Best Home Warranty Plans for Sellers in Southern California

Selling your home is more than just a transaction—it’s a major milestone. At The Elmer Team, we understand that preparing your home for the market involves more than just staging and pricing. One powerful tool sellers often overlook is a home warranty plan. Not only can it add peace of mind for potential buyers, but it can also reduce post-sale liability for you as the seller.

Let’s walk through why a home warranty plan might be the right move for your Southern California property and how to choose the best option.

A home warranty is a service contract that helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing major home systems and appliances—think HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and kitchen appliances—due to normal wear and tear. Unlike homeowner’s insurance (which covers things like fire or natural disasters), this type of plan is all about day-to-day function and aging equipment.

For sellers, offering a warranty as part of your listing can be a strategic selling advantage. It gives buyers confidence, helps set your home apart from others on the market, and could even justify a higher offer.

We often recommend home warranty plans to our clients because they:

• Boost buyer confidence: Buyers know they won’t be stuck with major unexpected repairs after closing.
• Reduce post-sale disputes: If something breaks, the warranty may cover it—protecting you from blame.
• Enhance your marketing appeal: A warranty is an added bonus you can highlight in listings, showings, and negotiations.

With over 20 years of experience selling homes across Long Beach, Lakewood, and the surrounding areas, we’ve seen firsthand how a well-timed home warranty can smooth the path to closing.

Home warranties come in various tiers, so think about what your home really needs:

• Basic plans usually cover core systems: HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.
• Comprehensive plans often include kitchen appliances, washers/dryers, and even pool equipment.

If your home has older systems or appliances, the extra coverage may be well worth the investment. For newer homes, a standard plan may be sufficient.

Home warranties typically include:

• An annual premium (ranging from a few hundred dollars to more)
• Service fees or deductibles for each repair visit

It’s important to balance the cost with the value provided. A cheaper plan might sound appealing, but it could come with high service fees or limited coverage. We help our sellers evaluate plans based on what’s best for their property and their goals.

Not all warranty companies are created equal. Work with a provider that:

• Has strong customer service reviews
• Offers fast response times
• Is familiar with the unique needs of California homeowners

We can connect you with trusted warranty providers we’ve worked with and that many of our clients have had great experiences with.

Before purchasing a plan, be sure to review the exclusions, limitations, and any maintenance requirements. Some systems may be excluded, or there may be a waiting period before coverage begins.

We’ll help ensure the warranty aligns with your property’s current condition so there are no surprises down the line—for you or the buyer.

The best time to put a home warranty in place is before listing. That way, we can highlight it in your home’s marketing and show buyers you’ve gone the extra mile. But it’s never too late—even mid-listing or during escrow, we can add one in.

Once you’ve secured a plan, we’ll make sure it’s front and center:

• On your MLS listing and flyers
• In open house conversations
• In the digital marketing materials we create for your listing

Buyers want peace of mind. Show them you're providing it.

We’ll help you clearly explain how the warranty works during showings and in negotiations. Providing a handout or brochure can go a long way, especially if buyers are on the fence.

With the Elmer Team’s expert marketing strategy and buyer psychology insight, we make sure this benefit doesn’t go unnoticed.

Choosing the right home warranty is important—but pairing it with the right real estate team makes all the difference. At The Elmer Team, we’ve helped over 280 sellers close successfully, with over $192M in transaction volume. We sell 50–75 homes per year, which means we know exactly how to navigate the SoCal market and maximize every listing opportunity—including value-adds like warranties.

Let’s Make Your Sale as Smooth as Possible