America’s Preferred Home Warranty owner Randy Caltrider shows his appreciation of his employees each year with an annual Family Fest, this year inviting them and their family members to enjoy a day at Cedar Point.
Tag: Home Warranty
Balancing Your Budget? Go Month-to-Month
If you’ve ever had to use a home warranty, you probably get why it’s convenient to have one—help with unexpected expenses is handy. But who has the extra few hundred dollars lying around for another year of coverage? Ah, but did you know America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) also offers a monthly option for new consumers and returning customers?
“We understand that people don’t usually have a big sum of money up front, and other bills to pay besides, but would like the security of coverage,” said Bill Bear, Vice President of Consumer Marketing & Business Insights for APHW. “We offer monthly plans to provide an affordable option to our customers and make it easier to budget.”
There’s also no need for concern about paying more for the convenience. “There are no additional fees for the monthly plans,” Bill said. “It’s the same price as our annual coverage packages, just broken up into monthly payments—and you can cancel at any time.”
Consumer Sales Representative Jared Sexton reaches out to existing customers nearing the end of their contracts, to ensure they know about these options. “A lot of times they’ll actually have issues we could cover and might have forgotten they had the warranty from when they bought their home,” Jared said. “We get them over to customer service to get things taken care of, and it really helps a lot of people out!”
The majority of renewal warranties for APHW are on a month-to-month basis, according to Bill. “It’s very popular!” he said.
For more information about our consumer home warranty or our payment options, call 1.855.519.1495 or email [email protected]. Our consumer sales representatives are available and glad to help.
We Did It! APHW Achieves 2019 Fundraising Goal
Team APHW officially met and surpassed their Relay for Life fundraising goal of $20,000 Wednesday! With more than a month to go before the main event, we’re excited to see what new heights we can achieve!
Relay for Life Team APHW members pictured left to right: VP of Operations Mike, Nicholle (Secretary), Cara (Captain), Hannah, Donna (Treasurer), Patty (Co-Captain), and VP of Accounting Terri.
Join our fight and visit the #APHW tent at the #RelayForLife of Jackson County event Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 3rd at Cascades Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan. You can also help the cause by making a donation here: https://lnkd.in/eHBQTkx. To donate to APHW’s team total, click on the Donate button and search for America’s Preferred Home Warranty. #AmericanCancerSociety #HisStrengthGuidesOurSteps #Fundraising
Avoid the Arctic – Maintain Your Water Heater
I once had the unfortunate circumstance of showering with cold water. I’m talking COLD. Not room temperature, not slightly chilly—cold. Zero heat. Suffice it to say, that was the fastest shower I have ever taken. I will never suffer through it again if I can help it, and regularly maintaining your home’s water heater is the best way to avoid ever having to yourself.
Hot water is useful in many other ways too, of course—sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines, to name a few. But even if icy water isn’t enough to persuade you, consider this: It is a LOT more expensive to replace a hot water heater than it is to maintain it, and a poorly maintained one will also increase your energy bills. Save yourself some cash and take notes.
Options on the Market
There are two main types of hot water heater: Storage Tank and Tankless.*
- Whether gas or electric, Storage Tank Water Heaters have the lowest price up front for purchase and installation, but have higher monthly energy costs because they have to constantly keep a steady supply of heated water. When considering what size to get, take the number of people in your household and multiply it by at least 10 gallons per person (taking other water usage into account of course, such as shower length and number of washer loads).
- Tankless Water Heaters are more popular nowadays. They offer lower monthly energy bills (because they heat the water on-demand instead of keeping a supply warm). They also offer higher efficiency and compact size, but they are more expensive to purchase and have installed for these same reasons.
Maintenance Tips
Generally, maintenance of either option includes regular flushing of the systems to remove sediment, as well as visual inspections for leaks and other wear and tear. Check out these tips for maintaining your Tankless Water Heater* or your Storage Tank Water Heater* to keep your water heater running its best for the longest possible time—and avoid those cold showers!
*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with
Water Heater Hub, This Old House, or Green Living Ideas in any capacity.
Getting Zapped in Winter? Maintain Your Humidifier Now
Every winter in the Midwest, I’m utterly shocked—by static electricity. While this clues me in to go look at my furnace humidifier, you can avoid these sparking revelations with a little upkeep before, during, and after heating season—especially in the Spring. Your semi-glowing pets will thank you.
Your furnace-mounted humidifier maintains your home’s humidity at a comfortable level. There are two common styles of humidifier: Reservoir and Flow-through.
- The reservoir style has a tank with standing water. A sponge-like pad moves through it and circles up into the furnace heat. While this is a less expensive option, bacteria can build up in the water and it will require more frequent cleanings.
- A flow-through humidifier has a constant drip of water to supply the humidity in the air. This more expensive option prevents the bacteria build-up and requires less maintenance.
As with any appliance, normal use will cause wear and tear over time. Cleaning and maintaining your humidifier are the best ways to ensure it will last and be effective for as long as possible. Check out these tips* to help you get the most out of yours!
Have tips of your own? Comment on the story on our Facebook page!
*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Mr. Hardware in any capacity.
