I've recently attended a course regarding RSC's (Residential Service Contracts.) These are companies that are regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission. They provide a warranty-like product to home-buyers. There are MANY different companies in Texas and each offer vastly different coverages. I keep a few different brochures for these companies in my office so that my buyer clients can read over each sample contract and choose the one that fits the items they're concerned about. The majority of these products DO NOT cover any pre-existing conditions. That is why it's very important to hire a property inspector to inspect the home prior to closing. One thing that I learned at this seminar was the importance of having your HVAC unit inspected prior to closing. The HVAC system is probably the most expensive component of your home and by far the component you would most want covered by a RSC. I was shocked to learn that even if a buyer has a property inspection, the RSC company may decline to cover a HVAC repair if the unit was not inspected by a HVAC technician prior to closing. Only an HVAC technician is licensed to open up and examine the evaporator coil and other components. If you have a problem with your HVAC unit after closing and the RSC company finds that the problem was pre-existing, they may not cover that very expensive HVAC repair/replacement. However if you hire a property inspector AND a HVAC technician to conduct inspections, you should be made aware of any repairs that will need to be made in order to provide full coverage from your RSC company. I have begun to make it common practice to suggest my buyer clients ask the sellers to have the HVAC cleaned and serviced and provide a report during the buyer's option period as a part of the contract.