by Chris Nagus / News 4 | @ChrisNagusKMOV

KMOV.com

Posted on January 14, 2014 at 12:23 AM

Updated yesterday at 12:40 AM

(KMOV) A St. Charles couple said their home warranty only caused headaches for them rather than peace of mind.

Ashley Hill paid $45 a month for the warranty with Residential MD knowing it would be inevitable to have expensive repairs for her 20-year-old home.

We got the home warranty so we would be covered if anything big went out, said Hill.

At first it paid off, the company repaired her dishwasher and replaced her water heater but when she started having problems with the furnace,

Hill thought she was covered but cause Cross Country Home Services, the parent company of Residential MD, was well aware of her furnace problems.

They would fix something small and say it would work now, Hill said.

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Fine print used against St. Charles couple in home warranty battle

More than 4 million Americans buy a home each year, but theres no telling how many offers are discarded along the way. And no one wants to get edged out in the bid for a dream home.

Real estate is rebounding in many regions of the country, and buyers can face formidable competition. Of course, the best way to snag the home you want is to promise the most money. But theres more to making an offer than simply setting and stating your price.

Here, two top real estate agents in a perpetually competitive market Washington, D.C. share pointers on crafting an offer that will outshine the rest:

Show them the money

The key, both said, is assuaging the sellers fears. They worry mainly that the deal will fall through, so have your financing in order before you submit an offer. Make sure the lender checks your credit, assets and employment status before pre-approving your loan, and get a detailed letter with the amount you are authorized to borrow, recommends Elizabeth Blakeslee, a Coldwell Banker broker in the capital region.

Another way to signal you are a serious buyer is by putting down a large, good-faith deposit. A 2 percent to 4 percent escrow deposit is common. However, Nancy Itteilag of Long and Foster real estate, who has been listed among the top 10 agents in the country for sales volume by the Wall Street Journal/REAL Trends, tells her clients to write a check for at least 10 percent. Within 30 days, the buyer will need to hand over this money as part of the down-payment anyway.

If the seller has a nice deposit in escrow, they know the buyer is not going to wake up and change their mind, she says.

Eliminate surprises

The other unknown that keeps sellers up at night is dread of repairs, Blakeslee says. Most offers are contingent on a home inspection. To eliminate that variable, have the inspection done before putting in an offer, and specify any repairs you expect the seller to make. That way there wont be surprises later.

Alternatively, buy a home warranty or even request that your real estate agent throw one in as a closing gift. That way the seller knows that if the heating system gives out, it will be covered.

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Money just one way to make bid stand out

Who Must Register All builders of owner-occupied new homes, including single family, townhouse, duplex (two-family), cooperative, condominium, factory-built, and modular residences are required to register with the New Home Warranty Program. A builder is any individual or organization in the business of constructing new homes, including anyone who constructs a new home for sale, acts as prime contractor to construct a new home for himself/herself or for another person, contracts with a general contractor for construction of a new home, or sells or transfers title to land and then participates in the construction of a new home. It does not include a person who constructs a new home for his/her own personal use, a licensed architect, engineer, or attorney, or someone who contracts with a licensed architect, engineer, or attorney to provide professional services related to the construction of a new home.

Each new home building business is required to register separately. The name of the company which is transferring title to the new home is the entity which must register and warrant the new home.

If approved, a builder is issued a registration card, which must be shown to the local construction official when construction permits for the new home are obtained. Registration is valid for two years from the approval date.

Builders who fail to register or maintain a current registration are subject to fines up to $2,000. Each home sold during the time the builder remains unregistered is considered a separate offense.

A builders registration can be suspended or denied if the builder fails to enroll, warrant, or continue to participate in the State Plan or an approved private plan, fails to correct or settle a claim after responsibility was established through the dispute settlement process, has officers, partners, stockholders, or directors who were involved in unregistered, suspended, or revoked new home building businesses, incurred or was responsible for incurring an award against the New Home Warranty Security Fund and the Fund has not been compensated, or failed to participate in the dispute settlement process. A builders registration can also be revoked for repeating any of the above violations set forth in this paragraph.

