Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based research that helps our readers make informed decisions. The reviews are always independent. For transparency, we may be compensated if you purchase through a link.
No matter how well you maintain your home’s appliances, they’ll eventually break down due to simple wear and tear damage, which is excluded by homeowners’ insurance or manufacturers’ warranties. Fortunately, a home warranty covers repairs and replacements of appliances and systems in your home that wear out in the course of normal use.
If you have an older home or are going through a real estate transaction in particular, a home warranty can provide a tremendous amount of peace of mind and budget protection.
If you’re looking for a home warranty in New Jersey, we’re here to recommend the top three providers in the state. The best home warranty for you is the one that covers the appliances and systems you’re worried about at a price that fits your budget. We’ll break each company down by the plans and extras it offers to help you find the one that fits your needs.
In this article:
- Best Overall: American Home Shield
- Most Customizable Plan Options: America’s 1st Choice Home Club
- Best for Value Shoppers: Select Home Warranty
- Our Verdict
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: American Home Shield
Quick Take
With more than half a century in business, American Home Shield is one of the best-established names in the home warranty industry. The company still maintains an edge over the competition by offering coverage for conditions and types of damage that most other providers don’t. In addition to wear and tear damage, American Home Shield plans cover breakdowns resulting from improper modification, insufficient maintenance and known or unknown pre-existing conditions.
Pros and Cons
✓ Has been in business since 1971
✓ Covers rust, sediment and corrosion
✓ Covers duplicates of the same item
✘ Has relatively expensive premium prices
✘ Features fewer add-on coverage options than competitors
Plans and Coverage
Most home warranty companies offer two to four plans to their customers, and American Home Shield offers three plans. ShieldSilver is the least expensive plan and covers 14 important home systems. ShieldGold covers all these systems and adds coverage for nine vital home appliances, including washers, dryers and refrigerators.
Finally, ShieldPlatinum covers all of the above and adds roof leak repairs, a free HVAC tune-up and coverage for code violations and permits.
American Home Shield also allows you to purchase add-on coverage for pools/spas, well pumps, septic pumps and guest units of up to 750 sq. ft. You can add these options to any of the three plans for between $5 and $24 a month to create your own customized coverage plan.
| Coverage | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
| Roof-leak repairs | ✓ | ||
| Air conditioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heating unit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doorbells and chimes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage door openers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Toilets | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Faucets and valves | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range/cooktop | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ |
Cost
Every home warranty comes with a premium cost that you’ll pay every month or year for the length of the contract, as well as a service call fee or deductible that you’ll pay for every service visit. American Home Shield allows you to customize these prices in relation to each other. You can choose a lower service fee in exchange for a higher deductible and vice versa. Here are the premiums you’ll pay with a $75, $100 or $125 service call fee.
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| ShieldSilver | $79.99 | $69.99 | $64.99 |
| ShieldGold | $89.99 | $79.99 | $74.99 |
| ShieldPlatinum | $109.99 | $99.99 | $94.99 |
Get a Free Quote
To find out how much an American Home Shield plan will cost you, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this quick online form.
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?
Most Customizable Plan Options: America’s First Choice Home Club
Quick Take
With four total plans plus 11 add-on options, America’s First Choice (AFC) Home Club offers supremely customizable home warranty coverage. You’ll have no trouble creating a plan that covers exactly what you need without paying for pricey extras you don’t need. Like American Home Shield, AFC Home Club allows you to choose your deductible based on how often you anticipate needing to use your home warranty.
Pros and Cons
✓ Guarantees repairs for life of your home warranty contract
✓ Lets you choose your own contractor (with prior approval)
✓ Features free security perks like identity protection
✘ Only covers microwaves and plumbing stoppages in its premium plan
✘ Has a $75 cancellation fee
Plans and Coverage
AFC Home Club offers one plan that covers only home systems like air conditioning, heating and plumbing. The Silver Plan, covers only home appliances including dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators. The Gold Plan covers both, plus ductwork. The Platinum Plan adds coverage for ice makers, microwaves, faucets and plumbing stoppages.
