myhomewarranty

Why Do I Need Home Warranty Insurance?

As you start planning on buying a new home, there are many questions that will come up in the process. One of those questions may be whether or not you need home warranty insurance. But what exactly is that and why would you need it? Complete Protection is here to help you answer those questions and see if the purchase of home warranty insurance is right for you.

Do I need Home Warranty Insurance?

The short answer is that not every home will need home warranty coverage. As the homeowner, you should only get warranty plans on your appliances if it makes financial as well as practical sense for you to do so. Home warranty insurance is an appliance repair contract that will basically take care of repairs to electrical, plumbing, and appliances inside your home. Just like any other insurance plan, you will pay a premium in advance for repair or servicing of most appliances in your home.

If you have already owned your home for a while, having this home warranty insurance can just add peace of mind and help protect your wallet from expensive repairs. Having this insurance allows you to call the service provider of your policy, and they will come do the repairs or replacement in a reasonable time frame. It is a good idea to look into home warranty insurance unless you have quite a bit of time on your hands and like fixing things yourself. If you do not have a home warranty plan in place and are curious of the cost, you can always get an estimate on home warranty insurance for your home. You can see the protection plans we offer at Complete Protection here, or call us for more information at 1-800-978-2022!

Benefits of Home Warranty Insurance

If you are a new homebuyer, you may have a few fears of having a major repair bill coming too soon after you move in. This is a valid fear, since you can’t really know what the appliances went through before your purchase. Sometimes the real estate agent will offer you home warranty insurance to help close the sale of the house. This may be something the seller pays for, but if it is up to you to pay, just know that home warranty insurance has an average price of $300-$500 a year.

Having this home warranty insurance as soon as you move in will be a great way to ease your mind in case you find something that needs a repair sooner than you thought. Just make sure you do your research on the home warranty company you use as you do get out what you pay in. You want to make sure they are a reputable company and will be there when you need them.

If you are selling a house, home warranty insurance can also be very useful for you. It helps raise the selling price and speed up the closing process. The insurance can put the buyer more at ease and make the sale more tempting. Check out Complete Protection’s blog on how home warranties help sell houses for more information.

How Does a Home Warranty Plan Work?

Home warranties are fairly simple. If you have an appliance in your home, like a garbage disposal, washing machine, or the HVAC, break down or have a malfunction, all you need to do is call the home warranty company and they will arrange for a technician to come by your home and fix the problem. Many companies have service fee, and this would be that deductible that was mentioned earlier. Note that there are some home warranty companies that will offer a zero-dollar deductible as well.

Should I Purchase Home Warranty Insurance?

Below is a list that you may want to follow if you are on the fence about the purchase of home warranty insurance. If any of these are true, home warranty insurance may be right for you:

You have appliances that are getting old.
Your home is more than 5 years old.
You do not have time or patience to get any of the repairs done yourself.
You do not have a trusted contractor to call and you do not want to cold call contractors for the job.
You do not have a cash cushion to handle the costly repairs out of pocket.
You are buying a home for the first time.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, it is suggested that you get some kind of home warranty coverage. New homeowners are usually short on extra money, as they have just purchased a house and added many new expenses to their budget. It is not worth the risk should your HVAC go out shortly after you move in and you do not have the money for the repairs. New homeowners are also often used to living in apartment complexes, where you tend to call the landlord in the event of an issue and let them handle it. Home warranty insurance allows you to follow this same lifestyle and not have to worry about contacting other companies yourself.

What to Know About Home Warranty Insurance

It’s important to know just exactly what is covered and how much coverage is provided with your home warranty insurance. This list may change depending on which company you use and which services you decide upon, but they can include:

Inside electrical systems.
Appliances, large and small.
Heating and air conditioning.
Interior plumbing.
Pool fixtures.

How Much Does it Cost?

The price of home warranty insurance really depends on the type of coverage you want and the city in which you live. It’s a good idea to call and get price quotes from different warranty companies, and they will go over everything with you. Make sure you check the reputation of all the companies you call. There are websites that will help you with that by listing reviews of the companies and which ones have the better reputation.

As you shop for home warranty insurance, you will first need to understand that there are different levels of coverage, and in some cases, it may cover one thing but not the other. You should have a general idea of how much coverage you want and how long you want it.

