Seniors often live on smaller budgets than they did when they were younger, which can make repairs and replacements more difficult in old age. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly solution, home warranties can be a more affordable way to repair your home systems and appliances without the up-front cost of paying contractors directly. Still, home warranties have a reputation for being a scam, mainly because some providers will take your money and then find legal loopholes to avoid paying out when you need them most. While that cliche is certainly true in some cases, it’s hardly the whole story. Good home warranty companies may be hard to come by, but they’re definitely out there, which is why we rounded up the top providers in the industry to help shoppers find the best home warranty for seniors.
I’ve researched the best home warranty companies for seniors and used Today’s Homeowner’s specific review criteria to rank these providers. While secret shopping, I’ve gotten warranty quotes from companies for a two-bedroom home in Philadelphia, thoroughly reviewed sample contracts, and scoured the internet to find the most accurate customer reviews. I’ve also contacted each company to ask about their seniors discounts and ranked each provider according to their plans, coverage, affordability, reputation, customer service, and more. Read on to see what these companies have to offer seniors and how they stack up against the competition.
Are you curious to learn more about what a home warranty is and how it works? If so, watch the video below from one of the best home warranty companies for seniors.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Seniors
- Many seniors don’t have the desire or ability to repair appliances and home systems themselves, which makes home warranties an excellent option for homeowners in their golden years. Still, the only thing worse than dealing with the hassle of home repairs is dealing with a home warranty company that will take your money every month but deny your claim when the stakes are high. As grim as it may seem, this practice is common in the home warranty industry. Guard yourself by researching each company thoroughly, looking at customer reviews, and considering whether you need a home warranty in the first place. Depending on your situation, you may be better off just saving up money for home system and appliance repairs when you need them.
- After reading through sample contracts and getting quotes from all the major home warranty providers in the industry, I feel confident that Liberty Home Guard is the best all-around option for most homeowners, including seniors. Their customer reviews are nearly perfect, and their rates are consistent throughout the entire country, so they’ve proved themselves trustworthy in both their service and pricing. If you’re a senior who wants reliability from your home warranty above all else, Liberty Home Guard has my seal of approval.
- Always read the entire sample contract — especially sections on exclusions and coverage limits— before you buy anything. These two sections outline what home warranties cover (and don’t cover) in your policy and how much money you’ll get toward repairs and replacements. If you don’t read the fine print, you’ll be blindsided when claims get declined. Every company has exclusions, and while it may be disappointing to read that your policy won’t cover everything, it’s better to know beforehand.
What’s Most Important in a Home Warranty for Seniors?
Seniors have some unique challenges when it comes to choosing a home warranty company because living benefit check to benefit check on a retirement budget doesn’t leave any room for surprise fees or denied claims. More than anything, seniors should look for a home warranty company that has limited exclusions, straightforward terms, and a good reputation. While it’s nice to have an affordable monthly rate and high coverage limits, company integrity is essential. It’s better to choose a reputable company that has a slightly higher monthly rate than an affordable company that will leave you high and dry when it comes time to submit a claim. Simply put, seniors should look for a company that’s willing to go the extra mile to serve them.
When making your decision about what home warranty company to choose, pay extra attention to their claims process and company reputation scores. The claims process score reflects how efficiently a company handles your repairs and replacements, so it’s an extremely important factor to consider when buying a policy. Likewise, a company’s overall reputation gives a good representation of their reliability, and customer reviews directly influence it, so it’s one of the most accurate metrics for choosing a home warranty provider. You may also want to consider a company’s coverage limits because if they’re too low, you may have to pay out of pocket for a portion of your repairs. Consider all these factors carefully, as they’re the most important things to look at when finding the best home warranty for seniors.
Home Warranty Companies for Seniors I Don’t Recommend
I don’t recommend Like New Home Warranty because of their F rating from the Better Business Bureau and the BBB press release highlighting their poor service. The BBB issued a warning for Like New Home Warranty, claiming:
“Better Business Bureau is advising consumers to use caution when considering doing business with Like New Home Warranty. BBB has received a pattern of consumer complaints alleging misleading sales tactics, misleading sales presentations, failure to cancel contracts after a consumer has requested cancellation, failure to provide refunds and poor customer service. ”
On top of their bad press and negative customer reviews, Like New Home Warranty’s website doesn’t allow for online quotes and lacks essential information regarding contracts and plan options, which makes them seem like a scam. Because of all these red flags, I urge all readers to steer clear.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Seniors
Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | ||
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | ||
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | ||
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | ||
$52–$58 |
$75-$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | ||
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | ||
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | ||
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | ||
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Seniors
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is my number one pick as the best home warranty for seniors because of their customer service, amazing online reviews, and track record for claims acceptance. Liberty has some of the best customer service in the industry, and many of the online reviews I saw mention specific agents by name and thank them for their helpfulness in dealing with their claims. Liberty also has a better ratio of positive to negative reviews than any other company on this list (4.7 out of 5 stars on Google and Trustpilot), so that’s a huge indicator that their service is reliable. For seniors, it’s important that a company’s agents will go the extra mile to help customers with their claims, and with so many positive reviews, I’m confident that Liberty has high standards for taking care of their customers.
Liberty’s main downsides are their coverage limits and monthly rates. They offer $2,000 per item, which is fine for standard appliances, but it’s low for home systems. If you’re specifically looking for the best coverage limits, I’d recommend American Home Shield or First American Home Warranty instead since both have higher coverage limits. Additionally, Liberty’s rates start higher than most other companies. Their most basic plan costs $49.99, which is expensive for an appliance-only plan. If you want the best bargain, I recommend readers check out Liberty’s Total Home Guard plan ($59.99) since it’s a great price for comprehensive coverage.
It’s worth noting that Liberty Home Guard lists home warranty benefits for seniors on their website, but they don’t publicize a senior citizen discount. The representative I talked with over the phone said that they could give me a senior citizen discount on the Total Home Guard Plan, bringing it down to $575 for one year plus two additional months free. However, when I got a quote online (as seen in the image below), without any senior citizen discount, the total cost for one year (and two additional months free) was $549.99, which doesn’t add up. There seems to be a disconnect with what Liberty is offering over the phone and online, and their discounts can be confusing, so use discretion when purchasing a plan and finding the best discounts.
By far, my favorite thing about Liberty Home Guard is their stellar online customer reviews. It’s extremely rare to find a home warranty company with a solid reputation, especially on review sites like Google and Trustpilot, but Liberty earned 4.7 out of 5 stars on both sites. They have the best online reviews I’ve seen from any home warranty company during my research, which really goes to show the quality of their service. Also, I like that Liberty offers 42 add-ons, which is more than any other company in the industry. This may seem like overkill, but it’s better to have more options to customize your coverage, especially if you want to make sure you’re fully covered. Reliability and a solid reputation are very important qualities in a home warranty company, and with so many positive online reviews, I’m confident that Liberty is the best home warranty for seniors.
