You just purchased your dream house along with the all the perfect décor that turns your dream house into your dream home. It's been a few months and everything is unpacked and placed in its designated spot within your new home. So you turn your attention to rebuilding your savings account since it was depleted from the biggest and most important purchase of your life. However, within a few months of living in your dream home, you experience a costly unexpected expense when your heater blows out during the winter.
With a new mortgage payment and a limited amount in savings, you're looking at numerous financial options on how to pay for this unexpected expense. Fortunately, you purchased a home protection plan that will cover this expense as well as any major systems and appliances that may need repair or replacement in your home.
Home warranties typically include coverage the following major appliances and systems:
Home warranties are offered to all homeowners whether they are new or existing. Typically, home warranty plans are offered to the home-buyer when they are purchasing a new home. However, if the buyer decides not to purchase home warranty insurance simultaneously with their home purchase, then they can secure a home protection plan at a later date. There is no time restriction as to when a homeowner can decide to purchase a warranty plan.
Typically, a home warranty costs a couple hundred dollars, which can be paid in a lump sum amount during the purchase of a new home. This lump sum payment would be collected at the time closing costs are due for the newly purchased home. However, the seller, real estate agent or a family member or friend can purchase home warranties on behalf of a home-buyer. If a home appliance insurance claim is filed then the homeowner may be responsible for paying a service fee or deductible that typically ranges from $50 to $100. Please note, home warranty companies have different contract agreements therefore, fee amounts may vary.
Filing a claim is a very simple process. Prior to filing your claim, review your insurance contract to verify the item that you need to repair or replace is covered under your plan. Once you verify this information, you'll complete the following steps:
As there are many providers to choose from that have a variety of plan options; the best home warranty companies depend on how they can meet the needs of your home. The best way to select the right home protection plan for you is by doing your research on what each company has to offer with their plans. For instance, if you have a home with older appliances then you may be interested in locating a plan that has home appliance insurance. Want to learn more before choosing? Here are some tips and tricks to get you up-to-date.
Convinced? Check out our expert written reviews for information on the top providers for home warranty. Once you've selected the plan that best fits your needs, you'll join the many homeowners that have peace of mind because they are protected by one of the top home warranty companies.
Choice Home Warranty is a budget-friendly option ideal for first-time homeowners. Choose between their customizable Basic Plan (12 items) and Total Plan (16 items) to receive up to $3,000 in coverage for each successful claim.
Jake Hill, CEO of DebtHammer, highlights that Choice Home Warranty is also "especially helpful for owners of older homes" since they don't "deny coverage based on the age of your home's systems or appliances."
Instead of varying their service fees, they only charge a flat $85 per claim. You also get your first month free if you're a new customer.
Why we chose Choice Home Warranty: A stand-out from other services, Choice Home Warranty responds swiftly to queries and claims, delivers reliable customer service, and has affordable annual premiums.
Our experience: We were impressed with Choice Home Warranty's fast turnaround time when submitting online and phone claims. The support specialists we worked with were knowledgeable and quickly provided helpful information.
Select Home Warranty provides competitively priced coverage for most major appliances and systems. Their premiums start at just $36/month, which is more affordable than other home warranty companies.
Jennifer Spinelli, real estate professional, investment advisor, and founder and CEO of Cash For Houses, calls Select Home Warranty "reliable and trustworthy." She adds that she no longer worries about "costly repairs or replacements due to breakdowns or malfunctions."
Three different plans are available and all of them include free roof leak coverage. However, Select Home Warranty's services aren't available in Nevada, Washington, or Wisconsin.
Why we chose Select Home Warranty: Their affordable premiums and minimal fees elevate them above their competitors. It's also convenient that they offer two months free with their annual plan.
Our experience: We were particularly impressed with Select Home Warranty's 24/7 friendly phone support and free roof leak coverage.
Operating since 1971, American Home Shield is the largest and most established company in the US home warranty market, with over two million members.
Tommy Gallagher, former investment banker and founder of Top Mobile Banks, was "impressed with the range of contractors they have available and the quality of service they provide."
Choose from their three customizable plans—ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The ShieldSilver plan only covers 14 major systems, while the ShieldGold plan covers 23.
For additional perks, ShieldPlatinum comes with complete system and appliance coverage. This includes cost-saving add-ons like free HVAC tune-ups, unlimited A/C refrigerant, coverage for rooks leaks and code violations, and higher payout caps for repairs and replacements.
Why we chose American Home Shield: They operate in 47 states and Washington DC, and you can customize your plan. American Home Shield automatically covers duplicate items, plus older items with rust or corrosion.
Our experience: We found American Home Shield to be an excellent option for anyone seeking highly customizable plans and access to an extensive network of contractors. We could easily find a plan that suited our needs.
Home Warranty of America has comprehensive policies that cover most appliances and indoor systems. Offering up to $15,000 in annual coverage for repairs and replacements, they also have 24/7 online or phone service requests and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
They may be a little pricier than some competitors, but you get a lot for your money—all plans come with a deductible per-service visit.