You need to also be aware that with most home warranty companies, they are usually more interested in repairing the appliance and not replacing it. In most cases, they will service units only if the fault is due to regular use. If the unit is poorly maintained, they may not service at all. Also be cautious of pre-existing defects in your appliances, since most policies do not cover these issues. Lastly, you may discover that most home warranty insurance policies will not allow for the policy to take effect unless you have stayed in the house for at least 30 days.

Overall, as with any major purchase, it is in your best interest to look into several home warranty companies and see if it something you need and can afford. Look at your bottom line and double-check your finances. If you are a first time homebuyer, you have older appliances, or you just want the relief of not worrying about how to do repairs, it may be a great choice for you to get some type of home warranty coverage!

While you’re deciding whether or not to purchase home warranty insurance, check out Complete Protection’s blog, which gives tips for preventative maintenance for your appliances. Keeping up with such maintenance keeps your appliances running smoothly and lengthens their lifespans greatly.

When Does Renting Appliances Make Sense?

Purchasing appliances is a big investment, and sometimes it is one that not everyone is ready to make. But how do you know when it’s better to buy that appliance and when renting appliances makes more sense?

Are you renting your place for a couple years? If your apartment has a washer/dryer hookup, do you want to go buy that appliance, rent the appliance, or just take your clothes to the laundromat? There are several questions to ask yourself before you jump on the decision to rent or buy large appliances.

Think About Your Future

Are you simply renting your current apartment while you save up to buy a home in the next few years? If you notice your apartment has a washer/dryer hookup but that the space for it only allows for the stackable unit, this is a good time to think about renting the appliance. If this is a short-term living situation, think about what you would do with that stackable washer and dryer if you move into a home that has a nice big laundry room.

If you are subleasing an apartment while you are away at school and need to put some appliances in it, think about if you will you need that refrigerator once you move back home. There is no need to purchase something like that if you know you will not need it in a year or two. Renting the appliance will help you currently and help you later when you can simply return it and not worry about what do with it or bother trying to sell it.

Working in Another Location

Sometimes your job may require you to be in another city for a year or so, whether it is to help set up a new store or for training for a new position. If this is the case and you would need to furnish an apartment for a year or so, then renting your appliances is a great option. Buying appliances as well as furniture in this case is not a good idea unless you know for sure that you’d use them later.

Do the Math

If that apartment you though you would only be in for a year now seems like somewhere you want to stay for a little longer, do the math on buying versus renting your appliances. You could be offered a nice rent-to-buy option on those appliances, but beware of the interest. If you decide to buy after renting for a while, they can hike the interest rate on you and it may end up being much higher than the interest on a credit card purchase. If you have a two-year lease, it’s possible that making payments and buying an appliance over the course of your lease may save you money in the long run.

No matter your situation, look at your budget and all of your options before you decide to rent or buy any major appliances. If you want more appliance information, including how to perform preventative maintenance to keep your large appliances running smoothly, check out Complete Protection’s other blogs here!

Home Upgrades that Add Value

When thinking of doing some updates to your home, you want them to be inexpensive in cost but boost the total value of the house. Whether you are updating the house to sell or just to give your lived-in home a new look, it’s always best to think about what will give you the most bang for your buck. Here are a few of the best home upgrades that add value:

Create Open Space

In the housing market right now, many buyers want a wide open floor plan. People are into big open spaces. At the cost of a few hundred dollars, you can knock out that wall between the kitchen and your dining room and make it into one big open space. When doing this kind of update, make sure that the wall is non-structural. You can look throughout your home and see where an open space can be created to increase the sense of flow. By doing this, you will generate a response from buyers who have the option to be particular about the floor plan of the house.

If taking out an entire wall is not an option, you can always add a kitchen island. This adds storage space to a kitchen as well as some extra counter space. It may even be a good idea to make it a moveable island, so that the next homeowners can place it and use it as they see fit.

Landscaping

If a house has overgrown shrubs and trees, it creates a problem when it comes to selling (and might annoy the neighbors). If buyers cannot see the house, they will not want to buy it. Just a small investment of $400 to $500 dollars in landscaping can bring you a return of up to 4 times that price when selling.

Just pruning existing trees and shrubs and adding some simple landscaping around your trees and porch can make a home look brand new. This is a seemingly small cost when you look at what you can get in return.

Let In Natural Light

Another great home upgrade that adds value is lighting. This can be anything from a dimmer switch to a sun tube. Dimmer switches allow you to create a mood, while sun tubes filter in some natural light without the eyesore of a huge sky light.

