Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
Considering getting a home warranty? One of our top home warranty companies can help. There are many benefits of homeownership in San Mateo. But, major home systems and appliances, like your plumbing and kitchen appliances, can break down due to normal wear and tear, leaving you with pricey repairs.
A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need about your home and shield your savings account from large expenses by covering your home's major systems and appliances. Finding the best home warranty on the market can be quite time-consuming since there are lots of companies to decide between. That's why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and put together a list of the best home warranty companies in San Mateo 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
In San Mateo, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice has over 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from. When you purchase a policy from Choice, you will get very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Choice Home Warranty also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the San Mateo area.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting 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 in San Mateo. Select has been operating for about 11 years, making it a highly regarded company in the industry. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for San Mateo homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. Select's service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read more by visiting 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 offers the most customizable home warranty for San Mateo residents. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy. AHS offers the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Plus, 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. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our full review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 San Mateo, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has about 15 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an network of service professionals in the country. HSC offers quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Plus, it also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC has 2 plans for you to decide between.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for San Mateo homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which have a mix of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also generally around $2,000.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
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 offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage in San Mateo. First American has been in the home warranty business for about 39 years. If you're looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, this is the home warranty 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 home warranty company offers 2 plans to policyholders with various options for appliance and system coverage.
The plans that First American offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage limits from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is lower than other providers in the San Mateo area.
For more information, read our full review of First American Home Warranty. To get 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 San Mateo residents. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer 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. 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.
Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more. To get 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
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 | $8,250 |
| Heating | $5,500 |
| Electrical | $825 |
| Toilets | $688 |
| Washer/Dryer | $1,100 |
| Plumbing | $825 |
| Oven | $2,200 |
| Fridge | $825 |
A home warranty is a plan that can help homeowners save money on appliance and system repairs and replacements. Our appliances and home systems are what make living in a San Mateo home comfortable and convenient. When they need repairs or replacements, it can be pricey and a headache. Fortunately, with a home warranty in place, an affordable repair is just a phone call away.
When you have a problem with one of your appliances or systems, you can file a claim with your home warranty provider. Then, a customer service representative will reach out to you about a contractor coming over to take a look at the issue.
At this point, you'll pay the service fee, which is generally between $60 and $150, depending on what plan you select. After the service fee is paid, a service technician will come to your home, assess the issue, and repair it. If the repair is covered by the warranty and it's within the coverage cap, most homeowners will not have any other out-of-pocket costs .
A home warranty plan will cover home systems and appliances from normal wear. The appliances commonly covered under a home warranty plan are the microwave, oven, washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, dryer, and more. System coverage typically includes heating, electrical systems, plumbing, air conditioning, and more.
Add-on coverage options can vary by provider but commonly include things such as a septic system, sprinkler system, second refrigerator, central vacuum, and plumbing stoppages.
A home warranty will only protect against normal wear and tear that occurs on your home systems and appliances. Things such as misuse, cosmetic damages, lack of maintenance, and pre-existing conditions are not included in the home warranty policy.
Since temperatures in San Mateo can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Having a home warranty plan can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down suddenly.
Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can increase your home's property value. If you ever decide to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your home warranty plan to the new homebuyer depending on the company you have your home warranty with.
Home warranties also have some cons. Although it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a contractor who handles the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they may want to select a contractor themselves. If that's the case for you, some home warranty providers let you select a contractor.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don't cover items that haven't been properly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it's important to make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
The first step in protecting your home with a home warranty is determining which company's plan is right for you. Think about the appliances and systems in your home you want coverage for and compare the policies. Before making your final decision, here are a few additional factors to bear in mind:
The best home warranty company in San Mateo is Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty has an expansive network of professional repair technicians and a great reputation in the San Mateo area.
Home warranty plans cover problems related to home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A homeowner's insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in San Mateo. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
The most common home warranties in San Mateo are plans that cover either appliances or systems and a comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan will cover your systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover the systems or appliances listed in the plan.
Homeownership can be expensive, especially in a place in San Mateo where the cost of living is quite high. When a system or appliance breaks down, it can leave homeowners unexpectedly having to pay a large amount of money to fix it. With a home warranty policy, you won't have any costly hits to your savings account.
A home warranty policy can cost on average around $300 to $800 a year in San Mateo. Our high-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. Additionally, it's typically cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly. For example, the warranty might cost $50 per month or $570 for 13 months. In this example, choosing the annual plan over monthly payments saves you $80. The key is to compare plans to determine what the best price is.
Usually coverage for a home warranty policy begins 30 days after payment. However, a few companies may allow you to make a service request before this, so check with customer service to find the exact waiting period for your case.
