Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
As much as you may love homeownership in Montclair, there's always that fear about whether your appliances and systems are going to need to be replaced in the next few years. 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 allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
The home warranty market is filled with many providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Montclair.
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 Montclair, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the provider 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 Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can 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 Montclair, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, this is the provider 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 Home Warranty 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 about $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can 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 Montclair, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are 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 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can 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 Montclair, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, this is the 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.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. First American’s service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,500 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can 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 Montclair, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process easy. 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 provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services 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 about $1,000-$2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can 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 Montclair, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process easy. 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 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.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club 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 about $2,000 for each covered appliance or system.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can 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 | $6,617 |
Heating | $4,412 |
Electrical | $662 |
Toilets | $551 |
Washer/Dryer | $882 |
Plumbing | $662 |
Oven | $1,765 |
Fridge | $662 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Montclair homeowners lower the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and working appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include heating, electrical, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers also offer add-on coverage for locksmiths, central vacuums, septic systems, and roof leaks. It's important for Montclair homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they can be used to cover repairs. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements needed due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover things like natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or damage caused by improperly using a system or appliance. It's important to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
Here are some essential home warranty terms to know before signing a contract:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for heating, electrical, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More extensive plans may also provide protection for additional items such as spas, well pumps, pools, and roof leaks. Look for providers with an assortment of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
You'll pay a standard service fee of around $60 to $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 providers advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may waive deductibles when a homeowner submits no claims in a defined period.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Wider networks increase the probability of getting qualified technicians to quickly service your home. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Montclair to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty providers may include perks such as smart home device coverage, energy efficiency upgrades, and reduced maintenance fees. These can offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses let you enhance your home and get the most from your warranty policy.
Since temperatures in Montclair can easily reach 100 degrees, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioner. Purchasing a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances stops working all of a sudden.
Not to mention, having a home warranty can save you some time by getting rid of the need to research service technicians — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the repair or replacement. Another benefit of having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty to the new owners. It can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your house sell faster.
Home warranties also have some downsides. While it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a contractor who carries out the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would prefer to select their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty companies let you select a contractor.
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 denied, so it’s important to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Montclair can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. Higher-priced plans typically have a lower service fee, broader coverage, and higher coverage limits. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also lower your up-front costs when you opt for 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 protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects your home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or air conditioner, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Montclair.
Homebuyers, home sellers, landlords, real estate agents, and homeowners are all eligible for home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in Montclair include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover your home systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items mentioned in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the home seller 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. Considering that the average home value in Montclair is $620,594, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.