Sun tubes are a popular and less expensive way that homeowners are getting more natural light into their homes. The fixture uses a reflective material to funnel in natural light from a globe-shaped hole cut into the rooftop. This tube is then brought down through the ceiling fixture and into a room. It looks like a light fixture, but is actually just natural light, becoming both appealing in look and type of light while also cutting down energy costs.

Another way to upgrade your light is to use high wattage bulbs in the light fixtures. These high wattage fixtures make small spaces feel larger, and soft lighting brings warmth to empty spaces. You can also consider installing lights that use motion detectors to turn themselves on when someone enters a room.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance

It’s important to think about basic upkeep before you consider doing the big upgrades to kitchens or bathrooms. For instance, fix that leaking pipe, make sure the attic is insulated, or install some storm doors.

Fixing these types of things may seem trivial as you upgrade to sell your home, but keeping the whole house current and working well can go very far toward the overall value of your home. For a couple hundred dollars, you can increase the value of your home by a few thousand.

Investing in simple home maintenance is not only smart, it is also sometimes crucial to the sale of your home. Homes that get the most attention from buyers are the homes that are in tip top shape. With so many homes on the market these days, the houses that sell are in pristine shape and ready to move into.

Go Green

Energy efficient home upgrades may seem expensive, but if all other home repairs are good and maintenance is up to date, you should think about installing a new heating and cooling system. Having a solar powered water heater can save you up to 80% in water heating costs over time, and you may be entitled to tax credits when you install one. This is a smart investment whether you are staying in the house long-term or selling. These days, buyers are more aware than ever of utility costs and helping the environment.

The Front Door

A very inexpensive upgrade is simply making sure that your doorway is in top shape. A working doorbell is important, and adding a simple awning over your front porch looks great and keeps the heat off of the area. This also allows you to be out of the rain as you unlock your door, and your guests will not have to wait out in the weather as you answer it.

Do not rule out simply adding a fun pop of color to your home by painting the front door. Adding this bright welcome to the front of the home makes it more inviting and cheerful.

The Floors

Based on other home upgrades you plan to do, a new floor may be in order. Look at each room and see where you may need it the most. Floor upgrades can be as simply as fixing a few squeaky boards by placing a few nails in the right places or inexpensively replacing your kitchen floor with tile. This is an investment of $66 to $900 that can give you a return of up to $2000.

Fixtures

Everything from faucets to light fixtures are great, simple home upgrades that add value. Changing out the faucet in your bathroom can update that room in an instant, while changing out the light fixtures in the hallway can bring your older home into the 21st century. At the cost of a few hundred dollars, updating these small fixtures can add another few thousand in return for you when you sell. As mentioned before, proper lighting is crucial for making your home feel welcoming and cozy.

Whether you plan to sell or just want an update to the house you plan to live in for years to come, these are some home upgrades that add value and life to your home. Roll up your sleeves and jump into those repairs. You will be amazed at what you see when they are all complete!

If you want more home maintenance tips from Complete Protection, check out this blog!

Summer Home Upgrades

The sun is shining and everyone is enjoying more time outside. This is the time of year where you really notice those home upgrades that could be done on the outside of your home. Then you might also notice some upgrades to do inside as you walk back in from the afternoon heat. What are some of the most recommended summer home upgrades, as you get ready for fall and winter? Let’s go over a few of them now.

Fun and Appealing Summer Home Upgrades

House Painting

Summer is the best time to put on a fresh coat of paint on the outside of your home, as it is harder to paint in the winter months. The sun is shining and rainstorms are a rare event. Fresh paint will also help protect the house from the sun. The sun’s UV rays aren’t just harmful for your skin, they can also damage your house!

Roof Repairs

The summer is also a great time to get work done on your roof. The lack of rain and snow helps get the job done, and it’s important to fix those cracks and missing tiles before winter weather arrives.

Skylights

If you are already doing upgrades on your roof, you might also want to consider adding a skylight to certain rooms. This is a great home upgrade for rooms that do not already offer a lot of natural light, and it will make the room appear more inviting.

Patio Fireplace

Whether you’re sitting outside enjoying a fire pit on a cool evening or hosting a summer barbecue, building a stone fireplace and having a fire area in your backyard will be very inviting for you and your guests alike. This is not a necessary upgrade, but it is one that can be fun and useful throughout most of the year.

