MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - March 14, 2016) - Spring, the season of new beginnings also marks the start of the busiest home selling and buying season. And according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), 2016 is set to be active with a 3 percent increase in total home sales over the previous year.

This spring, American Home Shield, the nation's largest provider of home warranties, is arming prospective homebuyers and sellers with valuable data and expert-tested tips that may help make real estate transactions a little bit smoother.

"Selling or purchasing a home is one of the biggest and most important transactions many consumers will make in their lifetime," says Tim Haynes, president of American Home Shield, a business unit of ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV). "We've worked with millions of buyers, sellers and real estate professionals over the years, and we know how important it is for everyone involved to make smart decisions that will help a home stand out in a competitive real estate market, while protecting against costly breakdowns."

For both buyers and sellers, a home warranty can set a home apart from others on the market. For a seller: a home warranty means less worry about unexpected repair costs or finding a qualified service technician if a covered item breaks down during the selling process. And, for a prospective buyer: a warranty can provide new homeowners with additional confidence, knowing that major systems and appliances are covered in the event of a breakdown.

American Home Shield shares additional expert-approved tips to assist home sellers and prospective buyers with the real estate process.

• Sellers: Improve Curb Appeal -- First impressions matter. Take your home's exterior from drab to fab. Trim shrubs, mow the lawn and remove all dirt/debris from outside. Make sure the house numbers, mailbox and lighting fixtures near the front door look inviting. Add plants and comfy furniture to the porch for a welcoming touch.
• Sellers: Optimize The Space -- Add the illusion of extra square footage using the same paint in a lighter shade across rooms to create a seamless transition. Remove family photos and any customized decorations so the buyer can picture living in the home. Lastly, have a professional cleaner make your home shine, paying special attention to often-neglected areas like carpets, ceiling fans and baseboards to make a bigger impact.
• Buyers: Do Your Homework -- Narrow your home search to particular areas and neighborhoods that appeal to you with regard to housing prices, school districts and work commuting times. Determine your budget and stick to it. Familiarize yourself with the real estate market and your rights as a homebuyer. Know your credit score and take steps to improve it, if necessary.
• Buyers: Ask the Right Questions -- Don't be afraid to ask the seller directly "what's wrong with the house?" Ask to see disclosure forms around any issues with the house and check the age/condition of major home systems, like heating, plumbing, electrical and air conditioning. This can save you costs in the long run. Additionally, an independent professional home inspection is highly recommended. This is an investment that can pay for itself many times over, especially if hidden defects are found.
• Buyers: Protect yourself -- Home warranties and homeowners insurance may sound alike, but they're very different. Don't assume that you have all the protection you need with homeowners insurance alone. Unlike a home warranty, insurance typically doesn't cover breakdowns of major home systems and appliances, and those can be costly to repair or replace.
• Buyers and Sellers: Be Prepared -- With listing coverage, a home warranty can help a seller avoid costly repair expenses while their home is on the market. This coverage can be transferred to the buyer, or a buyer may even purchase it later if a warranty isn't included in the real estate transaction. Many homebuyers are financially stretched thanks to down payments, inspections, moving expenses and more. A home warranty provides valuable coverage against unexpected repair costs.

According to a 2015 American Home Shield consumer survey, over the last five years, homeowners have spent an average of nearly $1,300 on repairing or replacing major home systems/appliances. What's more, two of five homeowners (39%) say they don't have an emergency fund for these unexpected costs.

For more information and helpful home buying and selling tips from American Home Shield, visit www.ahs.com or the Home Matters Blog and YouTube Channel. Visitors will find hundreds of maintenance tips, videos and content for homeowners to help protect homes from the inside out.

About American Home Shield 
American Home Shield founded the home warranty industry in 1971 and remains the industry leader. American Home Shield, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, services 1.6 million customers in all 50 states. The companies operate four customer service centers, employ approximately 1,800 employees and have a national contractor network made up of over 11,000 independent home service contractors and more than 45,000 service technicians. American Home Shield is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), one of the world's largest residential and commercial service networks. Go to www.ahs.com for more information about American Home Shield or follow the company online at facebook.com/team.ahs or twitter.com/ahs_warranty.

About ServiceMaster 
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned locations and franchise and license agreements. The company's portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). We serve residential and commercial customers through an employee base of approximately 13,000 company employees and a franchise network that independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/ServiceMaster.

Survey Methodology
The 2015 American Home Shield Consumer Survey presents the findings of an online survey conducted by Toluna from December 7-8, 2015 among a sample of 1,100 American homeowners and prospective (next 12 months) homeowners 18 years of age and older. The margin of error for a sample of this size is ± 3% at a 95% level of confidence.