Keeping up a home is expensive. It’s enough for a homeowner to have to think about day-to-day financial tasks like grocery shopping, stocking cleaning supplies and other everyday items that are needed to keep your home running smoothly.
It’s another story entirely when one of your critical appliances or systems fails. These big-ticket items can cost a pretty penny to repair or replace, and aren’t covered under homeowner’s insurance.
This is where a home warranty comes in. They exist to provide peace of mind to homeowners who aren’t looking to be surprised or blindsided by expensive repairs to their electrical system or water heater thanks to a service agreement that covers the cost of repair or replacement.
We’re reviewing A.B May’s home warranty service agreement to help you choose the right home warranty for you. At Today’s Homeowner, the research team is held to the highest standards. We’ve reviewed many home warranty providers based on criteria like plan structure, pricing, customer reviews, availability, ratings and more.
Our top choice is American Home Shield for their customizable plans and long history in the business.
Get a free quote by calling 844-529-9298 or filling out this simple form.
Our Preferred Home Warranty Alternatives
Today’s Homeowner recommends a few home warranty companies to our readers. Below, you’ll see our latest suggestions and their money-saving deals. You can also read our review of the companies with similar home warranty plans to learn more about these top picks.
In This Article:
- A.B. May Home Warranty Overview
- Plans & Coverage
- Cost Breakdowns
- A.B. Home Warranty Reviews
- Our Assessment of A.B. Home Warranty
- Our Preferred Provider: American Home Shield
- Home Warranty Provider Comparison Table
A.B. May Home Warranty Overview
A.B May’s Home Warranty plan is only available to people who live in Kansas City, Kansas. They’ve been in the home warranty business since 1959.
In 1959, they purchased May Furnace Company and renamed it A.B. May (“A” for Aleda and “B” for Bill, the founders). The company later expanded to offer heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and appliance repair services in addition to their home warranty service agreements. Today, they’ve grown to employ more than 275 people.
Home Warranty Resources
- What is a Home Warranty?
- How Much Do Home Warranties Cost?
- Is a Home Warranty Worth It for You?
- Best Home Warranties in 2023
- Do Your Appliances Need Extended Warranties?
A.B. May Home Warranty Plans
A.B May offers plans for real estate professionals, homeowners and mortgage lenders. We’ll focus on the homeowner plans in this review. The company offers three homeowner plans, Seller, Buyer Silver and Buyer Gold.
Plans and Services
A.B. May Home Warranties apply to the following types of homes:
- Single-family residences
- Condos
- Townhouses
- Duplexes
- Triplexes
- Fourplexes
The company’s warranty plans do not cover the following types of homes:
- Mobile homes
- Outbuildings
- Detached garages
- Other property structures (like guest houses)
Here’s what’s covered in each of those home warranty plan types:
Heating and Cooling
| Systems and Appliances | Seller | Buyer Silver | Buyer Gold |
| Heating (up to 2 systems) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooling (up to 2 systems) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermostat | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Humidifier | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerant | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Plumbing
| Systems and Appliances | Seller | Buyer Silver | Buyer Gold |
| Drain stoppagesWater heater (first system) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry box and hoses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pressure regulator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Faucet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Showerhead | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whirlpool motor and pump assemblies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sump pump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water service lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pipes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposal (first system) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gas line | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Electrical
| Systems and Appliances | Seller | Buyer Silver | Buyer Gold |
| Electrical panel, wiring, breaker, fuse | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical outlet, GFI outlet, switches | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling fan, whole house fan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hardwired doorbell | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central vacuum (motor only) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Appliance
| Systems and Appliances | Seller | Buyer Silver | Buyer Gold |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range, range hood and downdraft | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Microwave oven (built-in only) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ |
If you purchase any plan, you are required to also purchase additional coverage for the following if these items are included in your home:
- Additional heating and cooling system (after second)
- Additional water heaters (after first)
- Boilers
As an option, you can choose to cover the following:
- Zone controls
- Electronic air cleaner
- Septic tank
- Sewage ejector
- Water softener
- Backup sump pump (excludes batteries)
- Tankless or power vented water heater
- Swimming pool (pump and motor only)
- Swimming pool with built-in spa (sharing common equipment – pump and motor only)
- Exterior Hot tub
- Duplex (Gold, $75 service fee option. Call for additional pricing options.)
- Triplex (Gold, $75 service fee option. Call for additional pricing options.)
