07.17.2001 :: Real Estate News
Using a Home Warranty to Market Your Home
by Dennis Polyniak

Well this months news is going to be a little different. It is time to explore the ways to sell a home faster in a slow market. One thing that is often overlooked is using the home warranty to help market the home you are trying to sell.

While most real estate agents use the same methods to sell a home a few agents stand out by using the home warranty to market to potential buyers. Using the words guaranteed or warranted in magazine ads and on yard signs not only attracts potential buyers but it also gives them a feeling of well being when they are considering a home for purchase.

It may seem simple but it is a fact that all of us want to believe that whatever we buy will work and we are so disappointed when it doesn't. It's the same for home buyers, they expect everything in the home to function properly and need to have some form of reassurance that if there is a problem there is someone who can and will help. This is where the home warranty comes into play!

While marketing your home it is a good idea to have home warranty brochures available along with a description of the home you are selling. It also makes good sense to use sellers coverage on the home during the listing and escrow period. The main reason for this is two fold, first when sellers coverage is used the warranty is in effect immediately and if a problem is found on a covered system during the home inspection the home warranty company will usually pay for the repair instead of the seller. Secondly, if any covered item fails during the listing period the warranty company will repair or replace that item, again saving the seller money and enabling the real estate agent to show a fully functional home to potential buyers.

Remember, you only get one shot at a good first impression, so it is to your advantage to have all systems working properly before you start showing the home for sale.

Most real estate agents make sure to place a warranty on the home which will go into effect at the close of escrow and will protect the buyer. The exceptional agents use sellers coverage as well.

Remember, using a Realtor doesn't cost, it pays.

Dennis Polyniak sells home warranties for Old Republic Home Protection. You can e-mail Dennis at dennisp@orhp.com with any topics you would like to see discussed or call him at 1.800.445.6999 x178.