Outdoor Kitchen

This is a luxury upgrade that is also fun to have during the summer months. It really adds to those backyard get-togethers. You can go all out on this one, adding a sink, countertops, and even a refrigerator. Some outdoor kitchens even have beer taps and pizza ovens! The possibilities are endless, and it’s up to you to decide what your family would get the most use out of and enjoy. Think of adding a portable heater for use in the cooler winter months. If you have that outdoor fireplace, you already have your warmth ready for the winter.

Fix Cement

Is your driveway or patio full of cracks? Similar to roof repairs, summertime is the best time to repair cement around your house, since it’s less likely to get rain, snow, or hail on it before it’s set.

Compost Bin

Creating a bin to throw your old yard waste into as well as food scraps is a great way to keep your yard cleaned up and have less trash buildup. Then you can use the compost is provides to fertilize your yard. This is a process that takes several months to set up properly, so you will want to build it in the summer months so you will be able to enjoy the rich compost it creates for your spring plants.

Guest Room Updates

Having all those friends over to party in your new outdoor kitchen and patio? They many need somewhere to sleep. Clear out all that junk in your extra bedroom and move those items to your garage or basement. Add a spare bed and dresser. Install window coverings and stock the closet with extra hangers, towels, and linens. Make it an inviting space for friends and family to come and spend a sun-soaked weekend with you. If you want more tips for making the ultimate guest room, check out Complete Protection’s blog here.

Home Upgrades That Save on Energy Costs

Roof Repair or Replacement

As previously mentioned, this home upgrade is ideal for summer due to fewer rainstorms. Having the right roof on your home can help protect it from the summer heat getting in as well as prevent water damage.

New Thermostat

With the warmer months here, it is likely that your air conditioner and thermostat will be getting a good workout. A new thermostat is a simple summer home upgrade that can save energy and give your house a high-tech look. If you go for the upgrade of a more modern digital thermostat, you can even update the settings and control your thermostat from a mobile device! Many of them will also let you set a pattern for what you want your home temperature to be and when depending on the day of the week.

Ceiling Fans

Along with a new thermostat to cut your use of energy in your home, you might consider adding a ceiling fan to bedrooms or any popular room that does not have one. This is a simple home upgrade that can help reduce your energy bill and create a more comfortable temperature to rooms during the summer months.

Insulation

This is a home upgrade that works to save your home energy costs year-round. It helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Good insulation can reduce your energy costs by as much as 20%!

Weather Stripping

Something as simple as this summer home upgrade of patching up or replacing the weather stripping around your doors and windows will greatly improve on your heating and cooling ability throughout the year. It is an inexpensive update that most homeowners can do as a DIY project.

Windows and Window Coverings

If just replacing the weather stripping is not enough, you may need new windows. If you replace your current windows with energy efficient ones, it will help stop heat from coming into your home in the summer. If your windows are still relatively new, it may work to do the simple upgrade of adding a low-e film to the glass, which will give an efficiency boost to your windows.

Something else you can do if the cost of a full window replacement is just not in your budget is to simply change out your window coverings based on the season. In the summer months, your window coverings should be both light in color and fabric. With light curtains, you are still letting light in while having less of a solar heat gain. You can also consider adding blinds or shades so you can lower them if there are times when you want less light to come in.

Add Awnings

Consider adding awnings to your south- and west-facing windows. This will reduce solar gain by a large margin, as these are the windows that get the most sun exposure on your home. With awnings, you will greatly reduce the amount of sunlight that hits your windows, and that will prevent heat from coming into your home. This could also add some great curb appeal to your home, as well as giving you a nice shady area to sit in and keep cool.

Do any of these summer home upgrades sound tempting for your house? By adding some energy efficiency upgrades, you can save on your energy bills during the warmer months. By adding attractive upgrades, you can increase both the curb appeal and resale value of your home. If you want more tips for taking care of your home for summer, check out this blog that goes over home pool maintenance.

How to get Your Pool Ready for Summer

It’s getting hot outside, and that pool is looking more and more inviting. Is your pool ready for you to jump into this summer? There are a few things you can do to get it ready to enjoy on those long hot summer days. Lets go over those steps now, so you and your family can get out there and enjoy it.

