Anyone have experience with HomeServe sewer insurance?

Question

HomeServe offers a $10k exterior sewer line coverage plan for $5.99/month per property in Kansas City, KS. They say rental properties are eligible. The only criteria is that the owner must not be aware of a pre-existing drain line issue. I was planning to get video inspection on 8 sewer lines in a couple of weeks, and now I wonder whether the insurance is a better idea. Thoughts?

Ron Singh · Answer

@Jacob Ansbacher

@Sandi Hague @Dave Clauson

good question

can anyone who used it can share their Experience ?

Mateusz Prawdzik · Answer

@Jacob Ansbacher @Sandi Hague@Dave ClausonOHHHH don't even get me started... Ok, so my first ever flip, the water line was busted and the sewer line was busted too. I bought the insurance coverage for it (it's called American Water Resource over in NJ), it was the biggest PINTA ever. It took 3 months for them to tell that there was something wrong with my water line... they didn't even fix it... they said that it wasn't broken that it was clogged. I had to fix it myself by getting 3 guys to come dig it up and then a plumber had to abandon the old line, drill a new hole into the foundation and damage the sheetrock and put a new water service (cost me about 1600 total). Now the house was already finished and about to be put on the market and this pushed me back about 3 months, but then again I'm the idiot that didn't test the water until the very end when I should of turned the water on the street the second day I got the house..

But long story short, when it comes to insurance... Taking money from you, they will hound you until they die. Giving money back to fix a problem (even after you pay for the insurance), they will slap you around and tell you there is no problem on their side even though there clearly is a problem. They will go back and forth with you and if you don't push them, they won't do anything. I spent 3 months fighting a unwinnable battle when I finally decided the time is way more worth than $1600. This was a good learning experience for sure, and I'm glad you brought this up because I wanted to tell this story to everyone so they know what to expect.

You need to dig a 3 ft x 6 foot hole in order to fix this problem. Depending on the length of the yard, I would hire 3 guys to dig for you and get a plumber to fix the problem. Pipe Splitting or whatever it is called is going to run you about $1000 more but it's less digging.

I am attaching a picture of what it looked it.

Jacob Ansbacher · Answer

I also just purchased homeserve insurance for exterior sewer lines.  Is this a hoax?  Does anyone have any experience with an exterior line claim?

Thanks

Sandi Hague · Answer

Thanks, Dave - that's helpful!