Warranties & costs hub
Home warranties, costs, and records
Understand the documents, terms, estimates, and evidence behind warranty, insurance, repair, and replacement decisions.
Guides in this collection
warrantiesThe 1% Rule for Home Maintenance Costs (Explained)
The 1% rule says budget 1% of your home's value a year for maintenance. Where it came from, a worked cost table by home value, and when it's wrong.
warrantiesQuestions to Ask a Contractor Before You Hire Them
The exact questions to ask a contractor before hiring: license and insurance checks, payment red flags, and warranty terms to get in writing.
warrantiesHow to Register Your Appliance Warranty (and Why It Matters)
Registering an appliance warranty isn't legally required to keep coverage valid, per FTC rules — but it speeds claims and gets you recall notices.
warrantiesRoof Repair Cost Guide: Leaks, Shingles & Patches
2026 roof repair costs by job: leak patches run $150-$1,550, shingle repairs $200-$800 per square, flashing $150-$1,600—plus what insurance actually covers.
warrantiesWhy You Should Save Appliance Receipts (and How)
Save appliance receipts for warranty claims, insurance claims after a loss, and home-office tax basis—plus how long to keep them and stopping thermal fading.
warrantiesWater Heater Replacement Cost: Gas, Electric & Tankless
2026 water heater replacement costs by type—gas tank, electric tank, tankless, heat pump—plus what pushes the price up and the repair-vs-replace line.
warrantiesWhat Does a Home Warranty Cover? (Item-by-Item Guide)
A home warranty typically covers HVAC, water heaters, plumbing, electrical, and major appliances—see the item-by-item coverage and exclusion table.
warrantiesWhen Does Your Appliance Warranty Expire? (Tracking Guide)
Most appliance warranties expire 1 year after purchase, but compressors and tanks run longer. Find your exact end date by appliance type.