Category: Product Education

Existing homeowners – here’s the scoop on our new online options for scheduling, tracking your claims, and more. In short, we’re offering new options to make your life easier!

As one of our clients, you may be aware – we’re known for providing personalized customer service that you don’t get with the corporate giants. We’re a tad old school in our promise – local support, personal follow up and trusted service technicians. 

Still, we know we can do more to keep up with the times – more to take care of you. That’s why we’re excited to be evolving our experience and technology to meet today’s needs. Beginning in April, homeowners will be able to:

• Request service, schedule service appointments, and track their claim status on our website or using the Super app  
• Access plan benefits, coverages and policy documents with ease
• Make secure payments online
• Continue to reach us by phone at 602.733.5000 for extra support
• Receive a smoother service experience overall

Our new app and web-based access are perks of Platinum being part of the Super family of businesses. Now, you’ll be able to count on our local service experience plus easy-to-use technology. In the coming weeks, we’ll share exact details to help you access the app and digital features. You may see Super branding on shared materials too. 

Any questions in the meantime? Call us at 602.733.5000, and we’re glad to help!

Warmly,

The Platinum Team

To help you maintain your heating and cooling system, we offer seasonal checkups twice a year. These checkups help ensure your system is up to par and functioning effectively.

When can I call in to schedule my appointment?
Spring: March 1st – April 30th 
Fall: October 1st – November 30th

When do the appointments take place?
Appointments are scheduled by neighborhood and are conducted once the weather is the appropriate temperature. A heads up – if temps are still a little too warm (for fall season) or cold (for spring season), the timing might be delayed.

How much do the check ups cost?
A standard service fee ($75) applies and includes a single unit. Additional units are discounted to 50% of the service fee (additional $37.50 per unit).

What do these checkups include? 
If you think about the inspection you receive on your car when you take it in for regular service or an annual physical exam from your doctor, these checkups are much like that. We conduct an inspection that looks at the current state of your heating and cooling system.  This inspection includes the following:

•       Check air filters
•       Check and tighten all electrical connections
•       Inspect evaporator coil, when accessible
•       Check volt and amp draw on motors
•       Check refrigeration charge
•       Check start and run caps
•       Visually inspect system for minor refrigeration leaks, where accessible
•       Check time delay relay
•       Check contactors
•       Check main electrical whip
•       Check compressor terminals
•       Check disconnect box and fuses
•       Check and adjust blower components
•       Check and adjust burners
•       Inspect fan blade
•       Test cycle air conditioner for proper operation

We look for maintenance concerns, flag any problems and make recommendations to help prevent future issues with your system. The most common issues we see include a need for more Freon or capacitors or general maintenance.

If the inspection catches an issue with my system, what happens? 
If we do see specific issues, we’re happy to help address them. Many times we can even tackle them during the same visit. We’ll be sure to give you any specific costs up front, so you can decide whether you want us to perform any work.

How do I get on the schedule? 
Request your checkup online here or call 602.733.5000 during the appropriate periods (March 1st – April 30th and October 1st – November 30th). 

Amidst the many costs of homeownership (and life in general!), you may be wondering – What payment options do I have for my home warranty? Do I have to pay in one lump sum?

We recognize the full year’s payment may be a bigger amount than you want to shell out in one sitting. So, we offer a monthly payment option as well! Monthly payment is available for any purchases made outside of a real estate transaction, as well as renewals. 

Head to our plans and pricing page to see the breakdown of costs – paid annually or monthly. As you’ll see, for those looking to save the most possible, paying annually is the best route. You’ll shave 10% off the cost. Or, if you’d rather spread out the cost over time, monthly may be preferred. 

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which payment option works best for your particular situation.

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If you’re looking for more help navigating our Plans & Pricing, give us a call at 602.733.5000. We’re happy to help guide you!

When buying a new home, it can bring peace of mind to have the locks changed. With brand new locks and keys in hand, you don’t have to fret about who may have had access to your property prior to your ownership. 

And, it doesn’t have to be complicated figuring out a locksmith to use because…

Your home warranty includes rekeying coverage!