My main complaints about Liberty Home Guard have to do with their coverage limits and plan pricing. Liberty limits the coverage of all items to $2,000, which means that even expensive items like HVAC systems only have a $2,000 payout. This amount isn’t bad for appliances, but it’s very low for home systems, especially since most competitors offer at least $3,000 to $4,000 for HVAC systems, so I’m not thrilled with their coverage limits.Also, Liberty’s cheapest appliance-only plan is $49.99 a month, which is very high considering some competitors have plans starting at less than $30 a month. Liberty has amazing customer service, and plenty of add-on options make up for their shortcomings, but their rates and coverage limits may prevent budget-conscious buyers from taking the plunge.
Liberty Home Guard is the only provider on this list that has a perfect score for their plans and coverage, and that’s mainly because they offer more add-on options than any other company. While most companies only have around five or 10 add-ons each, Liberty offers a whopping 42 add-on options. This is more than most homeowners would ever need, but it gives them plenty of options to mix and match their coverage. In my opinion, the Systems Guard and Appliance Guard plans are a bit pricey since most competitors charge $5 to $10 less a month for comparable plans. However, the Total Home Guard plan is a steal at $59.99 (only $5 more than the Systems Guard plan), so I recommend readers spend the extra money and get their comprehensive coverage. Be sure to check out Liberty’s coupons and promotions before buying.
Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee** | Available Discounts |
Systems Guard | $54.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
*Monthly costs are exclusive of discounts.
**Liberty Home Guard service fees range from $65 to $125 depending on where you live, the service plan you choose, and the promotional deal you get.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Philadelphia, PA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
The following add-ons are available for all plans (prices are per month):
- Additional spa: $9.99
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99
- Casita guest unit: $35.99
- Central vacuum: $8.99
- Ejector pump: $14.99
- Electronics protection: $19.99
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99
- Generator: $19.99
- Grinder pump: $14.99
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99
- Limited roof leak: $11.99
- Pest control: $14.99
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99
- Pool and spa: $19.99
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99
- Pro-series clothes dryer: $4.99
- Pro-series dishwasher: $7.99
- Pro-series microwave: $4.99
- Pro-series range/oven/cooktop: $12.99
- Pro-series refrigerator: $14.99
- Pro-series stand-alone freezer: $14.99
- Pro-series washing machine: $4.99
- Re-key: $9.99
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99
- Saltwater pool: $23.99
- Second refrigerator: $7.99
- Septic system pumping: $12.99
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99
- Sump pump: $8.99
- Swamp cooler: $14.99
- Trash compactor: $7.49
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99
- Water softener: $13.99
- Well pump: $12.99
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11.99
Roof leak protection is one of the most practical add-ons for any home warranty policy, but it’s important to note that Liberty won’t cover damage from natural disasters or secondary damage from roof leaks (such as mold and corrosion) since these damages can affect more than just your roof. However, the roof leak coverage will cover the source of the leak if it’s caused by normal wear and tear, like weathering or old age.
Liberty Home Guard may not be the most affordable company on our list, but they have consistent prices throughout the whole country, which is a big perk. Competitors can raise their rates in more expensive areas, sometimes by up to $20 to $30 a month. However, Liberty’s prices range from $49.99 to $59.99 a month, regardless of where you’re located. Fifty dollars is pretty pricey for an appliance-only plan, but $60 is very reasonable for their comprehensive coverage, so I recommend readers start by checking out the Total Home Guard plan. Before you buy, it’s worth noting that Liberty doesn’t guarantee their replacement parts will match in color or brand, so you may have to pay out of pocket if you want your parts to be equally functional and aesthetically pleasing. Because this may add to your overall cost, we gave Liberty a 7.8 for their cost and affordability.
Liberty has few downsides, but it has a waiting period of 30 to 60 days for your coverage to begin after you sign a contract. Every other company on this list has a waiting period of just 30 days. One month is average for the industry, but 60 days is an exceptionally long time to wait. Liberty is also difficult to get hold of over the phone. I’ve had trouble reaching them in the past, which can make it hard to call and get information on discounts for seniors. Because of their long waiting period and phone wait times, we gave Liberty a 7.5 out of 10.
Liberty Home Guard has the best company reputation score on our list, mainly because they have overwhelmingly positive customer ratings. Firsthand accounts are one of the best ways to get an idea of how a company operates, and when it comes to customer reviews, Liberty has the highest I’ve seen in the home warranty industry. Ninety-one percent of their reviews on Trustpilot are five stars, which is almost unheard of since home warranty companies have notoriously mixed reviews. In fact, a lot of their reviews mention specific customer representatives by name and thank them for their helpfulness. One customer on Google summed up his experience with Liberty’s customer service, saying:
“The costumer service representatives I’ve worked with have been amazing. The first woman I spoke with got my full wrath over an issue that was more about the technician than the warranty company. She was so kind that I found myself apologizing for lashing out at the wrong person. When a second claim was not resolved (again, technician, not the warranty company), Jack Fisher answered the phone and made sure I felt heard and immediately worked to solve the problem … Again, I called with a problem, but left feeling like the one thing that was working was the professionalism of the customer service representatives at the company.”
Other reviews focused more on Liberty’s timeliness. One Google customer said:
“[I] needed a new water heater, and it took them no time to get out here and get it replaced. [I] only had to pay the claim fee ($125), and everything else was covered. Great communication, even better technicians.”
While not all their reviews are 5 stars, a large percentage of them are, which shows that stories like these aren’t uncommon for Liberty customers. Given their track record of reliable service and an easy claims process, we gave Liberty a 9.0.
Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
BBB | NR* / 4.47 out of 5 stars) | 2,479 |
Trustpilot | 4.7 out of 5 stars | 2,836 |
4.7 out of 5 stars | 11,472 | |
Yelp | 1.3 out of 5 stars | 70 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
*Note (as of 6/20/24): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”
Liberty Home Guard has the highest claims process score on our list, and a lot of that is due to their fast response times. Liberty’s average response time is 12 hours, which is a full 12 hours faster than the next-fastest competitor (Cinch Home Services). Every other competitor is even slower, which can be a major inconvenience if you’re waiting for repairs on essential systems like HVAC or electrical. Liberty also offers emergency services and has plenty of customer reviews to back up how straightforward their claims process is, so considering their response times and customer reviews, we gave Liberty a 10 out of 10.
Liberty ranks in the middle of our list for their transparency and ease of use, mainly because they have relatively standard exclusions, which you can find under the limitations and exclusions section of their contract. Liberty’s sample contract is easy to follow, and it’s only nine pages long, so it’s much more concise than a lot of competitors’ contracts. However, their exclusions for leaks and known/unknown preexisting conditions can prevent common claims from being covered, which brought their score down to 9.3.
