Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
As much as you may love owning a home in Dover, there's always that concern about whether your systems and appliances are going to need to be replaced in the next few years. A home warranty can help protect you by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is filled with a variety of providers — all with different coverage — so the Today's Homeowner team has done the research to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Dover.
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
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty in Dover. The 3 plans from Liberty are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $75.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read our Liberty Home Guard full review to learn more.
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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty in Dover. The 2 plans from Choice are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read our Choice Home Warranty full review to learn more.
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 offers the most cost-effective home warranty in Dover. The 3 plans from Select are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. Read our Select Home Warranty full review to learn more.
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 in Dover. The 3 plans from AHS are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: 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.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our American Home Shield full review to learn more.
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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Dover. The 3 plans from Cinch are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: 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 make sure to check with the provider. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our Cinch Home Services full review to learn more.
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 offers the best home warranty with the quickest service in Dover. The 2 plans from HSC are easily comprehensible and have a mix of both system and appliance coverage. 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 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 $65 to $90.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our The Home Service Club full review to learn more.
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 | $6,209 |
| Heating | $4,139 |
| Electrical | $621 |
| Toilets | $517 |
| Washer/Dryer | $828 |
| Plumbing | $621 |
| Oven | $1,656 |
| Fridge | $621 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Dover homeowners reduce the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial 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 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 peace of mind for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly useful for those who live in older homes or ones with aging systems. More modern builds with working appliances probably don’t need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as dryers, microwaves, washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies also provide add-on coverage for roof leaks, septic systems, locksmiths, and central vacuums. