Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Being a homeowner in Bay Minette is an excellent option for those who love nature and quiet neighborhoods. However, as great as Bay Minette is, homeownership always comes with its fair share of difficulties, such as trying to take care of your appliance and system repairs yourself. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and shield your savings account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with many providers — all with different coverage — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Bay Minette.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Bay Minette, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can enjoy a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 home warranty plans that Liberty offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps from Liberty are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
In Bay Minette, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. With a home warranty from Choice, you can enjoy very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 home warranty plans that Choice offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
Low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
Two months of free coverage
Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option
90-day repair guarantee
Has a $75 cancellation fee
Low coverage caps
In Bay Minette, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. With a home warranty from Select, you can enjoy a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 home warranty plans that Select offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps from Select are about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953.
Bronze Care Plan
Gold Care Plan
Platinum Care Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
In Bay Minette, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. With a home warranty from AHS, you can enjoy the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 home warranty plans that AHS offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Established company with a bbb accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
In Bay Minette, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. With a home warranty from First American, you can enjoy very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, it has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified. The 2 home warranty plans that First American offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps from First American are about $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of First American Home Warranty. To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
In Bay Minette, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can enjoy a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 home warranty plans that Cinch offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
In Bay Minette, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. With a home warranty from HSC, you can enjoy quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 home warranty plans that HSC offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
The plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is less than other providers in the Bay Minette area.
To read more, visit our review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
| Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioner | $5,655 |
| Heating | $3,770 |
| Electrical | $565 |
| Toilets | $471 |
| Washer/Dryer | $754 |
| Plumbing | $565 |
| Oven | $1,508 |
| Fridge | $565 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps lower expenses for Bay Minette homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer builds with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include refrigerators, dishwashers, garbage disposals, microwaves, dryers, washers, and others. Covered systems include plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Bay Minette homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranties differ greatly in the items covered. Basic policies typically include plumbing, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances, while more comprehensive plans may also cover spas, well pumps, pools, and roof leaks. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may seek out companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain companies may eliminate deductibles if homeowners don't submit any claims within a set period of time.
A home warranty provider's rating gives insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Complimentary ratings and reviews indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential businesses to learn the number of repair specialists they have in Bay Minette and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Wider networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Home warranty providers sometimes include extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranty plans are an affordable way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Bay Minette reaching an average high of 75℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your air conditioning system, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly lower out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and choosing a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For example, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
There are also some downsides to buying a home warranty plan, such as the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those due to natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Bay Minette. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can reduce your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. A homeowners insurance plan protects your home in a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which is somewhat common in Bay Minette.
Homebuyers, homeowners, real estate agents, landlords, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in Bay Minette include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the plan.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees when using the policy. In Bay Minette, where the median value of a home is $212,564, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