Exclusions
The following exclusions apply to all of Liberty’s plans:
- Any type of valve or leak
- Chimneys and exhausts
- Damage caused by improper installation
- Damage caused by natural disasters
- Damage caused by pests or mold
- Damage caused by rust or corrosion
- Disposal of old systems or appliances
- Glass parts
- Installation of systems or parts
- Known or unknown preexisting conditions
- Lighting
- Luxury or commercial-grade systems and appliances
- Poorly maintained systems or appliances
- Routine maintenance
- Solar systems
- “Smart” components and parts
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
These exclusions are standard in the industry and match most of what I found with competitors. However, exclusions for known or unknown preexisting conditions are notorious for allowing providers to deny claims, so be careful to consider that before purchasing.
Even though they don’t publicize it much, Liberty allows customers to choose their own service technicians. You’ll still have to get Liberty’s approval before choosing the contractor you want, but this feature goes a long way in terms of getting trustworthy service. Getting stuck with an incompetent technician is an extremely common problem in the home warranty industry, so choosing your own is a quick and easy way to avoid the headache of dealing with sub-par contractors.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of my top choices for a home warranty policy because of their high coverage limits and affordable monthly rates. American Home Shield offers $5,000 HVAC limits with all of their plans, even the more affordable ones. If you upgrade to the ShieldPlatinum plan, you’ll get $4,000 appliance coverage limits as well, which is a huge perk. American Home Shield also covers damages that most other companies don’t, like undetectable preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion. These issues are very common exclusions, but since AHS covers them, it gives you less to worry about during your claims process.
On the other hand, AHS has more negative reviews than the competition, which shows that their quality control is spotty at best. There are bound to be some negative reviews, but AHS’ reviews are extremely mixed, so it’s hard to get a consensus on how satisfied their customers are. If your main priority is a company’s reputation, Liberty Home Guard is the better option. However, if you want great coverage limits for an affordable price, American Home Shield should be your top pick.
If you’re a senior and a member of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), you can get an exclusive AARP discount with American Home Shield. American Home Shield is giving AARP members a limited-time discount of $100 off any home warranty in addition to a $36 member discount for a total of $136 off. Check out AHS’ promos and discounts page for more information.
My favorite feature of American Home Shield is that they have some of the cheapest rates in the industry but also some of the best coverage limits. Their monthly rates can get as low as $7.49, depending on where you are in the country, but they still offer $5,000 coverage caps for HVAC systems on every plan — even the more affordable ones. That means you can spend less than $20 a month and still get better HVAC coverage than most competitors’ top-tier plans (Liberty Home Guard only offers up to $2,000 per item on their comprehensive plan). Additionally, AHS has a policy that if they can’t repair an item, they’ll replace it, as shown in the screenshot from their website below. This policy is still subject to exclusions, but it’s nice that there’s something in writing to keep them from backing out of a claim if they can’t repair an item.
My main problem with American Home Shield is their negative reviews. AHS has more complaints than the competition and the lowest customer reputation score on our list. While you should always take negative reviews with a grain of salt, AHS has enough of them to warrant some caution. Additionally, AHS’ prices fluctuate significantly depending on where you live, meaning that they could be the most affordable option in one state and the most expensive in another. Their reviews and prices are all over the map, so I have a hard time trusting their service. I’d recommend seniors thoroughly review the sample AHS policy applicable to their state before buying.
American Home Shield offers three plans, but none covers just appliances, so their options are a bit different than the standard home warranty formula of having one plan for appliances, one for home systems, and one for both. The ShieldSilver plan covers 14 of your home’s major systems and starts at only $25.50 in Philadelphia, making it the most affordable home warranty for seniors on our list. The ShieldPlatinum plan is pricey at $68 a month, so for most homeowners, I’d recommend you stick to the ShieldGold or ShieldSilver plans since both are a good value. It’s worth noting that American Home Shield only offers six add-ons, which lowers their plans and coverage score to 9.0.
Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee** | Available Discounts |
ShieldSilver | $25.50 | $125 | Limited-time offer: 15% off (online) |
ShieldGold | $42.50 | $125 | Limited-time offer: 15% off (online) |
ShieldPlatinum | $68.00 | $125 | Limited-time offer: 15% off (online) |
*The rates in the table above reflect the 15% discount
**AHS offers two service fee choices: $100 or $125. The monthly costs shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $100 option will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Philadelphia, PA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
American Home Shield offers only a few add-ons (prices are per month):
- Electronics protection plan: $14
- Guest unit: $6.99
- Limited roof leak repair (included in the ShieldPlatinum plan but available as an add-on for others): $10
- Pool and built-in spa equipment: $18
- Septic pump: $5
- Well pump: $8
The electronics protection plan is a very rare option, but it’s pretty expensive at $14 per month, so I wouldn’t recommend it for most homeowners. The roof leak protection is a much more practical choice, in my opinion, but be sure to read your sample contract thoroughly to learn more about each option before buying.
American Home Shield is the cheapest home warranty provider on our list, but their monthly prices can sway by upwards of $30 or more, depending on where you live, which hurts their overall score. The ShieldSilver plan can get as low as $7.49 a month in some areas and as high as $67.49 a month in others. AHS rates also depend on promotional deals and seasonal discounts, so their prices fluctuate often.
American Home Shield has a low rate of $17.00 in Orlando for their Shield Silver Plan, making them the cheapest home warranty for seniors. However, in Portland, Maine, that same plan jumps up to $34 a month.
Here’s my quote in Orlando:
And here’s my quote in Portland, Maine:
Your rates will vary depending on where you live, but the ShieldGold plan is still a decent bargain everywhere, making it my top choice from AHS. With all the promotional deals and price hikes considered, we gave American Home Shield a 7.5.
Be sure to read the entire American Home Shield sample contract for special notes that may affect your overall rate or payout.
American Home Shield has a lot of negative reviews, which implies a bad customer experience. Still, they do a very good job of responding to those negative reviews and offering to investigate claims. Here’s one of their responses on Google:
“Thank you for the feedback. We’d like to apologize for not meeting your expectations. Do you still need assistance with an open claim? If so, please email us at socialmedia@ahs.com with your name, full property address, and the claim number. We’ll be happy to investigate this further.”
On Trustpilot, their response is similar:
“I’m so sorry for the problems you’ve been experiencing. Please reach out to us at trustpilot@ahs.com so we can discuss this further.”
These messages may just be an attempt for the company to save face, but it still goes a long way toward guaranteeing a positive customer experience. Because of this, we gave AHS an 8.1.
American Home Shield has the lowest company reputation score on our list, and it’s mainly because of their negative customer reviews. AHS has more complaints than the competition, and because of that, it’s hard to get a read on whether their service is generally good or bad.
One Trustpilot reviewer said:
“They scheduled the wrong services. They charged us. They sent the technician out for the wrong thing. They refuse to refund us. They refuse to correct the problem. All of this unraveled [on] the phone when AHS FINALLY answered the call without hanging up on us while we waited on hold. We have gotten nothing but intentional negligence from this company.”