During the first year of a new homes warranty, warranty coverage extends to defective systems, workmanship, materials, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, appliances, fixtures, and equipment, and major structural defects. From the commencement date of the warranty up to two (2) years from that date, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and major structural defects are covered. The builder is responsible for warranty coverage during the first two years. During the third through tenth years of coverage, only major structural defects are covered.

If, for at least 10 years, there has been no payment made, and no final determination that a payment must be made, under either the State Plan or an approved private plan, as a result of a claim against the builder or a major structural defect, the contribution percentage shall be 0.17;

If, for at least seven years but less than 10 years, there has been no payment made, and no final determination that a payment must be made, under either the State Plan or an approved private plan, as a result of a claim against the builder or a major structural defect, the contribution percentage shall be 0.213;

If, for at least five years but less than seven years, there has been no payment made, and no final determination that a payment must be made, under either the State Plan or an approved private plan, as a result of a claim against the builder or a major structural defect, the contribution percentage shall be 0.255;

If, for at least two years but less than five years, there has been no payment made, and no final determination that a payment must be made, under either the State Plan or an approved private plan, as a result of a claim against the builder or a major structural defect, the contribution percentage shall be 0.298;

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Information for New Home Builders - NJ Department of ...

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (PRWEB) January 07, 2014

Waking up to a blanket of snow can be a beautiful sight but, as winter storms affect states throughout the country, not being prepared can put your home and your pocketbook at risk. Its not too late to keep your home safe and warm this winter season with these 10 tips from TotalProtect Home Warranty, a nationwide leader in home maintenance and protection plans.

When a cold snap hits, the last thing homeowners need is the worry of a broken furnace or frozen pipes, said Sandra Finn, president of TotalProtect. In 2012, the National Weather Service reported $15.6 million dollars in property damage during extreme cold temperatures. That is 181 percent more than during the hot months. Peace of mind is a powerful thing and a little upfront preparation can mean the difference between a stress-free or stress-filled winter.

Tune Up the Furnace: Fire up the furnace to ensure it is working properly. Licensed heating contractors can perform a routine maintenance check-up and make any necessary repairs to reduce breakdowns during a cold spell.

Dont Get Burned: Keep anything flammable three feet from portable or stationary heaters, and make sure to turn off space heaters when going to sleep or leaving a room. Always plug a space heater directly into the outlet, not into an extension cord or power strip.

Keep Water Moving Through Your Pipes: Keeping the temperature inside a home at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit will help keep pipes from freezing; frozen pipes can cause cracks and severe water damage. Should a storm hit and there is power loss, homeowners should turn faucets on to a slight drip; this will keep water moving through the pipes and prevent them from freezing.

Check Safety Alarms: Test carbon monoxide and fire safety alarms and install fresh batteries.

Add or Upgrade Insulation: Homeowners can keep the cold out by professionally insulating their home and caulking window cracks, as well as upgrading to storm windows, which help reduce heat loss up to 50 percent.

Prevent Ice Dams: Keeping an attic well ventilated is essential in preventing ice dams from forming on the roof. A warm attic will melt the snow on the roof, run down to the roofs edge and refreeze where it is much cooler. Ice that has built up and melted could force itself under the roof covering and down the walls, causing serious water damage.

Trim Those Trees: Pruning nearby trees will help prevent ice buildup, which can crack branches, clog gutters and damage the roof.

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Don’t Get Left in the Cold as Severe Weather Approaches This Winter

Pick from the list below to check the latest weather condition.

