07.26.2001 :: Real Estate News
Replace or Fix?
by Dennis Polyniak

While doing my rounds in Santa Cruz County this last week I was noticing that there are very few tract style homes. Almost all the home in the area were custom or semi-custom built. This presents a unique problem to local contractors, centering mainly on the replacement parts they keep on hand and the types of service they offer. For instance a contractor may feel that the best way to fix a problem is to just replace the component. Simple solution, but many times a a component can be fixed with a part replacement and function just fine for years to come. This puts a homeowner in a precarious position. Who do I call? Do they want to sell me parts and or components I do not need? Am I going to pay more than I need to in order to get the problem solved? In short, am I going to be taken advantage of?

Very often the answer is yes! That is why most real estate professionals put home warranties on the homes they represent for sellers and insist on a warranty for the buyers. Realtors know that when a warranty is in place the warranty company will choose a contractor that they are familiar with and guaranty that only the necessary work is completed, and in a timely manor. When a total replacement of a system is called for the warranty company will arrange the best time for a contractor to do the job so as not to disrupt the entire household, as in replacing a furnace and duct work.

Warranty companies contract with contractors to do steady repeat business, not just occasional work. We demand that they stock parts and are available for emergencies on a twenty-four-seven basis. We also insist that technicians who come to your home are neat, clean, and respectful of your home and family. The contractors work for the warranty company and are counting on repeat business from this source so they do their work quickly and efficiently knowing that the homeowner must be completely satisfied.

When you are in search of a first home, an upgrade home, income property or a >second home you need to use a realtor who has the experience and knowledge to provide all the services required to complete a transaction from sources that are completely reliable, just like when the warranty company hires a contractor to come to your home to solve a problem.

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.