Another said:
“When I needed a water heater replacement, the plumber that came out said they wouldn’t replace it until it exploded. I had to replace it at my own cost since I didn’t want to wait for an explosion. After this, they said they would reimburse me 20% of what I paid ($590, I paid $2600). Six weeks and five phonecalls later, there is no check.”
On the other hand, AHS commonly receives praise for its high payouts and quick responses. One customer said:
“My experience has been awesome. Requests for service are processed immediately and you hear from the servicing provider within 24 hours.”
Another mentioned the replacement process, saying:
“American Home Shield was great to deal with when our washing machine went on the fritz. Their policy of ‘repair or replace’ was honored when the washer could not be repaired. The replacement process was seamless from ordering to installation … AHS did a good and timely job from start to finish.”
As you can see just from these few examples, American Home Shield reviews seem to contradict each other in many circumstances. Still, AHS has plenty of good reviews (especially on Google) and a B rating on BBB, so we gave them a 7.3. However, reliability is extremely important in a home warranty for seniors, so if you’re feeling leery of AHS’ reviews, I recommend checking out Liberty Home Guard instead.
Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
BBB | B / 2.1 out of 5 stars | 11,052 |
Trustpilot | 2.1 out of 5 stars | 5,359 |
4.5 out of 5 stars | 33,298 | |
Yelp | 1.1 out of 5 stars | 1,297 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
American Home Shield ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to their claims process, and while they have impressive coverage limits and cover damage from unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, they also have a lot of customer complaints about denied claims. One Google reviewer complained about the company’s ethics when it comes to repairs:
“Buyer beware! Warning! Do not give this company your money. They tie their contractors hands to properly fix your issue and require them to do the bare minimum. Even their contractors speak poorly of them. I’ve paid this company for 15 years and couldn’t get them to replace a rusted drain pan.”
Another customer on Trustpilot said:
“[Their] service provides 0 value. They advertise themselves as if they cover parts of appliances and home systems, but when it comes time to actually repair your home system, somehow every single item is not covered due to X reason or Y reason … You would be better off putting your money in a savings account and generating interest rather than sending your money to AHS every month because you’re going to need the money when you have a repair come due and AHS is going to try their hardest to pay none of it.”
Still, there are plenty of positive reviews about their claims process as well. One reviewer said:
“I have been with American Home Shield for over 5 years. Their service is very prompt and courteous. Anytime I have had a emergency at home with maintenance or appliances, they have been really good about sending service on the same day or the next day.”
AHS has very mixed reviews, which negatively affects their score. Still, they have high coverage limits ($5,000 for HVAC and $4,000 for appliances), and they cover damage from unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, so we scored them an 8.0 out of 10.
American Home Shield ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to their transparency and ease of use, but they still have a very high score because of their limited exclusions and clear terms. They also cover damages like unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, which you can find under the “What are Covered Breakdowns?” heading in American Home Shield’s sample contract. Most other competitors won’t cover these types of issues, which makes AHS easier to use when it comes to their exclusions, raising their score to 9.4.
Exclusions
- Acts beyond our control (earthquake, storms, mud, fire, etc.)
- Flues, chimneys, fireplaces, and exhaust lines
- Hazardous materials
- Improper capacity
- Items covered by other insurance or warranty
- Known preexisting breakdown
- Manufacturer or government recalls
- Misuse or accidental acts
- Multimedia centers
- Outdoor kitchens
- Power and fuel sources
- Routine maintenance
- Smart home systems
- Special systems (radon mitigation systems, gas detection systems, etc.)
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
American Home Shield doesn’t let policyholders select their own technicians freely, but they do allow them to pick from a designated list of technicians. This is a better option than getting stuck with the technician the company assigns to you, but you can’t pick whatever contractor you want, so we scored American Home Shield a 5.0 out of 10.
AFC Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
AFC Home Warranty is one of my top home warranty providers because they allow members to choose their own service technicians without any fuss. Most other providers require approval before choosing your own technician, so this feature makes it easier for homeowners to have total control over their repair process. AFC also has a few unique perks, like their member benefits and their lifetime workmanship guarantee that other companies can’t match. AFC’s member benefits are special connections to other brands that can help you get discounts or free services on auto insurance, home security, electronics protection, and more. Other companies do not offer these added benefits, so if you want service that goes beyond a home warranty, AFC is your best bet. Likewise, AFC’s lifetime workmanship guarantee is a unique feature that ensures your repairs last for the entire length of your contract. Once they fix an item, if it breaks again, they’ll fix it for free (as shown in the image below).
My one gripe with AFC Home Warranty is that they don’t offer emergency services. Every other provider on our list offers these services, so it’s a big inconvenience. If you can’t wait 24 to 48 hours for AFC to take action, you may need to pay out of pocket to get your item fixed immediately, which defeats the entire purpose of having a home warranty. Additionally, AFC’s Diamond plan is very pricey, making it impractical for most homeowners. AFC’s unique perks make it one of the best home warranties for seniors, but if you want the security of having emergency services available with your policy, I’d recommend choosing another company.
AFC doesn’t publicize discounts for senior citizens, but they’re available over the phone. The customer service representative I talked to gave me a quote of $45.13 a month with a senior discount for the Platinum Plan after putting $100 down as the first payment — which equates to a discount of around $15 a month. Normally, home warranty companies don’t require a down payment, at least not one that’s different than paying for your first month of coverage, so this is a bit strange. He also gave a quote for a three-year contract for $925 with three months included for free (a total of 15 months of coverage). Be sure to call your representative to check out your specific discounts, as these aren’t available online.
Hands down, the thing I like most about AFC Home Warranty is that they let members choose their own technicians without hassle. The process is simple: Pick your technician and book them for repairs. This feature isn’t unique to AFC, but a lot of other companies will require their approval before you can pick a technician, so AFC gives you more freedom to choose whoever you want. Another feature I like is that AFC has a lifetime workmanship guarantee, which means that if one of your covered items breaks, AFC will cover the parts and labor for the entirety of your plan if the same component breaks again. Most other companies only offer a 30-day or 60-day guarantee, so AFC’s lifetime guarantee can help save you a lot of money in the long run. AFC’s member benefits are also a huge perk (shown in the image below) and can help you get discounts or free services for auto insurance, home security, and more.
My biggest complaint is that AFC Home Warranty doesn’t offer emergency services (as seen in the image below). Every other company on our list offers emergency services, so AFC can’t match their level of reliability in exigent situations. Most major home system malfunctions are emergencies, so getting them fixed ASAP is a necessity. Any other company would have a special protocol for emergencies, but with AFC, you have to wait an average length of 24 to 48 hours for service. However, AFC Home Warranty does accept repairs from any licensed, insured technician, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be paying out of pocket. Still, there’s always the chance that your claim wil be denied, so it’s fair to be cautious. Simply put, it’s not ideal, especially for seniors who may be more susceptible to health issues without adequate heat, AC, or electricity.
