Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in San Diego Country Estates can be expensive, particularly as your home ages and your appliances and systems need to be updated or repaired. A home warranty in San Diego Country Estates can help lower your out-of-pocket costs by covering repairs or replacements to major home appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging, since there are so many companies to decide between. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and made a list of the top home warranty companies in San Diego Country Estates for you.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. Choice has been operating for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also 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. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also about $3,000.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty full review.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. Select has been operating for over 11 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 3 plans from Select are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. Select has established itself as a company with a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. It also 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. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also about $2,000.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-370-3953. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Select Home Warranty full review.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. AHS has been operating for over 26 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also 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. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also about $2,500.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield full review.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. First American has been operating for over 39 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 2 plans from First American are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. First American has established itself as a company with very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. It also 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. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also about $1,500.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our First American Home Warranty full review.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. Cinch has been operating for over 44 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also 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. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also about $1,000-$2,000.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services full review.
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 San Diego Country Estates residents. HSC has been operating for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. The 2 plans from HSC are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also 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. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also about $2,000.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443. For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club full review.
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 | $7,136 |
| Heating | $4,758 |
| Electrical | $714 |
| Toilets | $595 |
| Washer/Dryer | $952 |
| Plumbing | $714 |
| Oven | $1,903 |
| Fridge | $714 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists San Diego Country Estates homeowners reduce the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to handle the repair or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides security for homeowners by helping them avoid expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern homes with modern appliances probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include microwaves, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers, and more. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for locksmiths, septic systems, central vacuums, and even roof leaks. It's important for San Diego Country Estates homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Be diligent about completing preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans cover electrical, plumbing, heating, AC, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also cover other items such as spas, pools, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for companies with varied coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to tailor protection to your needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using companies with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's reputation can provide insight into things such as approval rates, repair timeliness, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Check review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research providers. Good ratings and feedback indicate a provider known for exceptional service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair technicians to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential providers to learn the number of repair specialists they have in San Diego Country Estates and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks raise the chance of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Some home warranty companies offer bonuses such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These perks can add value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Temperatures in San Diego Country Estates can get quite high in the summer, which means your air conditioner is most likely going to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in San Diego Country Estates, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting a contractor to fix your appliance or system, home warranty providers do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Another good thing about having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, you can most likely transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. It can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Although it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a service technician who takes care of the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would rather choose their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty companies allow you to select a contractor.
Another downside is that home warranties may not include some repairs, such as those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if a tree falls onto your house and damages the roof, the impacted systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty in San Diego Country Estates can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans tend to have higher coverage limits, a lower service fee, and broader coverage. Home warranties are often cheaper when you pay annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also decrease your up-front costs when you agree to a higher service fee.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover issues related to home systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced 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 San Diego Country Estates. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system breakage.
A home warranty policy can help home sellers, homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, and investors. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
A home warranty plan 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 providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Typically, the one who owns the home is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the person who is 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. Considering that the average home value in San Diego Country Estates is $730,601, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
