home repairs

HomeServe Takes The Stress Out Of Paying For Home Repairs

Our homes are everything. It's more than just a building, holding the key to all of our fondest memories, family gatherings, and where we finally get to unwind after a long day. And with all that comes a ton of moving parts so when things go wrong with your house, it needs to be addressed ASAP. Being a homeowner comes with a big responsibility to make sure everything in your home is and continues to run smoothly.

For example, if your hot water heater goes out, you have to take care of getting it fixed. As a homeowner, you don't have the convenience of being a renter, where if something breaks all you have to do is call the super or landlord. (Boy, do I miss those days!)

On the other hand, a lot of benefits come with buying your own home – it's a great investment, owning property is good for building equity, and for some can be a nice place to put down roots to raise a family. But as your home ages and experiences normal wear and tear or unexpected damages, being a homeowner can become a real headache. Since now many of us are home more than ever, our home systems and appliances are working overtime. And that could mean more breakdowns.

Homeowners are opting to have home warranty plans in place, to have someone to call when something on their plan breaks. Having a home warranty plan from HomeServe can help protect your finances when you're in need of emergency home repair services covered on the plan. (Because let's be honest, nobody wants to dish out hundreds every time they need to call a repairman or thousands of dollars if replacement of a pipe or appliance is required.)

Want to learn more about how a plan from HomeServe works? Here's what you need to know:

What is a home warranty plan?

A home warranty or home repair plan gives you peace of mind. While basic homeowner's insurance plans typically cover accidental damage to your home caused by events like fires or natural disasters, a home warranty plan helps cover the repairs or replacement costs associated with the normal wear and tear of home systems or appliances in your house.


When your plumbing lines, AC, heat, or appliances fail to work or need to be replaced, it could cost you a lot of money. When you're prepared with a home warranty plan from HomeServe, you will have access to a 24/7 repair hotline that allows you to make an appointment to have a licensed technician come over and handle your covered repair.

What does it cover?

Depending on the type of plan you have, it might cover plumbing, electrical, or heating and cooling systems. That includes things like a boiler breakdown in the middle of winter and locating and replacing a leaky pipe.

Why do I need it?

With a home warranty plan from HomeServe, you will have peace of mind. Since no one plans for the headache and hassle of home repairs, having a plan in place to deal with an emergency repair is a smart move. You'll know that you're ready for unexpected covered repair costs – costs that can easily make a dent in your wallet.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a home warranty plan varies, but you can visit us at homeserve.com to review affordable quotes for the plans that are available in your area. Plans start as low as $7.99 a month.

Nowadays we are using our home systems and appliances possibly more than ever. And while surprise repairs are a normal part of homeownership, you can't always foresee them happening. That's why being prepared with a home warranty plan from HomeServe will help you to not be caught off guard. Sign up for a home warranty plan today.

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How to Assemble the Best Home Renovation Team

If there's any endeavor that really does take a village, it's home renovation. As you tear down walls, imagine the kitchen of your dreams, and install large appliances, you'll be dealing with a team of specialists. Here's how to put together an Olympic-worthy dream team.

The Visionary


"I always half-rolled my eyes at real estate listings that said 'Bring your architect.' It sounded impossibly high-flown, perhaps aimed at the type of people who traveled with an entourage of servants," a New York City renovation survivor wrote on Curbed. "But let me say this flat-out: The best thing we ever did for our renovation was hire an architect." An architect listens to your ideas and helps you think through the design, then translates all of that into a plan that can be made real. Expect to pay 10 to 20 percent of the overall project cost.

The Project Manager


Think of the general contractor as your project manager. They take those plans from the architect and executes it with a team of subcontractors they have on speed dial. That means you don't need to spend hours of your own time to find individual tradespeople to paint, plumb, and carpenter. Even if your project doesn't require an architect, if your renovation will require more than one specialty tradesperson and cost a few thousand dollars, you need a general contractor.

Ask people you know for references and see if neighbors have had projects similar to yours done. The rule of thumb is to interview several contractors and receive a bid from each before you decide. Expect to pay 25 percent of the project cost.

The Stylemakers


You really don't need an interior decorator or designer for your renovation, but for some, choosing between hundreds of different countertops, cabinets, and floors gives a flooding sense of decision fatigue. In those cases, the expertise of a designer may help you feel less overwhelmed. Find certified designers through the National Kitchen & Bath Association (nkba.org) or the American Society of Interior Designers (asid.org). Designers will charge somewhere between 4 and 7 percent, according to Consumer Reports, but you can expect to pay an interior decorator, especially of the Million Dollar Decorator variety, up to 20 percent for them.

The Generalist

When your renovation is complete, you will hopefully no longer require the services of highly-trained specialists like plumbers, carpenters, and painters. It may not be a full-blown renovation, but home repairs will still come along that are too much for you to handle.

In those cases, you need a handyman or woman. Whether it's a silencing a squeaky front door or drippy faucet, hanging the projector screen, assembling bookshelves, cleaning the gutters, or power-washing the upstairs windows, no job is too small for this household helper. These people can also sometimes tackle slightly larger jobs, like installing a simple deck or building a ladder for your new above-ground pool. Angie's List says you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 to $100 per hour — but a good one is worth their weight in gold.

The Budget


You've got your team and your chomping at the bit for the kitchen of your dreams, but whoa there, Nelly. You need to set a budget for your project for you start getting stars in your eyes over German appliances and carrara marble. How much should you spend?

First, you need an overall estimate of the value of your house. One easy tool is to use Zillow's "Zestimator." Once you know how much your house is worth, a good rule of thumb is not to spend more than the value of that room as a percentage of your overall house value. Kitchens, for example, generally account for 10 to 15 percent of the property value, so if your home is worth $200,000, you'd want to spend no more than $30,000.

Where does that money come from? You've got a few options. You could refinance your mortgage, get a home equity line of credit, or a home equity loan. This choice can be overwhelming, so consult with a lender about which option is best for you.

Last but not least, you'll want to leave wiggle room for unforeseen expenses. Factor in 10 to 20 percent (or more) of your contracted budget for those imperfections that are revealed when the layers of your home are peeled away.

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