Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
As much as you may enjoy owning a home in Watertown, there's always that fear about whether your systems and appliances are going to need repairs over the next few years. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the sheer number of options out there. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Watertown.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Watertown, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty offers 3 plans for you to decide between.
The plans that Liberty offers to homeowners are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also typically around $3,000 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Liberty Home Guard. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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 Watertown, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice offers 2 plans for you to decide between.
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 typically around $3,000 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Watertown, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. Select offers 3 plans for you to decide between.
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 typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Watertown, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. AHS offers 3 plans for you to decide between.
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 typically around $2,500 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of American Home Shield. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Watertown, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. Cinch offers 3 plans for you to decide between.
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 typically around $1,000-$2,000 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 Watertown, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. 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, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. HSC offers 2 plans for you to decide between.
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 typically around $2,000 at the maximum.
For more information on this provider, read our review of The Home Service Club. To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,285 |
| Heating | $4,190 |
| Electrical | $629 |
| Toilets | $524 |
| Washer/Dryer | $838 |
| Plumbing | $629 |
| Oven | $1,676 |
| Fridge | $629 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps reduce the high costs for Watertown homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then finds a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are especially useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties safeguard both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include garbage disposals, washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, and others. Covered systems include air conditioning, heating, electrical, and plumbing. Many home warranty plans offer additional add-on coverage options for locksmiths, central vacuums, septic systems, and even roof leaks. Watertown homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to know before signing, such as:
There are several key factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans cover heating, plumbing, AC, electrical, and appliances. More extensive plans may also cover other things such as spas, pools, well pumps, and roof leaks. Look for providers with an assortment of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your home’s 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 providers also offer disappearing deductibles when a homeowner goes a defined period without any repair requests.
A home warranty provider's rating provides insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty providers have networks of contractors to handle covered repairs. Larger networks improve the probability of getting qualified technicians to quickly service your home. Contact potential providers to find out how many contractors they have in Watertown to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Home warranty providers may offer perks such as energy efficiency upgrades, coverage for smart home devices, and maintenance discounts. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Added perks maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Since temperatures in Watertown can be quite cold in the winter, the weather can put a lot of strain on your HVAC system. Having a home warranty policy can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down all of a sudden.
In addition to saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can offer you peace of mind and save you the hassle of trying to find a qualified repair person to visit your home. Home warranties usually have a network of pre-vetted contractors who can handle any repair issues you may have. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can raise 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 provider you have your home warranty with.
One of the major drawbacks of a home warranty is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to research the different plans and choose one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another potential pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your repair requests being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty in Watertown can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a month. The higher-priced plans usually have a lower service fee, broader coverage, and higher coverage limits. You can often lower this cost by paying annually instead of monthly. Some providers will also reduce 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 problems related to 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 an entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Watertown. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system damage.
A home warranty plan can help investors, homeowners, homebuyers, home sellers, and real estate agents. It can provide peace of mind to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Watertown include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers your systems and appliances, such as your refrigerator, washing machine, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items mentioned in the policy.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase 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 Watertown is $338,813, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
