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HomeFinancial AdvisorBest Home Warranty Companies | Updated May 2022

Best Home Warranty Companies | Updated May 2022


The best home warranties can help take some of the hassles out of homeownership, and that’s true whether you’re buying a new home or an existing property.

With a home warranty in place, you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing many of your home’s major components are covered for repairs or replacement. The best part? You can pay a monthly cost or an annual fee, and you can customize your warranty to provide the exact coverage you need.

That said, not all home warranties are equal, and some offer more features or better pricing than others. With that in mind, we compared the top 20 home warranty companies to find ones that stand by their promises and come with a generous list of inclusions.

Select Home Warranty made our ranking due to their robust home warranty plans with many inclusions, but we can also recommend American Home Shield, Choice Home Warranty, and other companies that offer quality home warranty products.

***Monthly plan costs are based on a 3,000-square-foot home in Central Indiana.

Our Picks for Best Home Warranties in 2022

Best Home Warranties – Company Reviews

While each provider that made our ranking offers high-quality home warranties, some home warranty plans may be better suited to your needs. The following home warranty reviews can help you decide which home warranty plan will provide the coverage you need the most, whether you want comprehensive coverage for every component of your home or you’re mostly seeking a basic warranty plan.

Best Comprehensive Plans: Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty offers three different plans that can help you cover unexpected repair bills. Options include a Bronze Care basic plan, a mid-tier Gold Care home warranty plan, and a Platinum Care plan with all the bells and whistles.

With their Platinum plan, you can get all major components of your home as well as all your major appliances covered for one plan fee. Coverage can protect your air conditioner, heating, plumbing system, heating system, ductwork, electrical, water heater, plumbing stoppage, garbage disposal, clothes washer, and all major appliances down to your ceiling fans. Select Home Warranty also lets you add on additional coverage for pools, central vacuums, sump pumps, well pumps, standalone freezers, sprinkler systems, and more.

Pros

  • Comprehensive plans available
  • Some plans come with roof leak coverage
  • Labor guarantee for the duration of your contract
  • Discounts available
  • Coverage is available in 46 states

Cons

  • Select Home Warranty only lets you use their team of repair technicians
  • No plans available in Nevada, New York, Washington, or Wisconsin

Best for Online Claims: Liberty Home Guard

Liberty Home Guard offers three home warranty plans for consumers — an appliances plan, a systems plan, and a Total Home Guard home warranty plan that provides coverage for nearly every working system and appliance in your house. The company also lets customers choose add-on coverage for components such as a pool and spa, a well pump, a sump pump, septic system pumping, and more.

This home warranty provider also stands out due to their service availability and online claims process. Liberty Home Guard says you can submit your claim by phone or online 24/7, and that they’ll have a technician at your home within 24 to 48 hours in most cases.

Pros

  • 24/7 claims process online or on the phone
  • Technician headed your way in 24 to 48 hours
  • Available in 45 states
  • Add-ons include pest control, limited roof leaks, and even electronics protection

Cons

  • Service is typically provided through 10,000 LHG-certified techs
  • No plans available in California, Washington, Wyoming, Wisconsin, or Illinois

Best for Flexibility: American Home Shield

American Home Shield has been in business since 1971, so the company has had a long time to build a solid reputation in the home warranty space. This provider made our ranking due to the flexibility of their plans (ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum), which let you cover your home’s major systems, your appliances, or all of the above depending on your needs.

American Home Shield’s comprehensive Combo Plan provides broad coverage for 21 components of your home, including all the major systems like your electrical system, water heater, home appliances, and more. You can also build your own home warranty plan, which allows you to pay for only the coverage you want and need.

Pros

  • Flexible plans let you pay only for the coverage you need
  • Competitive pricing for basic plans
  • Some plans cover limited roof leaks
  • Plans offered in 49 states
  • ShieldPlatinum includes HVAC tune-ups

Cons

  • Service charges can be high
  • American Home Shield assigns your repair professional
  • Not available in Alaska

Best for Established Homeowners: America’s 1st Choice Home Club

AFC Home Club made our ranking due to the fact you can use any licensed and insured technician for your home repairs. This makes more sense for established homeowners who may already have a network of technicians or companies they are comfortable with.

This home warranty provider also offers a broad selection of plans as well, which can include home appliances like a cooktop as well as major home systems. Customers can also add on additional coverage for components such as a sump pump, a central vacuum, and a standalone freezer. Add-on coverage for roof leaks is also available.

Pros

  • Homeowners can choose their own repair technician
  • Get a free quote in 30 seconds
  • Plans offered in 49 states
  • Service calls 24/7

Cons

  • Not available in Hawaii
  • Service charges can be high

Best Budget Option: First American

First American Home Warranty made our ranking due to the pricing of their plans, which can range from $38 to $48.50. Their highest-tier plan “Premium” plan covers most of the main components of your home, from your electrical systems to plumbing and major home appliances such as washers.

First American Home Warranty also offers flexible payment options and a network of pre-screened professionals who can perform needed repairs. You can also request service 24 hours a day and 365 days per year.

Pros

  • Affordable coverage options
  • Customizable home warranty plan with add-ons
  • Available in 36 states

Cons

  • Service technician is assigned by the company
  • Central air conditioning not included in highest tier plan
  • Not available in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Wisconsin

Best for 24/7 Service: Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty made our ranking of best home warranties due to their 24/7 service options, as well as the fact customers can quickly and easily file a claim over the phone or online.

This provider offers two main coverage plans to choose from — a basic home warranty that covers appliances and many major home components, and a Total Plan that covers almost all of your home’s components that are prone to breakdowns. Choice Home Warranty also lets you customize your home warranty with additional coverage for pools and spas, septic tank pumping, and more.