First, we’ll briefly discuss the preparations that should have been completed at the end of the previous pool season (and should be done this fall) to make sure that it stays in good shape over the winter:

Do Not Empty the Pool Completely

As you close your pool down for the cooler months, you need to drain the water out. However, you do not want to drain it completely unless you need some structural work done to it. Leaving a few inches of water at the bottom, even in cooler regions of the United States, is good. First, if you completely empty it, all that water could drain under the pool and make it bubble up. By leaving a couple inches of water in there, you are weighing down the pool, and it is less likely to raise up off the ground or get air pockets from any water underneath it.

Winterize

After you have drained the pool to just a couple inches of water, now is the time to clean the walls of the pool and get it ready to cover. Once you have cleaned it, make sure that your pool cover is free of holes and dirt before you place it over the pool. After you cover it up, your pool is ready to wait until the next swimming season.

Getting the Pool Ready for Summer

Now let’s look at how you should prepare your pool to open for the summer. There are a few steps to make sure that your pool will run smoothly and will perform the best over the next several months. It is important to do each of these steps, as they all play an important roll in your pools performance:

Clean It Up: Leave the pool covered and do a chemical open first. Put the filtration system together and clean out all the baskets. Also make sure any plugs you placed in the pool when you closed it last year are removed.

Top It Off: After you clean the pool, it’s time to fill it up with water and top it off. This is also when you should clean all your filters and make sure they are all working properly and do not need to be replaced.

Test Your Water: You can test the water yourself with a water testing kit, or you can take a sample of your pool water to a specialty pool store, where they will usually test it for free. This is recommended, as the professionals can fully test the water and make sure all your mineral levels and pH levels are safe and correct.

Balance the Chemicals: Next you need to do some chemistry! Based on the water tests you had done, you will need to add certain chemicals to your pool to make sure it is safe for swimming. This usually includes adding chlorine or calcium, depending on the balance. Here is a list of what the levels of each chemical should be in your pool:

PH Levels between 7.2 to 7.4
Alkalinity from 80 to 120
Calcium hardness from 150 ppm to 250 ppm (parts per million)
Chlorine from 1 ppm to 3 ppm

You can put chemical tablets in your skimmer baskets, but you should also make sure to have a plastic chlorinator basket that attaches to the filter system. Make sure it is plastic, because the chemical tablets have a low acid content that can eat through metal.

Wait for the Water to Clear: Now that you have shocked and chemically cleaned your pool, the water will look a little cloudy. It is important to wait for the water to turn clear before you jump in and enjoy it. This time lets the chemicals do their job of balancing and disinfecting and makes your pool is safe for swimmers.

Clean Debris: Once the water has cleared, now it is time to vacuum or scoop out any leaves or other large debris that may be floating around in the pool. You can also use your skimmer basket to clean off the surface. It is a good idea to do this maintenance on the pool at least once a month after you open it.

Maintenance: As mentioned above, now that your pool is ready for use, it’s a good idea to keep up good maintenance on the pool throughout the summer season. Vacuum and skim clean the pool monthly or even weekly. Do a chemical balance check once a month as well. Keeping up a good maintenance schedule for your pool will ensure it lasts longer and has the best performance. If you want more detailed information on pool maintenance, check out Complete Protection’s blog here.

Now that you have completed these steps, it’s time to dust off those lounge chairs, blow up those floaties, and get out there and enjoy your pool time. Be sure and grab that big glass of lemonade before you head out into the sun!

Rent or Buy a Home: The Pros and Cons

To Rent or To Buy? That is the question.

When you start out and live on your own for the first time, it seems easiest to rent a place, whether it’s a house or apartment. Here we will go over both options to see whether it’s better to rent or buy your home depending on your situation.

Questions to Ask Yourself

The first question you need to ask yourself as you set out on your own is simple. How long do you plan to stay in this location? Is it temporary while you are in school, interning at a job, or just seeing if you like the area? Do you know that you will stay in the area for many years?

The next question is how much money are you looking to put into the move? Initial costs can be steep no matter which way you go, but buying a home has a much pricier up-front cost. Often where you move to depends on how much you can afford at that time.

Renting – The Pros

Ease of Relocation

If you plan to stay in an area temporarily, renting is your best option. Most leases are for a year, and some even let you go month to month. This is great if you are new to the area and want to determine if it’s a good location for you. If you are a college student and just staying for school, or if you have a temporary job in the area, renting is your best bet.