Why we chose Home Warranty of America: Home Warranty of America provides nationwide service and is good value for money when covering all appliances.
Our experience: We were impressed with Home Warranty of America's extensive coverage and efficient customer service. It was easy to set up a plan, and we appreciated their 30-day money-back guarantee.
First American Home Warranty is an ideal choice for those seeking robust home protection for their systems and appliances. The company has been in business since 1984 and claims it's saved homeowners over $219 million in repair costs.
Coverage comes in the form of two basic plans and a premium plan. First American Home Warranty's best features include that they protect items regardless of age and replace faulty items with brand-new equivalents if they can't repair them.
Why we chose First American Home Warranty: First American Home Warranty offers specialized plans for both real estate professionals and service providers. They also have 24/7 claims service, fully vetted tradespeople, and a transparent application process.
Our experience: We liked First American Home Warranty's response times, which were significantly faster than other companies.
Home Service Club (HSC) offers two service plans: Standard and Comprehensive. The Standard plan covers 18 basic appliances and systems, while the Comprehensive plan covers 33. Optional add-ons, such as pool and roof coverage, are available for an extra fee.
HSC's unique plans include pest damage and utility line cover, setting them apart from other home warranty services. You can also choose your service fee amount from three options ($65, $95, and $125), and all repairs have a 90-day guarantee.
However, HSC charges higher service fees and premiums than average. You must also live in a single-family residence, condo, townhouse, or multi-family property to qualify for a plan.
Why we chose Home Service Club: HSC has a broad selection of optional add-ons, including coverage of gas lines, grinder pumps, ductwork, pools, and spas. Additionally, the company's services are available nationwide with no exclusions.
Our experience: We appreciated that HSC provides coverage for pest damage, which many competitors don't.
ARW Home (formerly American Residential Warranty) is an ideal choice if you prefer to customize your plans. With four standard plan types and a wide range of add-ons, you can tailor-make an effective solution that meets your needs.
Their service fees are competitively priced at around $55 per call, and you can expect a technician on site within 48 hours. The only downside is that all claims must be filed via phone, and cancellation notices must be sent in writing.
Why we chose ARW Home: ARW Home stands out for its flexible plans with plenty of additional coverage options. Its service call fee is also much lower than other companies.
Our experience: We were impressed with the level of customization available with ARW Home. The range of plans enabled us to design exactly the type of financial protection we needed according to our budget.
With high ratings and great reviews, Liberty Home Guard has a reputation for delivering reliable service to customers.
They have three plans available (Systems Guard, Appliance Guard, and Total Home Guard) with optional financial protection for roof leaks, standalone freezers, generators, carpet cleaning, and power washing. New policyholders also get free limited roof leak protection and two free months of coverage.
Liberty Home Guard's exceptional claims process sets them apart from other home warranty providers. They have a 24/7 call center and guarantee to assign a contractor to a claim within 24 to 48 hours. They also have a network of over 10,000 qualified technicians in 48 states, excluding Washington and Wisconsin.
Why we chose Liberty Home Guard: Liberty Home Guard's rates start at just $1/day, and their technicians arrive within 24 to 48 hours of claim submissions.
Our experience: We were pleased with Liberty Home Guard's reliability, rapid claims processing, and excellent customer service.
Cinch Home Services has three core plans: Appliances, Built-in Systems, and Complete Home. The Appliances plan covers most of your home’s major devices and equipment, such as a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and washer and dryer. The Built-in Systems plan covers your home’s systems, such as your HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
If you need full home coverage, Complete Home combines the best of the Appliances and Built-in Systems plans into a complete package. New customers also receive their first two months for free.
Cinch Home Services has optional add-ons available, such as financial protection for swimming pools and spas, septic systems, and well pumps. Their Premier Upgrade Package provides up to $2,000 of coverage per year for charges not included in the home protection plan, such as permits, code upgrades and removal, and disposal costs.
Why we chose Cinch Home Services: Their 180-day workmanship guarantee and coverage for unknown pre-existing conditions are rare and valuable offerings on the market.
Our experience: We appreciated how easy it was to submit claims to Cinch Home Services. All we had to do was fill out a form, and then we could speak to a contractor to schedule the repair.
First Premier Home Warranty provides affordable services to homeowners across 32 states. Their Premier Plan covers 15 appliances and systems and is priced lower than some competitors. There's also a $75 deductible per claim.
You can get a free quote quickly by entering your contact details and property type. And if you pay annually, you get roof leak coverage and two months for free.
Why we chose First Premier: Their customer service is highly rated, with customers reporting quality and timely repairs. They also have a wide range of add-on coverage options.
Our experience: We found that First Premier had some of the lowest service fees in the industry. We liked that they aim to respond to all claims within 48 hours, and that customer support is available 24/7.
