[JanH]

We've learned the hard way. We have a contract with a termite company. This house has had termites several times. Without a contract, we paid a lot! The last time didn't cost us except for the yearly fee. Yep, we could save the money, but the previous owners had termites and we have had them twice in a little over a decade. It pays for itself quickly like that. Also, we have a a/c-heater contract. It, too, has paid for itself several times. They have caught things and manage to keep our old a/c functioning year after year. They may have saved our lives when they caught the furnace problem. It just about melted through and we wouldn't have known it. I haven't had to pay for most repairs. They are covered under the contract. Both contracts run about 160 per year apiece. (We did have to pay for a new furnace, but it has had replaced parts twice and no charge.) We don't buy warranties for appliances, though.