AFC Home Warranty normally offers four plans instead of three, but the Silver Plan wasn’t available in Philadelphia when I got my quote. There aren’t many locations where both the Diamond Plan and the Silver Plan are available, so you may only have three options out of the four. Both the Silver Plan and the Diamond Plan are a bit pricey for what they cover, so I recommend readers check out the Gold and Platinum plans instead. The Platinum Plan ($59.42) is my top choice from AFC Home Warranty, covering a mix of 18 major appliances and home systems at only $5 more than the Gold Plan. It’s comparable in price and coverage to Liberty Home Guard’s Total Home Guard plan, so if you like AFC’s perks and want a similar plan, the Platinum Plan is your best bet.
Plan* | Monthly Cost** | Service Fee*** | Available Discounts |
Diamond Plan | $94.00 | $75 or $125 | $250 off + free roof leak protection applied at checkout (online) |
Platinum Plan | $59.42 | $75 or $125 | $250 off + free roof leak protection applied at checkout (online) |
Gold Plan | $54.58 | $75 or $125 | $250 off + free roof leak protection applied at checkout (online) |
*The Silver Plan wasn’t available for the quote in Philadelphia.
**Monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing.
***AFC Home Warranty offers two service fee choices: $75 or $125, which you get to choose between as part of your quote process (as shown in the image below). The prices shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $75 option will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Philadelphia, PA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
AFC Home Warranty offers the following add-ons for all plans. The company’s add-ons are priced annually except where noted below.
- Central vacuum: $25
- Electronics coverage: $24.99 (monthly price)
- In-ground pool and spa: $150
- Roof leak: $0 (this is a limited-time promotion, but it’s typically $25 a year)
- Septic system: $50
- Stand-alone freezer: $25
- Sump pump: $35
- Well pump: $50
The electronics coverage is extremely useful for common items like laptops, TVs, and phones, but it’s also pricey at $24.99 a month. Be sure to weigh the cost and potential benefits when deciding whether it’s worth it. For most homeowners, I’d recommend spending that money on a comprehensive home warranty plan instead.
AFC Home Warranty has the second-highest affordability score on our list, and while their Diamond Plan may not make them seem like an affordable option, their other plans usually cost the same or less than what other companies are charging for comparable coverage. AFC can’t match cheap rates like American Home Shield’s ShieldSilver plan at $25.50, but they do have flexible service fees as low as $75, which gives customers more control over how much they’re paying monthly. However, there are a few factors that hurt AFC’s affordability score. Their monthly premiums can change based on your location, so they may be more expensive depending on where you live. Also, the Diamond Plan is expensive in every location, so it’s not very practical for homeowners living on a modest budget. Because of these expenses, we scored AFC Home Warranty a 9.0 for their cost and affordability.
AFC Home Warranty has the highest customer experience score on our list, mainly because they allow customers to choose their own technicians without any hassle. This feature isn’t unique to AFC, but a lot of other companies will have more hoops to jump through. With AFC, the process is simple, as seen in the image below. One customer said:
“I was able to find my own local repair technician, and that helped the process considerably. I submitted the paperwork to receive reimbursement and was approved the same day.”
This process gives members hassle-free repairs, which raises AFC’s customer experience score. However, the company’s average response time is 24 to 48 hours (longer than that of some competitors), and they don’t offer emergency services, so it brought their score back down to 9.1.
AFC Home Warranty doesn’t have as many reviews as competitors, which means there’s less information to pull from when discerning their company reputation. For example, AFC only has 24 Trustpilot reviews, but every other company on our list has thousands or tens of thousands. AFC has 1,629 Google reviews, which is less than every competitor on our list (American Home Shield has 33,298, in contrast), and it shows that they’re a smaller company in comparison. Their scores aren’t bad (at least not in the home warranty business), but they’re also not particularly impressive.
Customers typically praise AFC for the ability to choose their provider and simple claims process. One customer commenting on Google said:
“They are fast, efficient, and eager to to care for your problems. I’m able to find my own licensed contractor to give me an estimate on the repairs I need. They call in for approval, which expedites the usual waiting period of 48 hours or so for a repairman just to make an appointment. I really love this because I am such a control freak and I like cutting down on wasted time and finding someone available ASAP to get my repairs done.”
Another said:
“AFC Home Warranty provided excellent service and quick turnaround on resolving my service request. The communication and coordination with technicians thus far has been top notch.”
Most of AFC’s complaints were about denied claims and expenses. One customer on Google said:
“When I purchased the policy I was told that repairs would be covered for any appliances covered by the policy, but [I] was only offered $100 for a $500 fix or replacement for my washing machine due to the age of the machine.”
Another reviewer said:
“This company is a scam. They are just eager to deny every claim. They try to play ‘gotcha’ with their contract wordings. I have had three service requests with them and they have denied all of them. I’ve never had this problem with another warranty company.”
While there are some complaints, there are more positive reviews that praise AFC’s straightforward claims process, which brought their score up to 8.0.
Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
BBB | B / 1.91 out of 5 stars | 129 |
Trustpilot | 3.0 out of 5 stars | 24 |
3.7 out of 5 stars | 1,629 | |
Yelp | 1.9 out of 5 stars | 339 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
AFC Home Warranty has the lowest claims process score on our list because they don’t offer emergency services. Every other company on our list provides emergency services, so it’s a big inconvenience that AFC doesn’t, especially since most major malfunctions can be considered emergencies. Aside from that, AFC’s claims process is very efficient because they allow members to choose their own technicians, they have a lifetime workmanship guarantee, and they offer high coverage limits for payouts. Still, since they don’t offer emergency services, we scored them a 6.0 for their claims process.
AFC Home Warranty ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to transparency, and part of that is because their contract, at 13 pages long, is longer than those of competitors. Still, it’s very straightforward. AFC Home Warranty’s sample contract outlines their exclusions under the “Limits of Liability” section, which is easy to find. The relatively lengthy contract, along with the fact that AFC excludes problems due to rust, corrosion, or unknown preexisting issues, brought their score down to 9.0.
Exclusions
- Accidents
- Acts of God
- Chemical or sedimentary build-up
- Collapsed ductwork
- Cosmetic defects or routine maintenance
- Electrical shorts or power surges
- Electronic or computerized energy management
- Failure due to excessive or inadequate water pressure
- Failure to clean or maintain as specified by the equipment manufacturer
- Fire, freezing, or electrical failure
- Hazardous or toxic materials
- Known or unknown preexisting conditions
- Lighting and application management systems
- Lightning, mud, or earthquake damage
- Missing parts
- Misuse or abuse
- Pest damage
- Repairs related to costs of construction, carpentry, or other incidental costs
- Rust or corrosion
- Structural changes
- Storms
- Secondary damage from a noncovered item
- Upgrades, components, or parts required due to incompatibility with the replacement system
- Water damage
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
It’s important to note that AFC Home Warranty doesn’t cover damage from failing to clean or maintain your systems and appliances. Many seniors don’t have the ability or desire to do this themselves, so this exclusion could come back to bite you. It doesn’t seem like AFC is being conniving here, but just be aware that this exclusion could act as a loophole they could use to avoid paying for claims.
