Come To Find Out

Maximizing Home Protection: The Essential Guide to Home Warranties vs Home Insurance with Diana Silver

• Sarah Thress • Season 2 • Episode 30

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What if a $45 fee could save you hundreds on home repairs? This week on Come to Find Out, we welcome Dianna Silver from SafePro Home Warranty to uncover the crucial differences between home warranties and homeowner's insurance. Dianna shares her fascinating journey back into the home warranty industry, illuminating her unwavering commitment to stellar customer service. We break down how a home warranty can safeguard your home's essential systems and appliances from everyday wear and tear, while homeowner's insurance kicks in during catastrophic events like natural disasters. You'll also discover how SafePro's low trade call fee transforms the claims process, making it hassle-free and transparent, so you're never left in the dark when something goes wrong.

In the second segment, we dig into two extensive homeowner plans that cater to your PEACH needs—plumbing, electric, appliances, cooling, and heating. Priced at $649 and $749, each plan offers unique benefits, but the more comprehensive $749 plan stands out with higher coverage limits aimed at reducing your out-of-pocket expenses. Both plans also include preventive maintenance services like seasonal HVAC tune-ups and water heater flushes, ensuring the longevity of your major home systems. With a streamlined claims process guaranteeing a diagnosis within three business days—and a refund of the trade call fee if this isn't met—you'll see why regular maintenance and these plans can make all the difference for homeowners. Tune in to understand how these options can bring convenience and peace of mind to your home maintenance routine.

To Contact Dianna Silver:
614-701-8575
dianna@safeprohw.com
www.safeprohomewarranty.com

Sarah Thress
614-893-5885

First Time Home Buyer course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sarah_thress_realtor/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SarahThressRealtor/
https://www.youtube.com/@LIFEINCOLUMBUS

Sarah:

Hi and welcome to this week's episode of Come to Find Out. This week we have Dianna Silver and she is with SafePro Home Warranty. And I have known Diana for a few years now and she was with a different home warranty company and then she dabbled a little bit into Tidal and then, whenever I saw she was back in home warranty, I was so excited because her customer service is five star and exactly what I strive to always provide and what I, you know, not necessarily require, but like what I expect out of any partner that I work with. So, you know, because I want my clients to always have the best customer service experience, right? Yeah, exactly so. Thank you so much for taking time out to me. Thank you, sarah.

Dianna:

It's always nice to see you. Thanks, thanks.

Sarah:

So tell me a little bit about um. You know safe, pro and kind of. You know the thought behind it Um cause. You know, after talking with you about it cause again, once I saw that you were back in it, I reached out and I was so excited and I was like, oh my gosh, we have to meet, you know. And then we we met for coffee. And then I was like, oh my gosh, I have to have you on the podcast and all of that.

Sarah:

So I was in kind of a whirlwind but, um, you know, walk me through kind of like where this, you know that, where this came from, um, you know kind of the concept behind it and um, you know just a little bit more about it.

Dianna:

Okay. So, um, we actually launched, probably maybe 10 days ago. Okay, so we are new, new, new, and the reason why we came up with um, starting this business, was because we know that there's always a need for a very good or customer service based home warranty company in Columbus and there's another local home warranty company, but they're not the same as us, which is good. I mean, there's a lot for everybody. But our goal is really customer service and we want to see the homeowner from the beginning to the end, even if it's a claim that we would not cover. So do you want me to explain what a home warranty is?

Sarah:

Yeah, I was going to say like, I'd love for you to kind of break down you know what is the difference between, like a home warranty and homeowner's insurance? Okay, Because I know a lot of times, you know, especially first time homebuyers are like oh well, I have insurance. Like, why do I need a home warranty?

Dianna:

Right.

Sarah:

You know, and so I think it would be great, yeah, if you want to just break down kind of what a home warranty you know is, why that's different. Yeah, yeah.

Dianna:

So a home warranty is a service contract with a home warranty company that ensures coverage for I'm going to use the word peach plumbing, electric appliances, cooling and heating items that fail during your contract term. Now, and it has to fail due to normal wear and tear. So like if you go to, if you're a buyer of this house, and you go outside and see that an air conditioner is completely rusted and rotted out, that's not something your home warranty is going to cover because that happened prior to the start of your contract. If you've been in the house and it's a legit failure that occurred after your start date, then that's when your home warranty company can come in and help cover the costs of a repair or replacement. So, with that being said, think of the word PEACH plumbing, electric appliances, cooling and heating. That's home warranty.