With any plan, AFC Home Club also offers extra coverage for tankless water heaters, in-ground pools, stand-alone freezers, double ovens, central vacuums, ice makers, hot water dispensers, septic systems and well pumps. You can also add built-in microwave coverage to the Systems, Silver or Gold Plans.
| Coverage | Systems Plan | Silver Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Kitchen refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ | |||
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | |||
| Ice maker | ✓ | |||
| Faucets | ✓ |
Cost
As mentioned, AFC Home Club lets you choose between a service call fee of $75, $100 or $125. If you don’t anticipate needing to call technicians very often during the length of your contract, you might consider choosing a higher service fee with a lower premium cost.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| Systems Plan | $47.92 | $525 |
| Silver Plan | $41.67 | $450 |
| Gold Plan | $54.17 | $600 |
| Platinum Plan | $58.33 | $650 |
Get a Free Quote
Enter your contact information in this easy form or call 877-755-1115 to get a free quote from AFC Home Club.
Best for Value Shoppers: Select Home Warranty
Quick Take
Finally, Select Home Warranty offers the lowest premium prices of any provider on our list. You may not receive coverage limits that are as generous as with other companies’ plans, but Select Home Warranty will provide you with all the basic coverage you need to protect your budget from costly repairs and replacements. If you pay annually, you’ll even receive two extra months of coverage for free.
Pros and Cons
✓ Offers limited roof leak repairs in all of its plans
✓ Guarantees repairs for 90 days
✓ Presents a wide range of add-on coverages
✘ Features lower coverage caps than competitors
✘ Has a slightly higher-than-average service fee
Plans and Coverage
With plans for appliances (Bronze Care), systems (Gold Care) and both (Platinum Care), Select Home Warranty lets you choose the amount of coverage you need. The Platinum Care plan also adds coverage for garage door openers, ceiling fans and plumbing stoppages.
Select Home Warranty is the only company on our list to offer add-on coverage for lawn sprinkler systems. You can also opt for coverage for central vacuums, pools, septic systems, spas, stand-alone freezers, sump pumps and well pumps.
| Coverage | Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
| Limited roof leak | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cooktop | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Stove/oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garage door openers | ✓ | ||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ | ||
| Ceiling fans | ✓ |
Cost
Select Home Warranty’s service call fee with all plans is the standard $75. Contracts paid monthly come with 12 months of coverage, and contracts paid yearly are good for 14 months.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| Bronze Care Plan | $44.42 | $479.99 |
| Gold Care Plan | $44.42 | $479.99 |
| Platinum Care Plan | $49.83 | $549.99 |
Get a Free Quote
For a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this simple online form or call 888-370-3956.
Our Verdict
Overall, we find that American Home Shield offers the most comprehensive coverage to homeowners in New Jersey. This long-standing industry leader offers fewer exclusions and more years of experience in the industry than any other. However, this provider’s plans are more expensive than others. If American Home Shield doesn’t fit your budget, the other companies on our list also provide excellent coverage.
Since all of the providers listed above offer free quotes, it’s a good idea to get specific information for your home before making your choice. Simply enter your contact information on the respective contact forms for an instant, free price quote. Of course, budget shouldn’t be your only consideration–make sure that the plan you’re looking at covers what you need it to cover..
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Home Warranties
How much does a home warranty cost in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a relatively high cost of living in general, so home warranties are a little more expensive than average, costing about $40-$80 a month. That typically works out to between $480 and $960 a year. Service call fees typically fall between $75 and $125.
How does a home warranty work?
If you have a home warranty and a covered item breaks down due to wear and tear, you simply call your home warranty provider or file a claim online. Within a day or two, a company representative will put you in contact with a home services contractor who can visit your home to diagnose the problem. If it falls under your warranty terms, the contractor will repair the item. If repairs aren’t possible, you may be eligible for a replacement, though cash may be offered in lieu of the actual appliance.
Do home buyers look for houses with home warranties?
According to a study by American Home Shield, a home warranty can actually increase the resale value of a home by nearly 1%. That may not sound like much, but a year’s worth of home warranty coverage in New Jersey costs between $480 and $960. For comparison, according to Zillow, the average home in New Jersey sells for $421,124. 1% of that amount is more than $4,000, which is aa substantial return on investment.
Do home warranties offer roof coverage?
While some home warranties offer coverage for roof leaks over the inhabited part of a home, few, if any, cover substantial repairs or replacements of a roof. Since roof replacement costs typically range between $7,000 and $24,000, it doesn’t make financial sense for home warranty companies to offer this type of coverage.
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.
Find the Best Home Warranty Providers in Other States