Repairs and Maintenance

One major benefit of renting is fewer out-of-pocket expenses as things go wrong. The homeowner or property manager is the one responsible for most repairs. Air conditioner not working? Dishwasher broken? These are things that the property owner should take care of for you.

Credit Requirement

Most landlords know that many people who are renting are just getting out on their own, building their life, or even downsizing in retirement. This can make them more relaxed on what they think is a good credit score. This could be to your benefit as renting and staying in good standing will help you build that credit as you build your future. Typically, as long as you don’t have a credit report filled with outstanding balances or bankruptcies, you should be able to find a landlord willing to rent to you.

Some Utilities Included

In some cases (especially with apartments), some utility costs are included in your rent. This could include trash services, water, lawn care, or more. Having these utilities included in your monthly rent will reduce your outgoing expenses.

No Exposure to Real Estate Market

When you are just renting, it is not your concern if the market value of the home you live in fluctuates. Leave those concerns for your landlord!

Renting – The Cons

No Equity Building

When renting, you have no equity gain from the money you are paying each month. Unless you are in a rent-to-own agreement, each dollar you give to a landlord for rent is now gone. If you plan on staying in this location for a long period of time, then buying a home may be a better option for you.

Less Housing Security

Most states have laws in place that do not allow for a landlord to evict tenants without substantial notice, but there is still uncertainty. Even though the landlord may need to give up to 60 days notice, there is still a chance that the landlord could sell the property you are living in or need it for something else. If you own your home, there is no uncertainty that you will be without a house as long as you pay your mortgage.

No Federal Tax Benefits

By just renting your home, you are losing out on the tax benefits that come with home ownership. As a homeowner, you can deduct property tax and mortgage interest rates on federal taxes. When renting, you are unable to do this, and it could raise your federal tax liability by several thousand dollars.

Limited Control over Ongoing Costs

Renting your home leaves you open for the landlord to raise your rent once the lease is up due to housing market fluctuations. Unless you live in an area that has rent control laws, the landlord is allowed to do this. Hopefully you develop a good enough relationship with your landlord that this may not be a problem, but if the housing market takes a nice tumble, you could be facing pricey rent increases.

Buying – The Pros

Building Equity Over Time

With most mortgages, a portion of your payment goes to the principal balance of your loan. Once a loan reaches a certain percentage of principal paid, you are able to take out a home equity loan to make updates to the home or possibly refinance the loan to a lower interest rate. Making updates to the home can boost the resale value if you decide to sell later on, and it will boost the equity you put into the home.

Tax Benefits

There are several tax benefits that are great for homeowners, though not all situations will qualify. You can get deductions on the property tax you pay as well as the interest you pay on your mortgage. Some states offer a homestead advantage credit base on the property tax assessment. There are also some credits that you can get for making your home more efficient with new appliances.

More Creative Freedom

What if you want to update those cabinets or paint that bedroom? If you are just renting, most landlords want you to leave the property as is or get permission for changes. If you buy the home, you have the freedom to do almost anything you want. By updating and improving your home for your own enjoyment, you are also updating the appeal of the home if you do decide to sell later. You can DIY to your heart’s content when you own the home you live in.

Sense of Community

This is a neighborhood where you know you will stay. If you are buying your home, your neighbors can become your friends. The school where your child attends will have families in the area. You will get to know the area, maybe even set up block parties or join the neighborhood homes association. You could volunteer at the local community center. If you are renting, you might feel less inclined to do these things, especially if you will only be there for a short while.

Possibility of Rental Income

Does your home have a finished basement or an extra bedroom going unused? There lies the possibility that you could rent these areas out to a single person or student to get an extra income from your home. You could also use a company like Airbnb if you are interested in subletting your space while you are away or needing some extra money. This is not appealing to everyone, but it is an option you have when you own your home.

Buying – The Cons

Long-Term Commitment

Homeownership is a long-term financial commitment. You are stuck in one area until you decide to sell, and selling a home takes a lot of effort. You have to continue your mortgage payments until a sale goes through, which can take months.

Responsibility for Maintenance

Once you buy a home, you will quickly long for the days when your landlord fixed all of the problems. From small maintenance tasks like yearly pest control and filter changes, to large problems like replacing a furnace or fixing a leaky roof, you are responsible for everything when you own the building.

Buying a House is Pricey

Mortgage payments are fixed over time and progressing you towards completion. However, they tend to be a bit pricier than rental payments per month. If you can’t get a mortgage rate within your budget, you might be forced to continue renting until your financial situation changes. Also keep in mind that there are fees associated with buying a house, including a down payment, closing costs, and real estate agent/inspection fees.