Trenton, NJ Allamuchy Twp., NJ Ancora Hospital, NJ Andover, NJ Atlantic City (HADS), NJ Atlantic City (NJDOT), NJ Atlantic City (S), NJ Atlantic City (U), NJ Atlantic City Airport, NJ Atlantic City Marina, NJ Avalon, NJ Barnegat, NJ Barnegat Light, NJ Basking Ridge, NJ Basking Ridge (I), NJ Belle Mead (HADS), NJ Belle Mead (I), NJ Berkeley Heights, NJ Berkeley Twp., NJ Bershire Valley, NJ Bethel Mill, NJ Bethel Mill Park, NJ Bivalve, NJ Blairstown (CWOP), NJ Blairstown (NJDOT), NJ Blue Mtn. Lakes, NJ Boonton (I), NJ Boonton (U), NJ Bound Brook (AHOS), NJ Bound Brook (I), NJ Broadway, NJ Caldwell, NJ Cannistear Res, NJ Canoe Brook, NJ Cape May, NJ Cape May Court, NJ Cape May Courthouse, NJ Cape May Harbor, NJ Carneys Point, NJ Cedar Bridge, NJ Charlotteburg, NJ Charlotteburg (I), NJ Chatham, NJ Cherry Hill III, NJ Cherry Hill Township, NJ Chester Township, NJ Chesterfield Twp., NJ Clayton, NJ Clinton, NJ Columbia, NJ Coyle Field, NJ Cream Ridge, NJ Delaware Water Gap, NJ Dennis Township, NJ Dennis Twp., NJ Dover Township, NJ E. Brunswick, NJ East Brunswick, NJ East Brunswick (N), NJ East Vineland, NJ East Windsor Twp., NJ Eastampton, NJ Eatontown Borough, NJ Egg Harbor, NJ Elizabeth (CWOP), NJ Elizabeth (Turnpike), NJ Erial, NJ Essex Fells, NJ Ewing, NJ Ewing Township, NJ Fair Lawn, NJ Far Hills, NJ Farmingdale, NJ Folsom, NJ Forsythe, NJ Fort Dix I, NJ Fort Dix II, NJ Fort Monmouth, NJ Franklin Lakes, NJ Freehold Township, NJ Garrett Mtn, NJ Glen Gardner, NJ Hackettstown, NJ Hamilton, NJ Hamilton Twp. (Atlantic), NJ Hamilton Twp. (Mercer), NJ Hammonton, NJ Hammonton (CWOP), NJ Hammonton (I), NJ Harrison, NJ Harrisonville, NJ Harvey Cedars, NJ Haskell, NJ Haworth, NJ Hawthorne, NJ High Point, NJ High Pt. Monument, NJ Hillsborough, NJ Holmdel, NJ Hope, NJ Howell, NJ Howell Township, NJ Ironia, NJ Jackson (R), NJ Jersey City (LSC), NJ Keansburg, NJ Keansburg (HADS), NJ Kingwood, NJ Knowlton Township, NJ Lake Hopatcong, NJ Lakehurst, NJ Lincoln Park, NJ Lindenwold, NJ Little Falls, NJ Lodi, NJ Logan Township, NJ Lower Township, NJ Lyndhurst, NJ Mansfield, NJ Mansfield Township, NJ Maplewood, NJ Martinsville, NJ Maurice Township 1, NJ Maurice Township 2, NJ McGuire AFB, NJ Mercerville, NJ Middlebush, NJ Middlesex (HADS), NJ Middlesex (RAWS), NJ Middlesex (U), NJ Millville, NJ Monksville, NJ Monroe Township, NJ Montvale, NJ Morris Plains, NJ Morristown (CWOP), NJ Morristown (I), NJ Mount Holly, NJ Mount Laurel, NJ Mount Olive Township, NJ Mountainside, NJ Mt Holly, NJ Mullica Twp., NJ N Plainfield, NJ Netcong, NJ New Brunswick, NJ New Brunswick (DOT), NJ Newark, NJ Newark Airport, NJ North Arlington, NJ North Beach Haven, NJ Oak Ridge Res, NJ Oakland, NJ Old Bridge Township, NJ Orange Res, NJ Oswego Lake, NJ Park Ridge, NJ Parsippany, NJ Pellettown, NJ Pequannock, NJ Pequest, NJ Piney Hollow, NJ Piney Hollow, NJ Piscataway, NJ Pittstown, NJ Plainfield 1 (I), NJ Plainfield 2 (I), NJ Pleasantville, NJ Point Pleasant, NJ Point Pleasant (HADS), NJ Point Pleasant (U), NJ Pottersville, NJ Ramsey, NJ Randolph, NJ Readington, NJ Red Bank old, NJ Red Lion, NJ Ridgewood, NJ Ringwood (I), NJ Ringwood (RAWS), NJ Runnemede, NJ Sea Girt, NJ Seaside Heights, NJ Secaucus, NJ Sicklerville, NJ Silas Little, NJ Skillman, NJ Somerville (AHOS), NJ Somerville (ASOS), NJ Somerville (I), NJ Sourland, NJ Sourland, NJ South Harrison, NJ Sparta, NJ Springfield Township, NJ Stafford Forge, NJ Stewartsville, NJ Stockton, NJ Stow Creek, NJ Succasunna, NJ Summit, NJ Sussex, NJ Swedesboro, NJ Teetertown, NJ Tenafly, NJ Teterboro, NJ Toms River, NJ Trenton, NJ Trenton State, NJ Tuckerton, NJ Tuckerton Tide, NJ Union (K), NJ Upper Deerfield, NJ Upper Deerfield (RISE), NJ Upper Freehold Twp., NJ Upper Saddle River, NJ Verona, NJ Wall Twp., NJ Walpack, NJ Wanaque, NJ Wanaque Borough, NJ Wantage, NJ Warren Township, NJ Washingtons Xng, NJ Watchung, NJ Wawayanda St Pk, NJ Wayne, NJ Wayne, NJ West Cape May, NJ West Cape May, NJ West Creek, NJ West Milford, NJ West Orange 1, NJ West Orange 2, NJ West Paterson, NJ West Wharton, NJ West Windsor Township, NJ Whippany, NJ Wildwood, NJ Wildwood (A), NJ Windsor, NJ Woodbine, NJ Woodbine (R), NJ Woodbridge (T), NJ Woodbridge Township, NJ Woodcliff Lake, NJ Woodstown, NJ Woolwich Twp., NJ

