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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
There are many benefits of owning a home, but as your Merced home gets older, you may need to update your appliances and systems. A home warranty in Merced can help lower your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home systems and appliances that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the right protection for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Merced. Read on for our home warranty recommendations.
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 Merced, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has been operating for around 15 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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
In Merced, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has been operating for around 11 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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
In Merced, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been operating for around 26 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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
In Merced, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been operating for around 39 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $1,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $85.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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
In Merced, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been operating for around 44 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $1,000-$2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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
In Merced, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been operating for around 15 years, making it a respected company in the industry. 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 has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so be sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. To read more, visit our comprehensive 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 | $6,275 |
Heating | $4,183 |
Electrical | $627 |
Toilets | $523 |
Washer/Dryer | $837 |
Plumbing | $627 |
Oven | $1,673 |
Fridge | $627 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Merced homeowners reduce the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear. When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty plan gives homeowners a sense of security since it can help avoid expensive emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with appliances and fixtures in good condition may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers, microwaves, refrigerators, dryers, and more. Included systems are normally electrical, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, locksmiths, roof leaks, and central vacuums. Merced homeowners should know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by the policy.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to know before signing a contract, such as:
There are several important considerations when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans cover heating, plumbing, AC, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also include protection for other items such as roof leaks, well pumps, spas, and pools. Look for companies with an array of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. This fee is charged per request and 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 after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insights into factors such as contractor expertise, claim approval rates, repair speed, and customer satisfaction. Look at review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to learn more about providers. Positive reviews and ratings suggest a company known for quality service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Merced to get a sense of how soon your repairs could be handled in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and smart home device protection. These add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in Merced can get quite high in the summer, which means your air conditioner is most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Merced, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they have to be repaired or replaced.
Along with saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can provide you peace of mind and save you the hassle of trying to find a qualified contractor to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted technicians who can handle any repair issues you may have. Additionally, though it varies by company, some providers will let you transfer your warranty in the event that you sell your home. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
One downside of a home warranty is that there are usually exclusions. For instance, if you already have a manufacturer's warranty on one of your appliances, it may not be included in the home warranty, so it’s important to read over the contracts you’re considering thoroughly to get a sense of what is included and what isn’t.
Another drawback is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those due to natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the affected systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in Merced can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans tend to have a lower service fee, higher coverage limits, and broader coverage. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what types of damage they cover. Home warranty policies cover problems related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Merced. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, landlords, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty plan will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you want to save some money.
Home warranty plans generally provide coverage for a year. Many companies let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Merced, where the median value of a home is $378,722, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.