Yep, rekeying is included with all of our major home warranty plans! It’s one of the lesser known benefits of having a home warranty with Platinum. Instead of searching for yet another service provider, you already have a go-to! Simply call us 🙂

When you schedule rekeying as part of your home warranty coverage, you pay a reduced cost – just the service fee, as opposed to the full rate for the service. The coverage includes up to 6 keyholes and 4 copies of keys, and you can add on additional keyholes or keys as needed. 

Here’s when to schedule rekeying…

If you’re buying a new property, be sure to factor rekeying into your closing schedule. It’s great to have the locksmith out as soon as you’re able to after closing. Keep in mind – your new home warranty must be in place to schedule the service as part of that coverage.

A bonus point for real estate agents – many agents have shared with us how much their clients appreciate their help with rekeying. You can be the one to point out this coverage and help them ensure it’s scheduled appropriately within the timeline of closing on the property. They’ll love you for it!

FAQs about rekeying

Q: Do all home warranties include rekeying?

All Platinum Home Warranty plans include rekeying. Other companies may vary.

Q: If I don’t have a home warranty, can you help me with rekeying?

Yes! We’re glad to help you get scheduled with a trusted locksmith. Call 602.733.5000 for more info. 

Q: If I’m not buying or selling a home, can I still request rekeying?

Yes! Though rekeying is most commonly requested when buying or selling a home, you can choose to use the service at any time you desire. Our home warranties include one single rekeying service within the one-year policy term – whenever you choose to use it.

Have questions about rekeying or our home warranties?

Give us a call at 602.733.5000, and we can walk you through our offerings and any questions you may have!

If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone! We hear it most frequently from first home buyers, but it can be an area of confusion for seasoned homeowners too. Home warranties and homeowners insurance each protect your home, but they cover different things. 

A home warranty covers repair and replacement costs of systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Some commonly covered items include air conditioning and heating issues, plumbing stoppages, water heater repair and replacement and garbage disposal replacements. 

Homeowners insurance provides insurance against natural disasters and calamities, such as a fire, tornado or burglary. It typically covers structures of the house, personal belongings and liability protection. Homeowners insurance is often required if you purchase a home with a mortgage. 

Neither a home warranty nor homeowners insurance can completely safeguard you from problems and expenses that may arise as a homeowner. However, each helps provide some protection to reduce unexpected expenses. Homeowners can benefit greatly from having both a home warranty and homeowners insurance in place. 

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Looking for more information about our home warranties and the protection they provide? Give us a call at 602.733.5000! We’re glad to answer any questions and help ensure you get the coverage you need.

 

 

You know what’s beautiful about this day and age we live in? The endless options that exist to suit your preferences! To be able to choose precisely what color, material and pattern you desire – in anything from your car to your socks is pretty amazing.

You know what’s challenging about this day and age we live in? Deciding between all the options 😉 Really, decision fatigue is no joke. 

We recognize making a decision about which home warranty plan is right for you can feel like just another addition to the decision overload. To help simplify your decision-making process, we’re walking you through the key questions to ask.

1. What type of property do you need coverage for?

• Single family (under 5,000 sq ft)
• Mobile home, condo or townhome
• Duplex
• Triplex
• Fourplex
• Single family (over 5,000 sq ft)
• New build

You’ll need to specify this for the proper coverage.

2. Do you need any of these big items covered?

• Washer and dryer + refrigerator

Our Prime and Superior plans include these coverages.

• Built-in pool and spa

Our Superior plan includes this coverage.

3. Do you want some of the extra bells and whistles that Platinum Plus includes?

This would be:

• Haul away 
• Additional modifications
• Disposal and recovery fees
• Enhanced garage door coverage
• Code violations
• Slab leaks
• Permit
• Improper installations and mismatched units
• Jetted tubs
• Dishwasher racks, rollers and baskets
• Coverage for labor on manufacture warrantied parts

Platinum Plus is offered as part of our Standard Plus, Prime and Superior plans. Be sure to select one of those plans if you want to ensure this added protection.