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The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey

8717 Opossumtown Pike | Stacy Allwein
Take a Virtual Tour : http://Tour.PicturePerfectllc.com/tour.php?tourid=42659 referrer=youtube.com Huge rancher on 1.25 acres overlooking farmland, only minu...

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1500 W 43rd St Lorain The Dream Team
Spacious 4 Level Home with a Basement, Deep Private Fenced in Yard with Shed, Patio Large Screened in Back Porch! This updated home includes Newer Stainles...

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1500 W 43rd St Lorain The Dream Team - Video

Address: 4 Upper Lake Road Jefferson Township Price: $669,000 Taxes: $16,363 Agent: Julia Torsiello Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors 54 Woodport Road Sparta, NJ 07871 973-729-7141 (Office) 973- 907-4938 (Cell)

OAK RIDGE This unique Colonial in private Preston Lakes of Oak Ridge is expansive and beautiful with four bedrooms and four and a half baths.

The huge eat-in chefs kitchen has been remodeled with high-end fixtures and appliances with a home warranty included. Details abound in this home with custom granite floors in the entrance flowing to the kitchen and rich hardwood throughout the second floor and all bedrooms.

The large bathrooms are all redone and freshly painted with new shutters too.

The master bedroom boasts high ceilings, a wood burning fireplace, dual closets, master bath and a deck. There is also great storage in the basement and a built-in generator is a bonus.

The spectacular views of the lake can be enjoyed from the wrap-around deck and private porch with retractable awning. About 5,500 square feet, this home has it all.

The price has already been reduced call Julia Torsiello at Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors.

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Private Colonial offers lake-front views

Consumer Confidence Bolstered by an Palm Beach County Home Warranty
http://www.ChristianPenner.com -- read it all hear.! Read full article http://www.christianpenner.com/consumer-confidence-bolstered-by-an-palm-beach-county-h...

By: Christian Penner

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Consumer Confidence Bolstered by an Palm Beach County Home Warranty - Video

3631 Broken Wing Rd, Knoxville, TN 37931
3631 Broken Wing Rd Knoxville, TN Teresa Guy CBWW Farragut Office WELL MAINTAINED, ONE OWNER FOUR BEDROOM HOME (OR THREE BEDROOM WITH BONUS ROOM), 2.5 BA HOM...

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