By Kayla O’Brien
RISMEDIA, Feb. 15, 2008-Whether you’re working with a buyer or seller, especially in a slower real estate market, there’s a lot to be said about an agent who can offer their clients a particular selling point-confidence. For Prudential Fox & Roach, that confidence comes from working with HSA Home Warranty, providing options to their clients to ensure a smooth real estate process. And, at the start of 2008, after several successful years teaming up with HSA in the Prudential Fox & Roach offices in New Jersey, execs decided to expand their relationship to encompass the entire company.
“We’ve been very pleased with their commitment to customer service,” says Steve Storti, senior vice president of marketing for Prudential Fox & Roach. “They share our exact same philosophy and the kind of protection they offer facilitates real estate transactions, reduces and manages risk, and helps us move forward in a time when we need to be very conscious of continuing our level of service.”
HSA provides comprehensive, affordable home warranty coverage and service to existing homeowners, buyers, sellers, and agents representing all of the above. According to HSA, most homes experience at least two mechanical failures each year. For sellers, these failures could appear at a disappointing time in the sales process, as homes today may take up to 90 days or longer to sell.
“If the seller or the agent makes a commitment to buy a home warranty for the home, it is a great listing tool and comfort to the seller when it may be an elongated sales process with today’s market,” says Storti.
And when it comes to buyers, says Storti, having that protection when you first move into a home, with a highly responsive service provider, provides a great measure of comfort as well.
“By encouraging people to work with a quality service provider, they can take advantage of the fact that it facilitates transactions and minimizes the small difficulties that come up during the transaction,” says Storti. “Whenever you can get out in front of a problem and have a ready solution, you’re going to eliminate potential conflict and unanticipated cost for people. It is a good enhancement to the customer service we provide and enhances the customer service experience.”
Not to mention the fact that clients rely on agents to guide them easily through the real estate transaction. By having a home warranty provider in their toolkit, agents can provide assistance to their clients long after the initial real estate process; agents can help save their clients from the cost and aggravation that come with not having a home warranty.
“It’s something that can be used in the context of the sales process, allowing our agents to win more listings and potentially work more successfully with buyers,” says Storti. “It’s an add-on service that we offer people to enhance what we’re already offering to them as a Realtor.”
Moving forward, to spread the word to their entire company about its relationship with HSA, Prudential Fox & Roach plans to hold a series of seminars and Webinars with material for agents that explains the value of home warranties.
“HSA goes the extra mile to satisfy our customers and agents,” says Storti. “We’re looking forward to creating a larger relationship with HSA over the years. We’re pleased that we’ve been able to establish this kind of relationship.”
For more information, visit www.onlinehsa.com.