Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Golden Hills has tons of great advantages, but there are some negatives. Hot summers can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty is a way to protect your budget from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is filled with a lot of providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Golden Hills.
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 is the best overall home warranty for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the most cost-effective home warranty for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 plans from Select are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: 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 about $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the most customizable home warranty for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,500 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the best home warranty for appliance coverage for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, this is the plan for you. Plus, 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 plans from First American are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,500 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: 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 about $1,000-$2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the best home warranty with the quickest service for Golden Hills residents. If you’re looking for quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days, this is the plan for you. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: 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 about $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,340 |
Heating | $4,227 |
Electrical | $634 |
Toilets | $528 |
Washer/Dryer | $845 |
Plumbing | $634 |
Oven | $1,691 |
Fridge | $634 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that assists Golden Hills homeowners in reducing the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to replace or fix appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or repair. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer homes with working fixtures probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Covered appliances normally include washers, microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, dryers, garbage disposals, and others. Covered systems include electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers also offer add-on coverage for central vacuums, roof leaks, locksmiths, and septic systems. Most home warranty plans require Golden Hills homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:
There are several key considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans provide coverage for plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances. More robust coverage options also offer coverage on other items such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Focus on companies with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet your needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These per-claim charges can quickly add up, so you may look for providers advertising lower service fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation gives you insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Positive reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty businesses maintain networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to ask how many repair technicians they have in Golden Hills and get an idea for how quickly your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Larger networks raise the chances of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Some home warranty companies include bonuses such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These 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 Golden Hills hitting an average high of 75℃F, you may find that certain appliances, such as your air conditioner, get a lot of use. A home warranty can remarkably lower out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only can a home warranty offer some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty handles this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. A home warranty can also yield value in other ways. For example, some plans can be transferred to another owner when you sell your home.
One downside of getting a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For instance, if one of your appliances already has a manufacturer's warranty, it may not be included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read over any contracts you’re considering thoroughly to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Another thing to bear in mind is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing issues and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about this if you need more information or if this is a problem for you.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Golden Hills. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover issues with systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Golden Hills. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system repairs.
A home warranty can help investors, homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, and real estate agents. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
A home warranty can cover your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty policy and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then be responsible for the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Golden Hills is $339,449, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.