Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Homeownership in Vestavia Hills has many benefits, but it also comes with its challenges. Your home’s appliances and systems will inevitably need repairs, and this could mean a burdensome expense. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be overwhelming, as there are dozens of companies to choose from. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and put together a list of the best home warranty companies in Vestavia Hills for you.
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
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty for Vestavia Hills residents. The 3 plans from Liberty are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from 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 plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage limits come out to around $3,000 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our Liberty Home Guard Review. To receive 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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Vestavia Hills residents. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from 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 plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $3,000 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our Choice Home Warranty Review. To receive 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty for Vestavia Hills residents. The 3 plans from Select are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from 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 plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our Select Home Warranty Review. To receive 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Vestavia Hills residents. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from 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 plans that AHS offers to homeowners are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,500 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our American Home Shield Review. To receive 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
First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Vestavia Hills residents. The 2 plans from First American are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from 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 plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,500 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our First American Home Warranty Review. To receive 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Vestavia Hills residents. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from 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 plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,000-$2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our Cinch Home Services Review. To receive 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service for Vestavia Hills residents. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to comprehend and offer both system and appliance coverage. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from 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 plans that HSC offers to homeowners are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to around $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To read more, visit our The Home Service Club Review. To receive 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 | $6,389 |
| Heating | $4,259 |
| Electrical | $639 |
| Toilets | $532 |
| Washer/Dryer | $852 |
| Plumbing | $639 |
| Oven | $1,704 |
| Fridge | $639 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps reduce the high costs for Vestavia Hills homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide 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 provider then arranges a contractor to make the fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners, as it helps prevent expensive emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include dishwashers, dryers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, microwaves, washers, and more. Included systems are normally electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and locksmiths. Vestavia Hills homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some essential home warranty terms to learn before signing a contract:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty policies can have major differences in covered items. Most plans cover electrical, heating, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for companies with a range of coverage choices, such as upgraded plans. You'll want to tailor your protection for your home’s needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-claim costs can add up, so some homeowners prefer using companies with more affordable per-claim fees to maximize savings. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's reputation provides insight into things such as approval rates, repair timeliness, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Check review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for great service.
Home warranty providers have networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Vestavia Hills and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. More extensive networks improve the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty providers offer extras such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Extra bonuses can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Home warranties are a great way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Vestavia Hills hitting an average high of 72℃F, you may find that certain appliances, like your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably bring down out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
Not to mention, having a home warranty can save you time by removing the need to research service technicians — most providers will send a trusted professional right to your door to complete the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also yield value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred between owners when you sell your home.
As for the downsides of home warranties, home system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to read what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another consideration is that home warranties usually only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They often won’t cover home systems or appliances that need repairs or replacements due to animal infestations, natural disasters, improper maintenance, etc.
A home warranty in Vestavia Hills can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans usually have broader coverage, a lower service fee, and higher coverage limits. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also lower your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects your entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new washing machine or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which can be a threat in Vestavia Hills.
A home warranty can help investors, home sellers, homebuyers, homeowners, and real estate agents. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different home warranties in Vestavia Hills include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may buy a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Vestavia Hills is $520,735, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
