What are the Best Home Warranty Companies?
🏡 Protecting Your Biggest Investment 🏡
Buying a new home can be the biggest investment you ever make. It’s exciting to imagine starting a new chapter of your life in a fresh and new environment. However, with this purchase comes great responsibility, especially with regards to fixing any damages or replacements that may occur in your new home. Home warranties can help you protect this investment if any unexpected household issues arise.
If you're unsure of what home warranty entails--it is essentially a contract between the homeowner and the warranty company. Home warranty covers the cost of repairs or replacements of appliances and home systems such as air conditioning, heating systems, and electrical. So, in the event that something unexpectedly goes wrong, your home warranty plan will cover the repair or replacement of the item that is covered under the contract. The main advantage, then, of having a good home warranty plan is the peace of mind in knowing that when something inevitably goes wrong, you are protected.
If you're currently considering purchasing a home warranty plan, read on to learn about the best home warranty companies available to you.
🔍 How We Determined the Best 🔍
We decided to review and evaluate different home warranty companies by examining several factors:
- Reputation and Credibility of the company
- Plan Details and Tiers
- Coverage
- Support and Service
- Pricing and Fees
With these factors in mind, we came up with a comprehensive list of top notch home warranty companies that would best cater to homeowners with different household needs.
👍 The Best Home Warranty Companies For Your Money 👍
After much research and analysis, we’ve gathered a list of the best home warranty companies based on affordability, customer reviews, and coverage:
| Company | Coverage | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield | Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating | $500-$800 |
| Choice Home Warranty | Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating | $400-$600 |
| Liberty Home Guard | Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating | $400-$525 |
| First American Home Warranty | Kitchen and Laundry Appliances, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating | $300-$500 |
| AFC Home Club | Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, Appliances | $400-$600 |
American Home Shield
American Home Shield is a leading home warranty company that has been around since 1971. They have a vast network of service contractors that are accessible to their customers whenever issues arise. They offer reasonable plans and pricing, making them one of the most popular choices in the market.
Strengths:
- Available in 49 states.
- Great for customer service and quality work from service contractors.
- Offers a wide array of plans with flexible payment options.
- 24/7 customer support service.
Weaknesses:
- Long waiting periods.
- Not the most budget-friendly option.
- They charge a service fee of $75-$125 per service request.
- Not as efficient in handling emergency requests compared to others.
Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty has been in the business for over a decade and boasts of a customer satisfaction rate of about 98%. They also offer affordable plans, one of which includes a free two-month extension on your first policy purchase.
Strengths:
- Has two Comprehensive Plans
- No age limit on home appliances and systems.
- Their optional-free roof leak coverage helps to cover the cost of leaks.
- Great customer satisfaction rate of 98%.
Weaknesses:
- They charge $85 for all service calls regardless of the amount of work done.
- They are one of the less comprehensive options.
- It's difficult to get through to customer service without long wait times.
- Not every service incident will be covered, and the company decides which replacements are necessary based on the age and condition of the item.
Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard is one of the newer companies on this list but has quickly gained popularity for its comprehensive coverage and affordable rates. They offer customizable plans that cater to your particular household needs, which is helpful when you need a specific coverage item tailored to your home.
Strengths:
- Independently review contractors to make sure they're qualified to work on your home's systems and appliances.
- They are flexible with plan pricing.
- Extra packages can be added to coverage policies for different items of your home such as POOL systems.
- Immediate customer service help can be accessed with their easy-to-use online account.
Weaknesses:
- Not available in California, Georgia, and Washington.
- Their coverage program is not as clear and concise as some of the other company alternatives.
- Their optional-free roof leak coverage helps to cover the cost of leaks.
- Their automated phone system is poor.
First American Home Warranty
First American Home Warranty is another big-name company with over 35 years of experience and a high customer satisfaction rating. All of their plans cover a wide range of standard items and systems your home needs.
Strengths:
- All their plans include garbage disposals, ductwork, plumbing stoppages, etc.
- Available in 35 states.
- Their Premier plan includes protection for pools, spas, and household appliances.
- All contractors are licensed and insured.
Weaknesses:
- Their customer service department is not available 24/7.
- Their website is not user-friendly.
- If they require a repair of a covered item, customers have no say in which contractor is appointed to conduct the repair.
- The Warranty solutions only have 1-2 days of turn around time.
AFC Home Club
AFC Home Club provides comprehensive home warranty services that are customizable to your preferences. Their three service contract types (Gold plans, Platinum plans, and Systems plans) consist of different options to fit different household requirements.
Strengths:
- 24/7 customer service support
- Fair pricing system with three different plans to choose from
- Their Company has trained contractors to ensure the quality of work done.
- Great online customer portal for viewing plan details and filing claims.
Weaknesses:
- Not available in all states
- The their pricing can get quite expensive
- If the system installed into a home is damaged before the policy is bought, it would not be protected
- Their coverage area is not so vast compared to many others.
❓FAQs: All the Answers You Need ❓
Q: What does a home warranty generally cover?
A: A home warranty generally covers appliances, electrical systems, air conditioning systems, heating systems, and plumbing systems.
Q: How much does a home warranty plan cost?
A: Typically, a home warranty plan may cost between $400-$800 annually.
Q: What is the difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance?
A: Homeowner's insurance protects the structure of your home from unforeseen disasters such as fires and explosion, while a home warranty covers the repair or replacement of systems and appliances that have failed due to normal wear and tear.
Q: Can I choose my repair person when using my home warranty?
A: No, you will be assigned a repair person when you file a claim with your home warranty company.
Q: What are the coverage limitations of home warranties?
A: Each home warranty policy is different, but it will generally not cover pre-existing conditions, neglect, or misuse of the appliance or system. Effectively, such events are seen as acts that require homeowner's personal responsibility.
Q: What is the length of time for standard home warranty plans?
A: Most home warranty policies last for a year, though there are several companies that offer extended coverage for longer periods of time.
Q: Are home warranties beneficial?
A: Home warranties can be very beneficial. They provide a safety net from unforeseen costs associated with repairing or replacing broken appliances and household systems.
👉 The Final Word 👈
The best home warranty companies provide peace of mind and protection for your biggest investment. Each company we’ve listed displays different strengths and weaknesses; ultimately, it depends on what's best for your specific situation. It is important to consider the plan details, pricing, and customer reviews when choosing a home warranty company.
Choose your home warranty company based on the criteria that best meets your specific and unique household needs.
Protect your home with the right home warranty company today!
👨💻 Disclaimer! 👩💻
The content provided in this article is presented as general information and is not intended to, nor does it, constitute legal or any other kind of professional advice. Before making any decision or taking any action, readers are advised to contact an attorney or other relevant professional within their home state.
The author and the website publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or business that depends on the information presented in this article.