Pros

  • Service available 24/7
  • Discounts available
  • Affordable, fixed service fee
  • Broad availability in 49 states

Cons

  • Choice Home Warranty will select your repair technician
  • Not available in Washington

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Home Warranty Guide

What is a home warranty?

A home warranty works similarly to other kinds of warranties, including extended warranties on electronics. Customers pay an upfront fee or a monthly fee for their service contract, and they receive protection for repairs or replacements of covered items for the duration of their contract term.

As American Home Shield puts it, a home warranty is a “year-long, renewable home service plan that keeps you protected should a covered breakdown occur.”

They add that a home warranty “helps cut the cost to repair or replace many of the systems and appliances in your home and complements your homeowners’ insurance policy by protecting things that your insurance doesn’t.” Of course, your home warranty coverage will only include normal wear and tear, not deliberate sabotage or repairs stemming from lack of adequate maintenance and cleaning.

What does a home warranty cover?

The best home warranty plans provide broad coverage you can count on, but they don’t all cover the same components, so it might be a good idea to check out sample contracts on each service provider’s website.

In fact, some home warranties only provide coverage for a select number of items in your home, such as your home appliances. Things like trash compactors, built-in microwave ovens, ranges, refrigerators, and laundry machines are commonly covered, for instance. Other plans provide more robust coverage for major systems like your electrical system and plumbing, as well as your home’s water heater and HVAC system.

Fortunately, the best home warranties will let you customize your plan to suit your needs. For example, you may be able to add on coverage for “extras” or optional add-ons you have around your property, such as a second refrigerator, pool or spa, sump pump, septic tank, and even your ice maker and garage door opener. Some home warranties even provide coverage for roof leaks.

How much is a home warranty?

The cost of home warranties depends on the specifics of your property, the home warranty provider you select, and the tier of coverage you want. However, our research shows that most home warranties cost between $37 and $70 per month, without including extras such as the service call fee or taking deductibles into account.

Keep in mind that the best home warranties with comprehensive coverage charge monthly fees on the high end of that range. Meanwhile, you can get modest coverage for appliances and some of your home’s systems for less than $40 per month. Cancellation will also carry an associated fee, which can range between $50 to $75 dollars.

Ultimately, you should consider your home warranty as part of the costs of owning a home.

What is the difference between a home warranty and home insurance?

Where a home warranty provides coverage for the repair and replacement of your home’s systems and appliances, home insurance protection plans provide coverage for the structure of your home. For example, homeowners insurance protects against hail and tornado damage when it occurs. This kind of insurance can also rebuild your home from the ground up if you face a total loss due to fire or other covered events.

Homeowners insurance also comes with liability coverage that can protect you in the event someone is injured on your property and sues you for damages. Our guide to home warranty vs. home insurance explains more about how each of these coverage options works in terms of home protection.

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Are home warranties worth it?

Like any other type of warranty coverage, home warranties can be worth it if you need to file a claim. For example, you may find you’re very happy with your home warranty plan if your electrical system needs major repairs, or if your HVAC system breaks down. You may also glean excellent value from your home warranty if several of your home appliances need replacement, or if you have roof leak coverage and actually have to use it. In many cases, a home warranty is a home update worth the money.

That said, even the top home warranty companies can seem like a waste of money if your home’s components never need replacement or repairs, or if the company’s response times and workmanship guarantees aren’t up to snuff. The value of most home warranties is in the peace of mind they provide homeowners. When you have a home warranty in place, you can rest assured you won’t be faced with thousands of dollars in surprise repair bills when you least expect it.

At the end of the day, home warranties can also help you settle the debate between renting vs. buying. A home warranty lets you enjoy homeownership without being on the hook for unexpected repair bills, just like you would be able to if you rented.

How We Found the Best Home Warranties

To find the best home warranties for 2022, we compared home warranty plans and their features. Our methodology included getting pricing for a standard, 3,000-square-foot home in Central Indiana to serve as a basis for our comparison, and we looked for companies that offer several plan options with the ability for customers to customize their coverage limits.

In the meantime, we purposely chose home warranty companies that are transparent about their plan inclusions, costs, and fees. We also looked for companies that let customers file a claim online or over the phone with the promise of speedy service thereafter.

Finally, we only included companies in our ranking that have a “B” rating or better with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Best Home Warranties FAQs

What should you look out for when browsing home warranties?

Homeowners looking for a home warranty should search for plans that provide coverage for the components they worry the most about. That said, you may not need warranty coverage for home components that still have a manufacturer’s warranty.

What is the best home warranty company?

Purchasing a home warranty can make sense any time of the year. After all, your home’s major systems could break down any time and during any season. By having a home warranty in place, you’ll be protected no matter what.

Who pays for home warranty — the buyer or the seller?

Anyone can purchase a home warranty, including the buyer or the seller when someone buys a new home or an existing property. That said, many home sellers extend home warranties to make their properties more appealing to home buyers — real estate agents often recommend buying a home warranty if you’re selling, to protect you during the listing process. If you’re wondering how much house you can afford and you’re currently shopping, it’s smart to ask the seller of the home to throw in a home warranty for good measure.

Meanwhile, individual homeowners can also purchase a home warranty at any time.

Home warranties definitely work, but buyers should read the terms and conditions so they know the exact fees and processes involved. For example, customers may not realize that a service fee is required to file a claim. Home warranty buyers should also read over the inclusions and exclusions in their warranty so they know exactly what is covered.

Summary of the Best Home Warranties of 2022

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