Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Seal Beach can be costly, particularly as your home ages and your appliances and systems have to be updated. A home warranty can give you the peace of mind you need and safeguard your bank account from unexpected expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Finding the right protection for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Seal Beach. Keep reading for our top provider 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 Seal Beach, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. Choice offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan 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.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 Seal Beach, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. Select offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan from Select, you will get a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Select Home Warranty 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. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-370-3953. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 Seal Beach, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan from AHS, you will get the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. American Home Shield 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. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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 give them a call at 888-365-2839. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 Seal Beach, First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan from First American, you will get very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. First American Home Warranty 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. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are around the $1,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 Seal Beach, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch offers 3 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan from Cinch, you will get a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Cinch Home Services 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. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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 give them a call at 877-589-0505. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 Seal Beach, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC offers 2 plans for homeowners to choose from. When you purchase a plan from HSC, you will get quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. The Home Service Club 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. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and 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 give them a call at 800-750-9443. For more information on this provider, read our full 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 | $7,434 |
| Heating | $4,956 |
| Electrical | $743 |
| Toilets | $619 |
| Washer/Dryer | $991 |
| Plumbing | $743 |
| Oven | $1,982 |
| Fridge | $743 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps reduce the high costs for Seal Beach homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to make the fix or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs go over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty provides security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly valuable for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. Newer builds with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include washers, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, and others. Covered systems include heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Seal Beach 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 things like pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or improper use of a system or appliance. It's important to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure that your next repair or replacement is covered by your policy.
There are several home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans provide coverage for plumbing, electrical, AC, heating, and appliances. More comprehensive options may also provide protection for extra things such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for providers with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This helps you customize your plan to your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per repair request filed. The costs from multiple fees can add up. You may decide to look for companies with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers keep networks of technicians to handle covered repairs. Wider networks raise the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Seal Beach to get a sense of how quickly your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Some home warranty plans include extras such as smart home device protection, energy efficiency upgrades, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond repair coverage. Extra bonuses help maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Seal Beach can easily reach 100 degrees, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioner. Buying a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down suddenly.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of having to vet service technicians by yourself, home warranty companies do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner when you sell your home.
As for the disadvantages of home warranties, home system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to review what each plan covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Plus, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they were damaged due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty in Seal Beach can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, a lower service fee, and broader coverage. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also reduce 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 systems and appliances in a home. A homeowners insurance plan protects your home in a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. With homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Seal Beach.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, landlords, real estate agents, and homeowners can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
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.
Generally, a home warranty plan offers coverage for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Seal Beach is $903,808, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