Relay for Life Team APHW 2019 Update
APHW has been involved with RelayForLife for years, and this year is no different. Check out how our goals have changed, what we’ve been doing, and where we’re hoping to end up in the fight against cancer. Join our fight and visit us at the APHW tent at the Relay for Life of Jackson County event Friday, August 2nd at Cascades Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan! You can also help our cause by making a donation here: https://lnkd.in/eHBQTkx To donate to APHW’s team total, click on the Donate button and search for America’s Preferred Home Warranty. AmericanCancerSociety HisStrengthGuidesOurSteps Fundraising
We’ve Got Goosebumps! CSRs Trained in ‘Chill’
With A/C season right around the corner, America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) wanted to ensure easy communication between contractors and their customer service representatives (CSRs). Enter Andy Miller, a service manager for Lammers Heating & Cooling in Jackson, Michigan, to train them in ‘chill.’
“APHW hired me to teach a refresher course on air conditioning components, equipment, and general knowledge,” Andy said. He displayed the common parts and components of an air conditioner to the CSRs, explaining how and why they might fail, and the causes behind it.
“It’s different when you can touch and see the equipment—when you can discuss it with a professional—than it is just to Google the part,” said Rusty Reynolds, the Call Center Operations Manager at APHW. “The development of our people is critical. When you know your job inside and out, it makes you more efficient and less stressed at the end of the day.”
Andy visited the company once before as well, covering furnace parts and components. “This sort of training is very proactive,” he said. “It helps their CSRs know what contractors are talking about over the phone—now they can picture the parts being discussed.”
The employees showed plenty of interest in the sessions, engaging with the technician. “They asked a lot of questions both times, even some questions I wasn’t expecting,” Andy said, adding that he’s pleased to see APHW pushing the education. “We deal with a lot of other home warranty companies that know nothing about what we’re talking about, and it’s like pulling teeth,” he said. “Giving them an idea of what we’re telling them helps us out.”
“Being able to support the industry with knowledgeable people is great for everybody,” Rusty said, adding that APHW’s employee development program will host more of this type of training in the future. “It feels good that we can do this as a company—it’s a win for everyone.”
Furnace Technician Trains APHW CSRs
When your contractor tries to explain what caused your furnace to fail, what does it sound like? Technical jargon? Straight-up gibberish?
Try as they might, some things just can’t be easily translated into layperson. The good news, though, is that your America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) customer service representatives (CSR) will have a pretty good idea what your furnace technician is describing—APHW brought one in last week to train them in person.
“APHW wanted to make their CSRs more familiar with what they hear about on the phone,” said Andy Miller, a service manager for Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning in Jackson, Michigan, adding that this knowledge will help streamline the claim process for customers. “It simplifies everything. Now when we say something like ‘igniter,’ they can visualize it and move things along faster.”
Andy came with more than 14 years of experience in the field. He reviewed all the inner workings of standard (and not-so-standard) household furnaces with the CSRs, encouraging them to ask questions along the way. He also covered common malfunctions and proper furnace maintenance.
Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning has worked through APHW’s claim process with their own customers many times before, and Andy was quick to express appreciation for the company. “I feel like they’re above par, because they train their employees, the claim process is streamlined, and because their billing and payments are prompt.”
He was also encouraged by the attentiveness of the classes he taught. “They asked a lot of good questions that I wasn’t even expecting,” Andy said. “They were very responsive.”
Andy wanted to thank APHW for asking him to visit and educate their CSRs. “Thank you for the opportunity,” he said. “I’m glad I could help them work more easily with contractors and smooth out the process.”
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What is a Home Warranty? Let’s Talk.
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.
APHW Welcomes HS Student for Job Shadow
Breonna Binschus, a junior at Columbia Central High School in Brooklyn, Michigan, visited America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) Thursday, April 19, to spend the day job shadowing with the Marketing Department. Her visit was coordinated through Salida San Miguel, the program coordinator for Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, and the 2018 Spring Job Shadow Program.
While Breonna was skeptical at how interesting a home warranty company would be, she dressed to impress and arrived with a smile. “At first, I was like… a warranty company?” she remembered with a laugh. “Then I realized it has its own marketing department, and everyone in it does a different job.”
Her day started with a tour of the building, led by Marketing Manager Jeff Fett. Jeff told Breonna all about the history of APHW while he showed her around, including his development of their logo and brand over the years. “It was so much better than I expected,” Breonna said. “I really liked it!”
Next up was Marketing Systems Coordinator Heidi Vickers, who laid out the logistics side of APHW’s marketing program. Heidi was followed up by Copywriter Cara Baker, then Social Media Manager Dave Parham, and finally back to Jeff for a review of APHW’s printed marketing materials. The day culminated in a lunch discussing what she had learned.
Breonna was inquisitive throughout the day, asking questions about projects the Marketing Department had done in the past, how long they took, and how they were broken up into tasks. She already had quite a bit of marketing know-how from classes at the Jackson Area Career Center and through promotional projects for the school store, but her visit to APHW was still an eye-opening event. “I’ve learned a lot,” Breonna said. “Marketing is definitely something I want to get in to.”
She has dreams of starting off at Jackson College when she graduates high school, and from there the sky is the limit. She’s also interested in potentially coming back to APHW for an internship in the future. For now, however, Breonna is content to learn more about marketing from her favorite teacher, Andrew Haltom. “He’s taught me everything I know,” she said.