If Blair Hoskins could sell Snoopy a home warranty for his dog house, she would. The Peanuts cartoon beagle clearly loves his little red home, decorating it for holidays and working atop it as he types his stories. It wouldn’t be unexpected for something to go wrong with his home’s systems or appliances, assuming he has such things.

“I’m Peanuts obsessed,” says Blair, First American Home Warranty’s area manager for Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Northeastern North Carolina. “People know I usually have something Peanuts on — a watch band, a bracelet — and I send fun cards with a Peanuts image.”

Blair’s love of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the others is so well-known, her clients often send her notes about cute Peanuts items. 

Blair is more likely to be educating real-life, human real estate clients on the value of a home warranty than a cartoon character, but it’s an endeavor she has treasured over the past nine years.

Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Blair was working as a commercial leasing agent in the Hampton Roads area when she became intrigued with residential real estate and came to First American. She has won the company’s Rookie of the Year award, the Circle of Excellence and the President’s Club honors twice and is a President’s Club lifetime member. “I enjoy helping homeowners select a plan that works for their home, where they come to each night and spend time with their families,” she says.

A First American home warranty is a renewable service contract that protects a home’s systems and appliances from unexpected repair or replacement costs due to a failure from normal wear and tear. When a covered item breaks, First American sends a service contractor to the home to diagnose and repair or replace the item. Home warranties generally cover systems such as heating, air conditioning and plumbing and appliances, including dishwashers, ovens, clothes washers and dryers and refrigerators, with upgrades available. *In contrast, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover mechanical failures, so a home warranty can help bridge that gap in protection.

 

Blair offers a personal touch with her real estate clients and their customers, learning what concerns they might have. First American offers warranties for buyers, sellers and also agents, who often gift a warranty as part of the sale. A seller’s warranty can transfer to the buyer, protecting new owners from covered failures that could otherwise break their budget.

“When I have conversations with agents, it’s about the home’s coverage needs,” she says. “How old are the systems or appliances? We have some of the most robust heating and cooling coverage in the industry. But older systems are not the only systems that fail; new appliances fail, too. I want to provide overall peace of mind.”

Blair’s coverage area includes Norfolk, Virginia, a U.S. Navy hub. Military families may have different concerns than other homeowners, and a home warranty can be especially beneficial for clients who may not be from the area and could benefit from local expertise.

As a married mother of four, Blair knows how much a warranty can help offset unexpected household expenses. “Many people aren’t financially prepared for the failure of an HVAC system or a water heater," she shares. "If tomorrow, your washing machine conks out, you will say ‘Thank goodness for my warranty.'"

 

“I do not sell a warranty and go along my way,” Blair says. “I’ve gotten calls from customers from years ago who have questions. I’m here to help.” Blair is committed to the community, too, where she is raising her family and is active in local events. She and her family enjoy vacationing together, playing cards and board games, eating meals together and attending sporting events and concerts. 

Over the years, Blair has developed a strong sense of loyalty to her clients and believes her dedication to customer service pays dividends long beyond the sale. “It’s rare to have a good customer experience these days,” she shares. “We just want to close the book and get on to the next thing. I don’t do that. I care about all my relationships.”