AFC Home Warranty has a perfect score for their flexibility in service providers because they allow policyholders to choose their own service technicians without going through any hassle. Just select the technician you want, and you’re good to go. With AFC, you’ll never get stuck with your assigned technician, which is a huge benefit to members.
First American Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
First American Home Warranty (FAHW) stands tall amongst the competition when it comes to their coverage caps, with no predetermined limits for home systems. Their coverage also comes with a protection guarantee (shown in the image below) that if they can’t repair your system, they’ll replace it for free, regardless of how much it costs. First American’s appliance coverage may not be limitless like their home systems, but with payouts up to $3,500 per appliance, it’s still higher than any other competitor, making it one of the best home appliance insurance companies in the industry. You can get these coverage limits even on their most affordable plans ($42 a month), so it’s very good value for the money.
I recommend readers start by checking out the Essential plan. It covers all major appliances and systems for only $57 a month, which makes it one of the most affordable comprehensive plans on our list. While the Premium Plan covers more specialty items (like faucets, garbage disposals, garage door openers, and hot water dispensers), it’s a full $20 more expensive than the Essential plan, so it may not be worth it for budget-conscious buyers. Speaking of budgets, First American doesn’t offer as many deals as the competition, so if you’re looking for a hefty discount, you’ll likely come up empty-handed. However, their everyday prices are reasonable, so it’s still a great option for an affordable home warranty.
First American doesn’t offer any discounts specifically for senior citizens. The customer service representative I talked to gave me a quote for the Essential Plan at $62 a month with a $100 service fee, which is basically the same price as I got online. If you’re looking for a big discount for senior citizens, I’d look elsewhere.
First American Home Warranty doesn’t have preset coverage caps for built-in systems, which means that if they can’t repair it, they’ll replace it for free, no matter the cost. I talked with a First American representative over the phone, and they confirmed this to be true. First American’s appliance coverage is also at the top of the industry, with payouts as high as $3,500 per appliance, which is $1,500 higher than the industry average of $2,000. No other home warranty provider on our list has limitless coverage limits for home systems, so if high payouts for expensive home systems are your top priority, First American is the best option.
First American Home Warranty doesn’t have nationwide availability, so you won’t be able to get coverage if you live in AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, or WI. More importantly, First American has a history of neglecting service to seniors.WREG News Channel 3 covered a story where First American failed to fix an 81-year-old woman’s heater, and she went without heat for months. Fortunately, First American corrected their mistake, but not without garnering some bad press. Still, their mistake could have had major consequences for the woman’s health, which makes me concerned about their reliability for seniors.
First American Home Warranty’s plans all have a mixture of appliances and home system coverage, so you can’t just cover one without the other. The Premium Plan is a full $20 more expensive than the Essential plan and only offers coverage for a few more specialty items (like faucets, garbage disposals, and hot water dispensers), so in my opinion, the coverage isn’t worth the cost. Similarly, the Starter Plan is a bit pricey for coverage that doesn’t include AC or laundry appliances, so the Essential Plan is my top choice. It covers all major home systems and appliances for $57, which is less than Liberty’s Total Home Guard plan. However, First American doesn’t run many discounts, so if you’re hunting for bargains, you may be better off with another company.
Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
Starter Plan | $42.00 | $125 | None offered |
Essential Plan | $57.00 | $125 | None offered |
Premium Plan | $77.00 | $125 | None offered |
*First American Home Warranty offers two service fee choices: $100 and $125. The monthly costs shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $100 option will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Philadelphia, PA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
The following add-ons are available for all of First American Home Warranty’s plans (costs are per month):
- Additional refrigeration: $4.17
- Additional refrigeration 2: $4.17
- Additional refrigeration 3: $4.17
- Central air conditioning (electric): $8.33 (free with Essential and Premium plans)
- First American Advantage: $0 (only with Essential and Premium plans)
- HVAC tune-up: $2.08
- Limited roof leak: $8.33
- Pool/spa equipment: $20.83
- Pool/spa equipment 2: $20.83
- Septic tank pumping/system: $7.08
- Water softener: $7.08
- Well pump: $7.08
The add-on I find most useful is the HVAC tune-up coverage. It’s very affordable at $2.08 a month, which is a small price to pay to keep your expensive heating and cooling systems running well throughout the year.
First American Home Warranty may not have the biggest discounts in the industry, but they do have reasonable everyday prices and flexible service fees, which gives them the highest affordability score on our list. First American used to offer three service fee options as low as $75, but recently they changed it to only two choices: $125 and $100. Still, these prices are reasonable, and they give customers the ability to choose what works best for them. If I could only pick one plan from First American, it would be the Essential Plan, because it covers all major appliances (including kitchen appliances) and systems (as seen in the image below) for only $57 a month, which is $5 to $10 less than what most competitors charge for comparable plans. First American’s prices change based on location, though, which brought their affordability score down to 8.3.
First American Home Warranty ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to customer experience score, mainly because their customer service could be improved. One customer said:
“We are in the midst of waiting on our HVAC to be fixed. It’s now been out for 7-10 days. It took 2-3 days to get a call back from anyone.”
Another said:
“We have had nothing but problems with this company. It’s always a fight with them and whoever they subcontract to come do their jobs …When I ask to speak with a supervisor, I get told I’m not allowed. I will not be renewing this [contract] at the end of the year.”
Customer service is important, and because FAHW’s is lacking, it brought their score down to 7.8.
First American Home Warranty has the second-best score for company reputation on our list. They have more Trustpilot reviews (14,095 total) than any other company on our list, and 62% of their reviews are 5 stars. However, they don’t have many Google reviews, and most of the ones they do have are negative, so that doesn’t bode well for their online presence. Still, most customers praised First American for their simple claims process. One customer said:
“They responded to the service request promptly, and a technician came out to assess the situation. The tech called First American during that appointment, and I received approval for the replacement. The replacement was received by Lowe’s within two weeks.”
Another customer spoke about how easy the repair process was:
“We are very happy with our appliances covered by [FAHW]. When we encounter [an] issue with our appliance[s], we call for support, and they connect us to a repair company to assist. Very EASY.”
Most customer complaints were about long wait times and bad communication. One customer said:
“There is ZERO customer service from this company. They flat out LIE to you as well. They tell you one thing and the repairman tells you something else.”
Another customer said:
“It is now day 22 of having no hot water. They stopped communication with us when we requested a cash-out and only emailed us after we notified them of legal action.”
