to Andy, so changing your filter can help save you money as well. Here is a quick rundown of the steps Andy suggested for replacing your furnace filter:

Turn the power off to the furnace.
You should see the filter on the return side of your furnace (1 inch or 4 inches thick). There may be a door, or sometimes there’s just a slot in the top of the ductwork.
Pull out the filter and put in a new one of the same size. The arrow on the filter should point toward the furnace.
Restore power, and you’re good to go!

Don’t Forget the Vents!

Andy also strongly recommended clearing snow and any other blockages away from the vents on the outside walls of your home. “The snow blocks your intake, which prevents the furnace from coming on,” he said. “That’s another easily preventable $100+ service call.”

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Home Warranty Day, National Home Warranty Day, Home Warranties

National Home Warranty Day 2020

Posted on February 10, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

Enjoy LIVING in your home without worrying about unexpected expenses. Call us today at 888.351.3681 or visit APHW.COM for more information.

Home Warranty, America's Preferred Home Warranty, Trash Compactor Maintenance

What’s That Smell? Oh…

Posted on January 8, 2020 | by Clive Gillett

While not as common today, some households still use a trash compactor to minimize the size of waste. Unfortunately, that convenience comes with a side effect: A small, dark compartment perfect for growing smelly bacteria from garbage residue.

Suffice it to say that regular cleaning is necessary. But how do you clean and maintain this mechanical wonder? You certainly don’t want to minimize the size of your fingers!

Check out “How to Keep Your Trash Compactor from Biting the Dust” on DocsApplianceService.com* to learn more about this compacting appliance and how you can keep it going for years to come.

Visit our blog for more tips and tricks to maintain your household appliances and home systems!

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with DocsApplianceService.com in any capacity.

What is a Home Warranty? Let’s Talk.

Posted on December 5, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

First Things First

Home warranties and homeowners’ insurance are two different things.

Homeowners’ insurance is essentially hazard insurance—it covers damages to your property as a result of external forces (i.e., flooding, fire, etc.). A home warranty, on the other hand, is a service contract—it offers coverage for failures of your major home systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear.

Neither replaces the other, but they can work well together.

Know Your Warranty

It is vital that you thoroughly read and understand the details of your home warranty contract. Reading the terms and conditions will provide crucial information to your decision-making process, creating a better understanding of what to expect from your coverage, and helping you to avoid unmet expectations.

Why APHW?

America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) allows homeowners to Choose Their Own Licensed Contractor. This provides the homeowner with:

An unbiased, third-party assessment of the covered item’s failure,
The ability to choose someone they know and trust to allow into their homes, and
The freedom to schedule their contractor at THEIR convenience.

APHW also provides a 3-step easy claims process with 24/7/365 person-to-person service. Whenever you need us, we are here to help.

Call 888.351.3681 for more information.

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