4. What optional coverages do you need?

• Additional fridge
• Washer/dryer
• Built-in pool/spa
• Salt pool upgrade
• Additional pool pump
• Drip and sprinkler system
• Septic coverage
• Soft water system
• Additional dishwasher
• Additional garage door opener
• Built-in kitchen freezer
• Enhanced appliance aggregate

These items can be individually added to the main plan of your choice to customize to your specific needs. For more details on specific coverages, be sure to see our Terms and Conditions too. 

5. Did these questions help you define the right plan and options for you?

If so, you can get a clear chart with pricing on all of this over on our Plans and Pricing page and proceed to order through the website. 

If you need more support, give us a call at 602.733.5000. We can help you get clear on what plan and options you need to protect your home.

What is covered in a Platinum home warranty? And, what isn’t covered? We’re asked these questions often! 

In a dream world, a home warranty would cover ALL things related to your home. But the reality is — we don’t cover everything. We think it’s important that you know that from the get-go. Though we aim to provide fair coverage, there are items that lie beyond our offerings. Some basics as to what we do and don’t cover are included below. 

What are some examples of covered items? 

Your home warranty covers systems or appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. These systems and appliances must have been maintained in line with manufacturer recommendations and meet federal, state and local manufacturer specifications and industry codes and standards. Some commonly covered items include:

• air conditioning and heating issues
• appliance repairs
• plumbing stoppages
• water heater repair and replacement
• garbage disposal replacement
• electrical repair and replacement

This is just the tip of the iceberg! For more specifics, see our Coverage Terms and Conditions. 

What are some examples of non-covered items? 

It is important to understand that a home warranty will NOT cover all possible repairs on your home’s systems and appliances. Common non-covered items include:

• improper maintenance
• damage from pets or pests
• acts of God
• manufacturer recall
• obsolete parts
• cosmetic repairs

While maintenance is not included as part of your warranty contract, we can help arrange assistance for reduced fees. Maintenance includes items such as air conditioning coil cleaning, hot water heater flushing, and pool filters and filtration cleaning.

For more specifics, see our Coverage Terms and Conditions. 

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If you have more coverage questions, give us a call at 602.733.5000. We’re glad to help you understand what to expect!

Ready to order your warranty? Check out your Plan & Pricing options here.

Trying to compare home warranty companies? We know it can be a lot to tackle. Apples to oranges is certainly an appropriate phrase to use here. First and foremost, there are differences in plans and coverages. We encourage you to spend time examining those important coverage details.

Above and beyond specific plans and coverages, we want to draw your attention to some less technical characteristics. They can make a big difference in your overall experience, and you may have strong preferences in these areas.

Location of support team

When you call in for service, will you speak to someone locally or on the other side of the country? Will that person truly understand the challenges of Phoenix’s extreme heat and climate-associated needs? Be sure to pay attention to which companies are national and which are local, so you know what to expect from day one.

In-house technicians or third party contractors

Do you appreciate the ability to develop a relationship with the company and the technicians coming to service your property? If so, you may prefer a company that has its own technician team; you will be exposed to the same faces again and again and have the opportunity to feel known by that team.

Customer care and follow-up

Do you like built-in opportunities to give feedback? A company with a strong customer care department or follow-up program may be important to you. For instance, at Platinum, we call our customers after every service call to make sure they’re happy and find out any ways we can improve.

Platinum’s perspective

We’ll be candid and say that these are three things we believe set us apart from our competitors — our local support, in-house technician team and customer care program. We truly believe they make a difference in the customer service experience, and many homeowners aren’t aware of these differences between companies. We encourage you to consider your own preferences as you make your choice and ask each company for the scoop about what they offer.

If you need help understanding home warranties or what Platinum offers, be sure to reach out. We’re here to help! 602.733.5000.

The Way We Roll

It’s a bit of anthem ‘round these parts. The technician who shows up at your door will be someone we know and trust. See, we operate a bit differently than your typical home warranty company. We have our own in-house technicians who service most of our claims. These are guys and gals we work with on a daily basis. We know them and would trust them in our own family’s home. We’ve extensively background checked them, and we’re always working with them to ensure they know their stuff.