Overall Conclusion

What you decide to do is up to you, depending on your situation. Do you need a temporary place to stay while you study or do an internship? Do you want to make an investment over time? If you are just starting out on your own, then renting may be the best bet for you. If you are set in your career, ready to start a family, and prepared to settle in, then home ownership is most likely a better option. As you start to ask yourself these questions and look over the good and bad of each, the New York Times has a great mortgage calculator that can help you see what option is best for you.

Whether you decide to rent or buy your home, check out Complete Protection’s other guides for home maintenance to keep your house in top shape. This one gives you an overview of the essential tools you will need on-hand for basic home maintenance and repair.

Indiana Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

A home warranty plan is a valuable tool for all homeowners. Having an extended warranty in place for your home appliances protects you and your family budget from expensive, unexpected repair costs. Our plans protect items such as your heating and cooling system, water heater, kitchen and laundry appliances, pool equipment, and much more.

For starters, none of our plans have a deductible or service call charge! We also offer diverse monthly and annual plans for home buyers as well as homeowners. CP™ protects every part inside the appliance, so you never have to wonder which parts will be covered. We encourage you to check out our unrivaled reputation through the BBB, where we have an A+ rating. When selecting your home warranty plan, choose a company you can trust to deliver what is promised! Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty.

Before becoming a territory, varying cultures of indigenous peoples and historic Native Americans inhabited Indiana for thousands of years. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

Complete Protection™ (CP™) is unlike any other home warranty on the market. In business since 1998, we have become the industry leader in Customer Service. Anytime you call, day or night, we will always have live staff answering the phone with no menus to navigate! Get the personal attention you deserve from your home warranty company.

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indiana Home Warranty.

South Bend Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – South Bend Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It lays on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents. It is the fourth-largest city in Indiana, serving as the economic and cultural hub of Northern Indiana. The highly ranked University of Notre Dame is located just to the north in unincorporated Notre Dame, Indiana and is an integral contributor to the region’s economy. The area was originally settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bend’s economy through the mid-20th century. River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, and other large corporations.

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – South Bend Home Warranty.

Complete Appliance Protection proudly serves the South Bend community

Lafayette Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Lafayette Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States and is located 63 miles northwest of Indianapolis and 105 miles southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which contributes significantly to both communities. According to the 2010 United States Census, the population of Lafayette was 67,140, roughly a 19% increase from 56,397 in 2000. In 1717, the French government established Fort Ouiatenon across the Wabash River and three miles south of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants, and Native Americans. An annual reenactment and festival known as Feast of the Hunters’ Moon takes place there each autumn. The town of Lafayette was platted in May 1825 by trader William Digby. It was designated as the county seat of the newly formed Tippecanoe County the following year.

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Since its founding as a territory, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state’s northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and from adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Southern states, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Lafayette Home Warranty.

Complete Appliance Protection proudly serves the Lafayette community

Indianapolis Home Warranty

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indianapolis Home Warranty. Does your monthly budget allow for expensive home repairs? If not, a home warranty plan is right for you. Perhaps you have an elderly parent on a fixed income, or are a landlord with a rental property? Our plans are a perfect solution when extra help is needed for home repairs. Whether you are a young family just starting out, or simply want to have peace of mind when it comes to your appliances, there is a CP™ home warranty plan right for all households.

Indianapolis is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. With an estimated population of 853,173 in 2015, Indianapolis is the second most populous city in the Midwest (after Chicago) and 14th largest in the U.S. Indianapolis covers 372 square miles, making it the 16th largest city by land area in the U.S. Founded in 1821 as a planned city for the new seat of the government of Indiana, Indianapolis was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1-square-mile grid adjacent to the White River. The city grew beyond the Mile Square, as completion of the National Road and advent of the railroad solidified the city’s position as a manufacturing and transportation hub. Anchoring the 26th largest economic region in the U.S., the city’s economy is based primarily on business services, transportation and logistics, education, financial services, hospitality and tourism, and distribution services. Indianapolis has developed niche markets in amateur sports and auto racing, and the city is perhaps best known for annually hosting the world’s largest single-day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500.

Call 1-800-978-2022 for more info – Indianapolis Home Warranty.

Complete Appliance Protection proudly serves the Indianapolis community