First American does a great job of responding to complaints, but most of the time it’s just to apologize, not to actually reevaluate the situation. Considering customers’ claims about their bad customer service, it brought First American’s score down to 8.7.
Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
BBB | B / 1.76 out of 5 stars | 1,846 |
Trustpilot | 4.2 out of 5 stars | 14,095 |
2.9 out of 5 stars | 2,683 | |
Yelp | 1.1 out of 5 stars | 1,909 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
First American Home Warranty lets you submit claims online or over the phone 24/7, and they have $3,500 coverage limits for appliances and no predetermined limits for home systems. That means they’ll repair or replace your entire home system no matter what the cost is. Because of this, their payouts can be very high, which helps keep more money in your pocket.They also cover rust, corrosion, sediment, and problems resulting from lack of maintenance, which makes the claims process easier since there are fewer exclusions to worry about. On the other hand, their typical response time is around 48 hours, which is slow for the industry. In contrast, Liberty Home Guard has an average response time of 12 hours, so if speed is a priority, I’d look elsewhere. Considering all the pros and cons, we scored First American Home Warranty 8.0 for their claims process.
First American has the highest transparency score out of all the providers on our list, which means their contract is more user friendly and straightforward than the competition’s. FAHW’s sample contract is only four pages long, so it’s much more succinct than those of the other companies on our list. However, they have multiple sample contracts, and some of FAHW’s longer sample contracts can reach up to 10 pages. Both contracts outline their exclusions under the “Limits of Liability” section, and I recommend readers scrutinize that entire section before purchasing a policy.
Exclusions
First American Home Warranty has the following notable exclusions:
- Chimneys
- Collapsed or broken lines
- Cosmetic defects
- Damage from pests
- Damage from weather, theft, or smoke
- Glass doors
- Knobs
- Low-voltage electrical systems
- Plumbing stoppages caused by foreign objects
- Roots
- Rotisseries
- Solar systems
- Space heaters
- Water heater storage tanks
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
However, First American doesn’t have some of these exclusions (like knobs and dials) in their Essential and Premium plans.
First American has the lowest score on our list for their flexibility in service providers (tied with Cinch Home Services) because they don’t allow customers to choose their own service technicians. In fact, they don’t even let their customers pick from a list of pre-approved technicians. Instead, they assign customers technicians based on their location and availability. In other words, you get what you get. If you want more control over the repair process, I’d recommend choosing AFC Home Warranty or Liberty Home Guard for their flexibility in service providers.
Cinch Home Services
4.1
Our Rating
seniors. For example, Cinch uses a $10,000 annual aggregate coverage limit instead of individual item limits — a feature no other provider on our list offers. This annual coverage cap applies to all your claims combined, including all your home systems and appliances. Annual coverage caps could work in your favor if you only have a few claims in a year since it’ll leave you more money to use per claim. Cinch also has a relatively painless claims process because they have a six-month workmanship guarantee, and they cover unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, which gives you more peace of mind because there are fewer exclusions to worry about.
Cinch also offers preventative maintenance benefits for homeowners who don’t make any claims within their first one-year contract term. They’ll provide one free air conditioning and/or heating system maintenance visit for up to $100 if you don’t make any claims during your first year. In other words, you actually get rewarded for not making any claims. This is a unique feature, so if you take great care of your home systems and appliances and may not make any claims, it’s worth considering Cinch. They do have some downsides, like expensive service fees of up to $150 and hit-or-miss customer service, but these issues aren’t dealbreakers.
It’s worth noting that Cinch doesn’t offer any discounts specifically for seniors, and the representative I spoke to over the phone gave me a quote that was the same as the one I got online.
My favorite thing about Cinch Home Services is their annual coverage cap. Cinch Home Services offers a $10,000 annual coverage limit instead of setting limits for individual items, which could actually give you higher payouts if you only have a few claims per year. Additionally, like other providers in the industry, if Cinch can’t repair an item, they’ll replace it (per the image below). Cinch also covers systems and appliances no matter how old they are, so if you have a 20-year-old heater that’s finally kicked the bucket, Cinch will replace it entirely instead of offering you a measly check for its depreciated value. Cinch also covers unknown preexisting conditions, which is rare in the industry, so it gives you one less exclusion to worry about during the claims process.
My biggest issue with Cinch Home Services is their high service fees, which top out at $150 — double what some other companies charge. These fees can add up fast if you have multiple claims in a year, and choosing a lower service fee will raise your monthly rate, so it’s inconvenient at best. Additionally, Cinch only offers six add-ons, so if customizable coverage is important to you, I’d look at Liberty Home Guard instead.
Cinch Home Services has the lowest plans and coverage score on our list, but it’s mainly because they only offer six add-ons, which is fewer than any other company on our list. The plans themselves are straightforward — there’s one for appliances, one for home systems, and one for both. I’d recommend readers check out the Complete Home plan since it offers comprehensive coverage for $60.99 a month, which is very close in price to Liberty Home Guard’s Total Home Guard plan. If you want comprehensive coverage and prefer Cinch’s perks, the Complete Home Plan is a great alternative to Liberty’s plans. Considering Cinch’s small number of add-ons, we gave them a 6.7 for their plans and coverage.
Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee** | Available Discounts |
Appliances | $44.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
Built-in Systems | $49.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
Complete Home | $60.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
*Monthly costs are exclusive of discounts.
**Cinch Home Services offers three service fee choices: $100, $125, or $150, which you get to choose between during your quote process. The prices shown in the table above are for a $150 service fee. Choosing the $125 or $100 options will increase your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Philadelphia, PA. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.
Available Add-Ons
Cinch Home Services offers the following add-ons for all its plans (prices are monthly):
- Pool (heater included): $22.00
- Pool with spa (heater included): $22.00
- Premier upgrade package: $12.50
- Septic tank/pumping: $4.58
- Spa (heater included): $22.00
- Well pump: $12.50
The premier upgrade package is a unique option that provides additional coverage for permits, code upgrades, and more. No other company on this list offers it, so it may be worth looking into if you’re worried about keeping your systems up to code. However, most of Cinch’s add-ons are pricey, with the premier package adding $12.50 a month to your rate, so unless you’re sure you want these add-ons, I would recommend sticking with just the included coverage.
Cinch Home Services is tied with American Home Shield for the worst affordability score on our list, mainly because of their high service fees. Cinch’s service fees range from $100 to $150, which is the most expensive set of service fee options on our list. On the high-end, Cinch’s service fees are double what some other companies charge. You’re free to lower your service fee down to $100, but that will raise your monthly rate, which can be even more expensive in the long run. Still, with a higher service fee, Cinch’s monthly rates are actually very manageable, so we scored them a 7.5 for their cost and affordability.