Dianna:

Home insurance is going to cover the structural things or things that happen due to catastrophes, or I want to say acts of God, right? So like hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, those kinds of things, those are the things that your home insurance company is going to cover. So, for instance, if someone's sump pump fails during a huge rainstorm and their basement gets flooded, they're on vacation. They come home, basement is flooded. Baseboards, walls, carpet, everything is wrecked. What the home warranty company is going to do is come in and repair or replace the sump pump, and the home insurance company is going to do the rest of that. Hmm.

Sarah:

Okay, that makes sense. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, and I think that's such a an easy way, and I love the acronym peach, um, so it's almost like you've got peach over here, that home warranty, and then anything that's not peach you know, call your home insurance? Yeah, and so you know, with home insurance obviously there's a deductible. You know if they're like you file a claim and all that stuff. Is there something similar to that with home warranty?

Dianna:

Yes, there is. Every home warranty company has. It's called a trade call fee and it's really the fee that pays for the service contractor to come out to your house. You know when you have, when you call a plumber, they're always going to charge you like 150 bucks or something just to come to your house and then you have to pay additional to diagnose and all that stuff. So SafePro Home Warranty charges $45 for the trade call fee. We are the lowest price in central Ohio and probably nationwide, to be honest, but I can't say that to be completely true.

Sarah:

That's what you're striving for.

Dianna:

Yes, so $45 is very affordable for the majority of people that have home warranties, and I think that the other thing that we do that's a little bit different is that we collect that $45 when a claim is placed, rather than having to have somebody in the home when the contractor comes to do the diagnosis. That has to pay the contractor money, so it eliminates any kind of confusion with the contractor as well as the homeowner, and the homeowner doesn't have to ensure that whoever's there has cash or credit card or whatever to pay the contractor directly which I think is very helpful and what we use at $45 to go towards the trade call fee. Now, I do have to tell you that the trade call fees are never $45, but SafePro wants to make sure that it's something affordable that can be used by the majority of homeowners, so we keep it at that $45.

Sarah:

Yeah, no, I think that's so great and I love that you you do that. And then do you have like I know some, you know other warranty companies have like different tiers of different things that it covers. Do you guys have different tiers within your?

Dianna:

Yeah, so we have our listing coverage which is free, just like everybody else. We don't charge. The thing that's different is we don't charge an additional fee to cover HVAC and like. Usually there's like a 50 to $75 probably fee that you have to pay for the seller has to pay for if they want coverage on those items. We don't have that. We will pay up to $1,500 during the listing period I think it's 180 days or until it closes that we can offer this free coverage. We don't do replacements with that $1,500, but we'll repair all day. So it's just something that's helpful for a seller and kind of, I would think, alleviates a little bit of the stress, because I mean, how many times have you had an open house when you walk in and the AC doesn't work, yes.

Dianna:

Yeah, Terrible, terrible, terrible. But since we're local and we only use local contractors, we'll be able to get somebody out there right away to get it repaired. At least get it to the point where people are going to be able to not walk in and melt as soon as they walk through the door.

Sarah:

Yeah, well, and I love that too, because, just to make sure that you know, like I understand what you mean by, like you know, the listing coverage, but I just want to make sure that anyone listening you know that maybe is thinking about, like, selling their house or whatever you know that.

Sarah:

They know that, like when you list the house, you can have this coverage for you know anything within the house during the time that you have it listed Right and while it's in contract and before it closes Right. Then you can pay a fee at closing for the buyer to have like a year's worth of coverage, is that?

Dianna:

correct, that's correct, okay. Now I do want to point out that if something's found on a home inspection report that's considered pre-existing, which would be prior to the start of the contract, which is a deny claim. So anything found on the home inspection is not going to be covered, regardless if you have a listing coverage or buyer coverage. Okay. So we have two buyer plans. One is 649 and one is 749. Okay, they both cover PEACH, the plumbing, electric appliances, cooling and heating. The biggest difference between the two plans is probably the 749 has higher limitations and what that means is, instead, of, say, $1,500 to cover an AC unit, we're going to give you $3,500 with the 749 plan which is going to. It might not cover an entire replacement, but it's going to cover the majority of the replacement. So we try to.

Dianna:

Our goal is to have a minimal amount of out-of-pocket money for all the homeowners. We all know the economy right now. We know how expensive it is to get everything fixed. You know the price of gas, the price of food, everything is crazy. So we our goal is to alleviate some of that financial burden and that stress for the homeowners, regardless if it's a seller or a buyer. So it's a higher limitation for the 749 plan.

