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Yes - and this surprises people who assume a home warranty is something you can only buy at closing. You can purchase a home warranty at any point in your homeownership: the day you close, three years into living in the house, or whenever your existing plan expires. There's no enrollment window tied to a real estate transaction. Any homeowner, at any time, can go to a warranty company's website, get a quote, and sign up. The one thing that changes depending on when you buy is the waiting period. If you purchase a home warranty as part of a real estate transaction - either the seller provides it or you buy one at closing - coverage typically starts the day the deal closes. No waiting. If you buy a plan independently as an existing homeowner, most companies impose a 30-day waiting period before coverage activates. This exists to prevent people from buying a warranty the day after something breaks, filing an immediate claim, and canceling. The waiting period closes that window. During those 30 days, you've paid for coverage that hasn't kicked in yet. Some companies use a shorter waiting period - 15 days is used by some providers, including ABC Home Warranty. A few premium plans eliminate the waiting period entirely for homeowners who agree to an initial inspection, which the company uses to document the current condition of your systems. Beyond timing, the eligibility rules are consistent with what you'd face at closing. Items must be in working order when coverage starts. Pre-existing conditions known at the time of purchase aren't covered. Older homes aren't excluded outright, but some companies require inspections on very old systems or apply lower caps to aging equipment. The practical takeaway: if you're a homeowner without a current warranty and something expensive is getting old, there's no reason to wait. Buy a plan now, accept the 30-day wait, and you'll be covered going forward. The one mistake to avoid is buying a plan after something has already failed and expecting it to cover that specific item - it won't. Sources: - When Can You Buy a Home Warranty? - ConsumerAffairs: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/when-can-you-buy-a-home-warranty.html - Can You Purchase A Home Warranty At Any Time? - Modernize: https://modernize.com/homeowner-resources/home-warranty/can-you-buy-a-home-warranty-at-any-time - Home Warranty Waiting Period Explained - First American Home Warranty: https://homewarranty.firstam.com/blog/how-soon-can-you-use-a-home-warranty-after-purchase - Can You Get a Home Warranty Anytime? - Dwellness: https://dwellness.house/blog/can-you-get-home-warranty-anytime/
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