Cinch Home Services has the lowest customer experience score on our list (tied with Liberty Home Guard), and part of that is because their customer service is very hit or miss. For example, one customer on Google shared their poor experience with Cinch’s customer service:
“The first rep hung up on me after thirty minutes. The second rep kept giving me runaround for about an hour and a half (what’s the contract number, what’s your name, what’s your phone number *repeat repeat repeat*), then, left me on an indefinite silent treatment hold, and finally hung up on me without helping me.”
A similar review covered the pros and cons of their experience, with Cinch, saying:
“I am very frustrated with the experience I’ve had with Cinch. I have been handling a claim for my elderly mother who is hearing impaired and it has been one road block after another. This has been going on for 5 months for a repair for her washer. I have spent numerous hours on hold and [taken] time out of my day to schedule repair appointments during this time … I will say, Lance, the rep I spoke with about my final claim options, was extremely helpful and he was the only rep who actually called me back to follow up during this entire process. If it weren’t for him, I would have given zero stars for my experience.”
But the reviews aren’t all bad. Another review mentioned Cinch’s helpful service reps:
“Ms. Wendy from Customer Relations reached out to assist with my issues. She was very professional and very helpful. She allowed me to pick my own company to come out to provide me the services that I needed. After providing her the quote/total for my repairs, she reimbursed me the total with no problem. Thank you Ms. Wendy. Cinch needs more professionals like you on their team!”
There are plenty of reviews that mention Cinch’s agents by name and thank them for their help. I’ve found Cinch’s representatives to be very helpful over the phone, but that’s not always the case. Cinch’s general customer service may need improvement, but certain agents go above and beyond, bringing Cinch’s score up to 7.5.
Cinch has a B+ with the Better Business Bureau, which is the highest BBB score on our list, but their online reviews aren’t particularly impressive, so it makes their company’s reputation a bit difficult to sort out. Cinch has 3.8 stars on Trustpilot, which is decent for the home warranty industry, but 31% of their reviews were 1 star, which isn’t a great sign. Still, many customers praised Cinch’s quick responses and simple process for repairs and replacements. One Google customer said:
“My AC stopped running, so I made a claim to Cinch home warranty. Within the next couple of days, a technician was sent to diagnose the problem. My compressor was out. Within three weeks, I had a new HVAC system installed.”
On the other hand, most of the complaints were about claim denials and unresponsive agents. One Trustpilot customer said:
“(Our) water heater was leaking, so we put in a claim with Cinch. After 48 hours, we still hadn’t heard from Cinch. We called them and they said to find our own tech and they would reimburse us. While waiting, we were without water the entire time, as we had to turn the water off. We got our own technician, and we even took a picture of the heater after it was removed. Our claim was denied because we didn’t take a picture before it was removed. We canceled with them and are going with a different company due to this incident.”
Still, many reviewers could get their issues resolved later by reaching out to the customer relations team (erelations@cinchhs.com). Cinch’s complaints brought their score down, but since the customer relations team made a lot of attempts to resolve these problems, it brought their score up to 8.0.
Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
BBB | B+ / 1.12 out of 5 stars | 1,524 |
Trustpilot | 3.8 out of 5 stars | 3,208 |
3.1 out of 5 stars | 2,795 | |
Yelp | 1.0 out of 5 stars | 6 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of writing.
Cinch Home Services has the second-highest claims process score on our list, mainly because of their high coverage limit and payouts. Cinch offers a $10,000 annual coverage limit instead of individual item limits (with limited exceptions for certain items), so your payouts for individual claims may be much higher than with competitors. This isn’t ironclad since Cinch still has to approve any repairs or replacements, but it’s nice not to have to worry about paying out of pocket since most claims won’t cost more than $10,000. Additionally, Cinch has a fast 24-hour response time, 24/7 availability, and fee-free emergency services, all of which make your claims process easier. Given all their perks, we gave Cinch a 9.0.
Cinch has one of the clearest contracts in the industry, which is why they have the second-best transparency score on our list. Cinch Home Services’ sample contract has a table of contents, a surprisingly rare feature for home warranty companies, which makes it much faster to skim through the contract. Their exclusions are under the “General Exclusions and Limitations” section, but they have a longer list than some competitors, so that brought their score down to 9.6. Still, most of their exclusions are standard across the industry, so it doesn’t affect their score too much.
Exclusions
Cinch Home Services has the following exclusions on all its plans:
- Abuse
- Accidents
- Acts of God
- Animal, pet, and/or pest damage
- Casualty
- Fire
- Flood, smoke, earthquake, or freeze damage
- Improper installation
- Insurrection and riots
- Lightning strikes
- Missing parts
- Misuse and/or neglect
- Mold, mildew, mycotoxins, fungus, bacteria, virus, condensation, and/or wet or dry rot
- Nuclear explosion, reaction, radiation, or radioactive contamination
- Power failure
- Power surge
- Structural and/or property damage
- Vandalism or intentional destruction of property
- War and acts of terrorism
One important note for seniors is that Cinch doesn’t cover damage caused by neglect. This means that if you don’t regularly maintain your items and one of them breaks, the company may try to claim that your negligence caused the damage, leaving you to pay the bill. Since many seniors may not have the capacity to properly maintain all of their items, this could come back to bite you. While it’s unlikely, it’s still a possibility, so be wary.
Cinch offers the following explanation of what’s not covered by their policies on their website:
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it is imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Cinch Home Services is tied with First American Home Warranty for the lowest flexibility in service providers score. They assign contractors to their customers automatically and don’t allow them to choose their own service technicians. This gives you less control over your repairs and can result in having to work with sub-par contractors, so we gave them a 2.
Calculate the Cost of Home Warranties for Seniors
If you’re trying to figure out how much a home warranty will cost, Today’s Homeowner created a handy cost calculator to help you. Enter your monthly cost, service call fee, and expected number of claims below to estimate your annual home warranty cost.
Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
---|---|---|
Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Seniors Need a Home Warranty?
Home service contracts are never required by law, but they can be beneficial, especially for seniors who don’t have the ability to fix their home systems and appliances themselves. It’s extra critical for these home systems to be fully functioning for homeowners in their twilight years, so home warranties can be a huge help if you don’t have thousands saved up for repair costs.
How Much Does a Home Warranty for Seniors Cost?
The average cost of a home warranty for seniors is $56.06 a month, not including service fees or additional senior discounts. To find out more about the costs associated with home warranty coverage, check out our home warranty cost guide.
How To Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties for Seniors?
I recommend seniors get quotes from multiple companies and talk to each one over the phone to see if their company offers a senior citizen discount. Even if a company doesn’t offer a senior discount, they may be able to help you find a more affordable plan than if you only shopped online.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Seniors?
A home warranty is worth it for seniors because doing home repairs only gets more difficult the older you become, so it helps to have a home warranty company covering most of the up-front cost and physical work. It can be difficult to know for sure if home warranties are worth it for your specific circumstances, but if you want more security for your home in your golden years, you may benefit from a home warranty policy.
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