- Fourplex (Gold, $75 service fee option. Call for additional pricing options.)
- Single-family two-year agreement (Gold only, $75 service fee.)
If you’re not interested in these more extensive plans, you can purchase one or more of these standalone packages which just cover a few systems or appliances in your home.
Freestanding Appliance Package:
- Washer
- Dryer
- Refrigerator
Second Kitchen Package:
- Dishwasher
- Range or cooktop
- Built-in microwave
Add-on Appliances:
- Washer
- Dryer
- Refrigerator
- Range or cooktop
- Dishwasher
- Trash compactor
- Built-in microwave
- Disposal
- Freestanding freezer
Limitations of Liability
There are some general exclusions for the covered items. More specifically, these items are not covered in your home warranty if they are not in proper working condition on the start date of your home warranty, explicit in your contract.
In addition, these are the limitations on A.B. May’s liability to cover items in your service agreement:
- Maximum coverage
- $2,000 per trade service call for buyers
- $500 per trade service call for sellers
- The EPA has phased out R-22 refrigerant, and it is no longer covered
- Grey polybutylene pipe
- $500 maximum for both buyers and sellers
- A.B. May is not liable for damage from condensation leaks, frozen pipes or drains
Cost Breakdowns
Sellers have one plan option to choose from. Buyers purchasing the silver or gold packages can choose a plan based on the service fee they’d like to commit to upon need of a repair or replacement.
Prices are transparent and available in both their brochure and on A.B.’s website.
| Seller | Buyer Silver ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Silver ($100 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($100 Service Fee) | |
| Basic Plan Price | Free | $399 | $364 | $489 | $454 |
| Service Fee | $95 | $75 | $100 | $75 | $100 |
| Discount on Non-Covered Services | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Covered Repair Amount | Up to $500 | Up to $2,000 | Up to $2,000 | Up to $2,000 | Up to $2,000 |
| Terms of Coverage | Listing Period (max 180 days) | 12 Mo. | 12 Mo. | 12 Mo. | 12 Mo. |
| Duplex | – | – | – | $884 | – |
| Triplex | – | – | – | $1254 | – |
| Fourplex | – | – | – | $1675 | – |
For each plan available, here is the cost breakdown for plans, required additional coverage, optional coverage and add-on items.
Required Additional Coverage
| Seller | Buyer Silver ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Silver ($100 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($100 Service Fee) | |
| Additional heating & cooling system | ✓ | $104 | $104 | $104 | $104 |
| Additional water heaters | ✓ | $82 | $82 | $82 | $82 |
| Boiler | ✓ | $95 | $95 | $95 | $95 |
Optional Coverage
| Seller | Buyer Silver ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Silver ($100 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($100 Service Fee) | |
| Zone controls | – | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 |
| Electronic air cleaner | – | $52 | $52 | $52 | $52 |
| Ultraviolet germicidal light | – | $151 | $151 | $151 | $151 |
| Septic tank | – | $105 | $105 | $105 | $105 |
| Sewage ejector | – | $138 | $138 | $138 | $138 |
| Water softener | – | $105 | $105 | $105 | $105 |
| Backup sump pump | – | $82 | $82 | $82 | $82 |
| Tankless or power vented water heater | – | $105 | $105 | $105 | $105 |
| Swimming pool | – | $230 | $230 | $230 | $230 |
| Swimming pool with built-in spa | – | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Exterior hot tub | – | $137 | $137 | $137 | $137 |
Optional Appliance Coverage (Gold Only)
| Seller | Buyer Silver ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Silver ($100 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($75 Service Fee) | Buyer Gold ($100 Service Fee) | |
| Freestanding appliance package | – | $171 | $171 | ||
| Second kitchen package | – | $171 | $171 | ||
| Add-on appliances | – | $82 | $82 |
Discounts
When you become an A.B Home Warranty customer, a 15% member discount on non-covered repairs is included in your home warranty for repairs executed by A.B. May Home Warranty.
The price quoted at the time of service will reflect this discount. For new equipment and sewer replacement, other promotions and discounts may apply.
Service Fees
Depending on the plan you choose, you will be required to pay a service fee of either $75 or $100 for each trade service call.
A trade service call is determined by the type of technician (heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, appliance, etc.) who diagnoses and completes the repair. Service calls for different trades cannot be combined into one call or service fee.
A.B May Home Warranty guarantees repairs performed under your warranty for 30 days. The company will charge $25 for any returned check or insufficient bank account debit. A tax will also be added to appliance service calls.
