Tiffany McDugle

A One-Stop Shop for Reliable Coverage

By Lindsey Wells

Photos by Gabrielle Fenske with Forever Joy Photography

Bringing peace of mind to sellers, buyers and real estate agents is the mission of Home Warranty of America (HWA). As a one-stop shop for home warranty products, HWA is built on helping homeowners protect their homes and budgets with simple, reliable solutions 365 days a year.

For most of us, our home is the biggest thing we’ll ever buy. And for most of us, the cost to unexpectedly repair a major appliance or system isn’t exactly an occurrence we welcome with open arms. Tiffany McDugle, an account executive for HWA, finds fulfillment in getting the word out about the importance of home warranties. “It’s guaranteed that within the first 60 to 90 days of having a home warranty, a client will file at least one claim, and they will save money while filing that claim,” she said. Unexpected breakdowns on appliances and mechanical systems can only be covered by a home warranty, not a homeowner’s insurance policy, which is only suitable for covering the loss from incidents like fire, storms or vandalism.

Something that sets this company apart from similar companies is that HWA is the original 13-month home warranty company. They also offer multiyear plans. Perhaps the most important thing, however, is the level of customer service that HWA is known for. “We offer the 13 months of coverage and the multiyear plans, and those are great, but when a client chooses to purchase their home warranty from HWA, they are also getting me,” Tiffany said. “I’m always available via phone, text and email. I want you to know that I’m not just trying to sell you something, and then after the sale, I disappear, and you have no point of contact. I’m always here, not only for you as a real estate agent to assist with your home warranty orders that you may have, but also to assist your clients and answer their questions. If your clients have to file a claim, if something does break down, call me, and I’m here for the escalation part of it. I step in, and we will make it right.”

With the housing market the way it is now, protecting your home either as a seller or a buyer is just as important as ever. “So many people are paying over asking price right now just to get into their dream home,” Tiffany said. “They’re pulling 401(k)s and savings just to move into this home — and then something goes wrong, and they have to pay for that. That’s what the home warranty is for: to help offset those costs when you have a breakdown or failure of a unit. The 13-month coverage begins for them the day of closing.”

For sellers, HWA offers free sellers’ coverage while their home is listed on the market. “They don’t want to continue dumping money into a home that they’re trying to get rid of,” Tiffany said. “It also just helps their home stand out from other homes. If I’m a buyer and I’m looking at homes and see, ‘Wow, they have free sellers’ coverage on it,’ that’s a home warranty, and I’m more likely to go with that house over one that isn’t protected. Then, the hope is that the sellers will transfer that warranty to a 13-month home warranty for their buyers and keep it going.”

The company culture of HWA is unique in itself. It is all about making things right — both for its clients and employees. “We always try to do the right thing. Our motto is, ‘We’ve got you covered.’ I’m a very social person, I love to talk to people, I love to make new friends, and I like to be very real with expectations,” Tiffany said. “I’m not just trying to sell something just to sell it; what I sell, or promote, if you will, is something I truly believe in. I’m loyal and hardworking and on a mission to be there for agents. As a real estate agent, their hours are not 8-5, Monday through Friday, and mine generally aren’t either. I love to help and answer questions any time, day or night, for my agents.”

While Tiffany’s sales territory covers all of Michigan except for Detroit, she was born and raised and currently lives in a small town right out of Houston, Texas, with her husband William and two children, Garrett, 12, and Ellison, 9. Tiffany and William will celebrate 15 years of marriage in November. William is a district chief for a local fire department in Texas and serves part-time as a firefighter, which he has done since high school.

When the family isn’t working or in school, they can usually be found doing something outside, whether it’s watching the kids play sports, hunting, fishing or swimming in their pool. “As a family, we are avid hunters,” Tiffany said. “We deer hunt, duck hunt, pig hunt, dove hunt — you name it. We have a deer lease in West Texas, so we’re usually spending half of the year there and half the year at the lake. We also have a lake lot in North Texas; we have a camper there, so we love to camp and fish. All things outdoors are kind of our thing.”

To learn more about HWA, visit hwahomewarranty.com, or contact Tiffany at 281-731-7231 or tiffany. mcdugle@hwahomewarranty.com.

Tiffany McDugle, HWA Home Warranty - Partner Spotlight