Versus The Typical Home Warranty Company

Most other home warranty companies send all of their claims to outside vendors. They may boast huge networks, but what that also means is — they don’t intimately know the repairman that’s going to show up at your door. We’ve heard too many horror stories about what those folks show up looking like, how they conduct themselves and the shifty nature of many of those dealings. While that certainly isn’t every situation, we know those less-than-stellar stories pop up far too frequently for our comfort. Hence why we do things a little differently.

Qualities You’ll Find In Our Technicians

What can you expect from our tech team? Here are some top qualities of a Platinum technician.

• Trustworthy – Someone you’re comfortable having in your home

The technicians who come out have been very good at their trades diagnosing and/or fixing the problems on the 1st attempt. Since they employ their own HVAC and plumbers you don’t have the hassle or uncertainty of referral companies you don’t know.

– Kathleen K., Phoenix

• Expert, knowledgeable – Knows his/her stuff

Platinum Home Warranty is one fantastic company. We have been with them for seven years and they have immediately fixed anything that went wrong under their coverage. What is really nice is that every person that has come out has been totally professional and knew exactly what was wrong and fixed it very quickly.

– Barbara S., Phoenix

• Reliable, timely – Gives you a heads up when on the way and shows up on time

The technicians (plumber and electrician) were both timely in calling in advance and arriving precisely at the appointed time. They were quick, accurate in troubleshooting and answered all of my questions. Both technicians went above and beyond to provide me with helpful information in what to look for regarding any potential problems that may surface in the future. Truly the overall experience was pleasant and far exceeded my expectations.

– Kellie K., Phoenix

• Dedicated – Goes above and beyond to address your concerns

Although the issues was not re-createable during the service call, the technician went the extra mile to check all possible reasons for the problem described without an attitude. He took his time and did it right.

– Star P., Phoenix

• Friendly – Treats you and your home with kindness and care

[The technician] was great. He’s come to my house before. He remembered the house. He remembered all the little details. In fact, he was like, “you got new landscaping.” It’s pretty cool to have somebody that pays that kind of attention to customers.

– Jane V., Phoenix

Before purchasing a home warranty, you’re likely to wonder – when does a home warranty come in handy? It’s a valuable question to make sure your dollars are being spent wisely! 

We’ve outlined some common scenarios to help answer that question. These are great examples of when you’ll be glad to have a home warranty in place.

Scenario 1: The garbage disposal stops working. 

A fussy garbage disposal is no fun, and a home warranty can be quite helpful. Assuming the concern is normal wear and tear, this is within the scope of home warranty coverage. A plumber can help resolve the jam or replace the garbage disposal if necessary. 

By the way, a good rule of thumb — if you can’t chew it up yourself, don’t expect your garbage disposal to handle it. Only put items down your sink that can be broken down with ease.

Scenario 2: The toilet gets stopped up. 

Yes, this is another not-so-exciting, but common, concern. Similar to the garbage disposal, your home warranty will come in handy here assuming the issue is related to standard use. That means – don’t throw anything you shouldn’t down there! 

Most of the time the plumber can clear the stoppage with a snake. In some more complicated cases, a full toilet replacement may be necessary and typically would be covered by your home warranty.

Scenario 3: The water heater stops heating or starts leaking. 

Not heating? It’s likely an element problem. Leaky? It may end up requiring replacement. Either way, this typically is within the scope of home warranty coverage. 

An extra tip — be sure to flush your water heater at least once a year. Doing so can remove some of the sediment that builds up over time and thus extend the life of the water heater.

Scenario 4: The AC stops running or blows hot air. 

This, of course, is a biggie here in the Valley of the Sun. Our AC units take a big beating, so repair needs are likely. Covered AC issues range quite a bit from failed capacitors, compressors, motors and contactors to leaks within the system. 

When problems arise, here’s a good first step — check for dead batteries in the thermostat or bad circuit breakers or fuses. Also make sure you’ve changed your air filters recently, which should be done every month to maintain proper airflow. 

Scenario 5: The microwave stops working.

When your microwave decides to stop doing its thing, a home warranty can help too. An appliance technician will be able to trace the source of the problem and resolve the issue through repair or replacement. 

While every home and scenario is unique, these examples help paint a picture of typical home warranty claims. When one of these common home issues arises, a home warranty can serve as a go-to plan for repairs that helps bring a bit of convenience and predictability.