Dianna:

The other thing that we have included in both plans is called our maintenance plan, and what the maintenance plan is is it includes seasonal HVAC tune-ups, so you'll be able to get your AC serviced and tuned up in the spring, and then your furnace serviced and tuned up in the fall, and then, at one of those appointments, you can also request to have your water heater flushed out.

Dianna:

The number one reason why water heaters fail is due to sediment settling at the bottom, and if you get it flushed out, then it's going to greatly extend the life of your water heater.

Dianna:

So those are, those are things that that we have currently that are available. With both plans the 649 plan, you are going to be required to pay the 45 trade call fee $749, there's no trade call fee for the maintenance plan, and those are two things that are important to homeowners because it's things that they don't even think about doing. But if they don't have to pay to get a full major system or appliance replaced because we're extending the longevity of their life, of life expectancy, then then it's just it's helpful for us as well. It's really helpful for the homeowners just trying to keep them, you know, up to date on their maintenance things, and in it, in addition to that, we're going to be sending out, like you, monthly home maintenance emails, you know like. So, every month, make sure to check your air filter you know things like that will also attribute to the life expectancy of a major system compliance.

Sarah:

Yeah, no, and I think that's so smart, uh, to offer that. You know cause, uh, I'm sitting here thinking like man. I don't remember the last time we had, like a maintenance checkup but, um, I'm sure my husband changed the filter, but you know I don't.

Dianna:

But there's a lot more to it, like in the in the spring. It's really important to get your AC cleaned and it's. It's actually very easy. You can literally take a hose and just spray out. The condenser is what the unit outside is called. You just spray it out and there's, like these little fins. If you spray those clean, it makes a huge difference in not only the way the AC runs but the energy as well. It saves energy.

Dianna:

So, yeah, just like really little stupid things like that you'd never even think about doing, but you should really do. Um, you know, because all that dust and everything comes into your house and, yes, you have the air filters, but there's still stuff that goes through. And wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to change your air filter every month because you clean out your. I mean, you don't have to clean it up every month, but you know those first few months you won't have to clean it up every month, but you know those first few months you won't have to change your air filter because you've done everything you can to get that, you know, to at least get last year's dust off the fins, you know. So there's a lot of really simple stuff that you can do that helps with the big maintenance of your big systems at home that we're going to help the homeowners learn. Yeah, I love that.

Sarah:

So if, um, if someone calls you and they say hey, you know I, I think my air conditioning uh is is out. You know cause I I'm sitting here melting and my thermostat. You know like I have it set at 72, but the thermostat is reading like 80, you know whatever Um what walk me through kind of the process Like so do they just call you, do they email you Do?

Dianna:

they, you know, like send smoke signals. Yeah, yeah, I'm a carrier pigeon. Just to let us know. Drop off a note, right.

Dianna:

Yeah, yeah that happens on a couple times. No, um, so what happens is they can file a claim either online or they can give us a call. If they choose to do it online, they use their phone number in order to log in and it pulls up the property and you can are your contract and you can. Just you can attach pictures if you want. You just write a brief description of what's going on and then submit it and then we'll have somebody call, like Very shortly after that's done. Or if you call, you'll actually be talking to somebody here in the Columbus area, which is nice, yes, and they'll call our contractors we only use local mom and pop contractors and they'll just keep calling until they can find somebody to come out and service it. Like, we guarantee that you'll have a diagnosis within three business days or you won't have to pay that trade call fee. The $45 will be refunded to you if you don't have that. So that's pretty huge, especially considering, like that first hot day.

Dianna:

There's a bajillion people that don't have AC. Yeah, even there's the people that forget to turn from heat to cool and then they say on their thermostat, then they, then they said their AC isn't working. That happens a lot too, right, but when somebody calls and files a claim, um, or we, we speak to them. We go through um a little, a couple questions like that, like did you make sure that it's on cool, or you know, like silly things like that. Just in case, did you make sure your GFCI isn't tripped? Did you push that little button, you know, because that happens too, so it. And then that alleviates the $45 trade call fee for the homeowner and, you know, it just makes it easy, like we're here to actually help the homeowner, we're not here to make that $45. Yeah, so I think that we have, like, we talk to our contract holders as if they're our neighbors, our family, our friends, you know, because honestly they probably are. Like you know, kevin Bacon, yeah Right, honestly they probably are. Yeah, like you know kevin bacon, yeah right, but so, um, we talk to them and make sure that they understand exactly what we're saying.

