Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Owning a home can have many benefits, but it can also come with some downsides like maintenance. The older your house’s appliances and systems are, the more likely it is that you'll benefit from a home warranty. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings account from unexpected home repairs and 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 has many providers — all with different price points — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Half Moon Bay.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, Choice is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, Select is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, AHS is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of American Home Shield.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, First American is the perfect provider 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.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of First American Home Warranty.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, Cinch is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services.
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 in Half Moon Bay. The home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders that have various system and appliance coverage options. 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, HSC is the perfect provider 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.
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 appliance or system.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of The Home Service Club.
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 | $7,680 |
| Heating | $5,120 |
| Electrical | $768 |
| Toilets | $640 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,024 |
| Plumbing | $768 |
| Oven | $2,048 |
| Fridge | $768 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Half Moon Bay homeowners in reducing the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide financial coverage to swap out or fix appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear. When something stops working, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency repairs. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer builds with functional fixtures probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include microwaves, dryers, refrigerators, washers, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more. Included systems are usually electrical, heating, plumbing, and air conditioning. Many home warranty providers offer add-on coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and locksmiths. It's important for Half Moon Bay homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or improperly using a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing a contract, such as:
There are several key factors to consider when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranties have significant variation in what they include. Basic plans typically provide protection for plumbing, heating, electrical, AC, and appliances, while more comprehensive options may also cover spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. Look for providers with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to 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 insights into factors such as repair speed, contractor expertise, claim approval rates, and customer satisfaction. Read through review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to learn more about providers. Good reviews and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified technicians to promptly service your home. Ask potential providers how many contractors they have in Half Moon Bay to get a sense of how soon your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty companies offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Home warranty plans are an affordable way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Half Moon Bay hitting an average high of 65℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your air conditioner, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly bring down out-of-pocket expenses should your HVAC system break down.
In addition, having a home warranty can save you some time by removing the need to research repair people — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the necessary repair or replacement. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can raise your home’s real estate value. If you ever decide to sell your house, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you have your home warranty with.
As for the negatives of home warranties, home system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to review what each policy covers and excludes in the contract.
Another possible pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being rejected, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Half Moon Bay. 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 opting for a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically cheaper 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 home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects a home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or stove, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Half Moon Bay.
A home warranty can help home sellers, homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, and investors. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
A home warranty will cover your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are great if you need more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be helpful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many companies let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually the person who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Since the average home value in Half Moon Bay is $1,508,843, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