In addition to these services some, additional fees are required for:
- Boilers
- Additional water heaters (first one included)
- Additional heating and cooling systems (first 2 included).
How to Get a Quote
You can get a quote from A.B. Home Warranty by calling 913-251-9456. Unlike many other home warranty websites, A.B. Home Warranty does not have a free quote button on the site.
How to Make A Claim
A.B May Home Warranty is available by phone or online to schedule an appointment. Here’s how the claims process works:
- Claim is submitted by phone or online
- A customer service specialist will clarify the issue and set up a service call
- On the day of your service call, you’ll receive a call 30 minutes before your technician is dispatched and on their way to your home
- You will receive another call when your technician is officially on their way
- When work is complete, you pay your technician’s service fee by check or credit card
A.B. May is available for you to submit a claim during normal business hours, typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but this is not explicitly stated on their site. However, you must provide access to the property during these hours.
You can request service after hours for an additional after-hours service fee of $50. Additionally, you can request emergency service for A.B May to respond within 24 hours of notification. An emergency is the failure of a covered item that may cause personal injury or substantial damage to property if not addressed within 24 hours of notification.
A.B. May Home Warranty Reviews
A.B. May is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with an A+ rating. A.B. May Home Warranty reviews have accumulated an average of five-star customer reviews and have received 15 customer complaints. Here’s what customers had to say:
Our Assessment of A.B. Home Warranty
Through this A.B. Home Warranty review, our research team discovered that while A.B. Home Warranty is highly rated and offers comprehensive plans for both buyers and sellers, the company’s extremely limited service area makes it an impossible choice for the vast majority of the country.
Our Preferred Provider: American Home Shield
Our best overall home warranty provider is American Home Shield. Here are some of the reasons why we recommend the company:
- American Home Shield offers three plan types to choose from for added flexibility
- The company operates in 49 states, all except Alaska
- American Home Shield has been in business since 1971
- Customers can select their own service fee, ranging from $75 to $125
- Service requests are responded to within 24 hours 98% of the time, according to the company
American Home Shield covers 14 critical home systems and 9 essential appliances. From 2015-2020, they’ve paid out more than $2 billion in service requests.
American Home Shield claims to have founded the home warranty industry and has a network of more than 15,000 licensed contractors, and professionals throughout 50 states in the U.S.
Home Warranty Provider Comparison Table
Here’s how this provider stacks up against A.B. May Home Warranty:
| American Home Shield | A.B. May Home Warranty | |
| Sample Contract Provided | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 3 |
| Average Lowest Cost | $500 | $364 |
| Optional Add-Ons | Yes | Yes |
| # of States Covered | 49 | 1 |
| Excluded States | Alaska | All Except Kansas |
| Waiting Period | 30 Days | Not Listed |
| Service Fee | $75, $100 or $125 | $75 or $100 |
| In Business Since | 1971 | 1959 |
| BBB Accredited | Yes | Yes |
| BBB Rating | B | A+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are home warranties worth the money?
Home warranties can save you a significant amount of money by protecting you from damage caused to your home by normal wear and tear. The peace of mind you get is an added bonus to knowing you’re protecting your greatest investment.
What does A.B. May Home Warranty Cover?
A.B. May Home Warranty covers many systems and appliances through its three plans, one for sellers and two for buyers. There are also optional add-ons to make your coverage more comprehensive.
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
To help you find the best home warranty, our reviews team researched numerous home warranty companies, analyzing their coverage plans, pricing and customer service, among other factors:
- Coverage: Home warranty companies that provide extensive coverage and protect important systems and appliances, including your air conditioning, refrigerator and heating, scored higher than companies with minimal coverage.
- Plan variety: A provider with more coverage plans allows for more flexibility among customers. In general, most home warranty companies provide an appliances-only plan, systems-only plan and combination plan.
- Pricing: We scored providers based on their monthly plan prices and service call fees compared to the industry average pricing. Companies with more affordable coverage received more points than companies with more expensive plans.
- State availability: Where you live will determine what companies are available in your area. Home warranty companies that covered more states received more points than companies with a limited state availability.
- Trustworthiness: There are some home warranty companies that are scams and don’t follow through on their service agreements. We rated companies based on their years of experience, ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer reviews.
To keep our data current, our team regularly updates the data points for each company to ensure their coverage offerings, pricing and availability are accurate.
Reviews of Other Home Warranties