Dianna:

We use layman's terms. You know, a contractor will call up and say that the capacitor broke on the ac or something. You don't know what that is, have any idea how much that costs or anything else, right, and then we explain that I don't know what it does to, to be honest. Yeah, but we explain it so that they understand what it is, yeah, and know that once that gets replaced, their AC is going to work fine. Yeah, you know, and it doesn't take long to do, right.

Dianna:

So, yeah, we just make it easy for the homeowners, as easy as we can. You know and explain it to them so that they have a full understanding. So you know and explain it to them so that they have a full understanding. So, so you know that they feel comfortable calling us and talking to us about, about, claims, and I never mind talking to homeowners, like when they have a claim, they can call me first. Um, I can tell them certain words to avoid saying, when they file a claim, um, probably works a little bit against me, but, um, but I, I don't know. I'd rather put all the good out in the world than try to be a swindler, yeah, scam, artist, whatever Right.

Sarah:

Well, which is why I put so much trust in you is because I know you're going to do what's best for the client for the customer and not trying to, you know, make sure that, oh that, oh well, you know, like I'm sure all they had to do was trip that gfci.

Dianna:

But I'm gonna go ahead and collect that 45, because you know that's, that's the money you know, for us like so instead it's like enough.

Sarah:

Like did you try this? Did you try this? And knowing you, I know you're not like, uh, did you just like try the gfci you know, like you're, exactly you're truly trying to help. Yeah, yeah, we're not gonna be snark. Did you just like? Try the GFCI?

Dianna:

You know, like you're, you're truly trying to help people. Yeah, we're not going to be snarky. Yeah, not snarky, or?

Sarah:

condescending. No, no, yeah, I love it. Well, um, I'm going to make sure that we have links in the show notes that, um, take us, you know, to everything. Do you think? Uh, you know, if people want to learn more about you, do you have, like, social media? Do you have a website? Do you have? You know what is the?

Dianna:

best way for people to find you in the company? I think the easiest way would just be to call me or text me. My phone number 614-701-8575. I think that's probably the easiest. If I'm in a meeting like this, I'm not going to answer the phone, but I'll call you right back as soon as I'm done, um, and then I people can email me. It's just Diana at safe pro hwcom. Um, that's an easy way to get ahold of me as well. Whatever's most convenient for for your clients, I'll do whatever. Yeah, yeah. Okay, just make sure that they're happy. Yeah, yeah, because I and here's is it who listens to this podcast? Is it mostly homeowners? Is there more realtors or is it a big mix of everything?

Sarah:

Honestly, it's a big mix. I'd say it's more homeowners either first-time home buyers. Okay, so like they're renters looking to buy Right, either first-time home buyers, so like they're renters looking to buy, or first-time home sellers or people that maybe haven't bought or sold in this market versus another market. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Dianna:

The only reason I say that is because and this is probably a shout out to realtors but when a claim happens and it's paid for and everything after the resolution, we send the homeowner as well as the realtor a little email that says hey, we just saved you $3,500 on your HVAC system, hvac system, and so um, uh. So it's a good thing for the realtor to be able to touch out to to the homeowners, uh, or the contract holders, but it also it helps, uh, like when you are explaining to a potential client how important it is to have a home warranty on their property they're selling or buying, that you can pull out and be like, look, this person saved $3,500 on their AC last week. You know it only took five days to get the whole thing diagnosed, replaced, and that includes weekend days, or something you know, just so that you're able to prove and your homeowners feel good about their decision on buying a home warranty.

Sarah:

Yeah, nope, I totally agree. Yeah, I totally agree. Well, thank you so much for taking time out of your day. I know you're super busy, but I always love whenever you take time out and like you know, come and talk with us. Yeah, I love it too. Yeah, you're a great person. Oh, thank you.

Dianna:

Yeah, thanks yeah.

Sarah:

Well, thank you so much for tuning in. Hopefully you found some good value in this, got some good nuggets. Make sure that you are leaving a review because feedback is the best gift so that we know that we're touching on subjects that are meaningful to you, that are things that are going to help you to learn. Also, make sure that you're sharing this with other people. That is the greatest compliment that you can give. Diana and myself is sharing this with people, and definitely make sure that you are subscribed and follow along so that you never miss an episode. Perfect, thanks so much and we'll see you next time on come to find out.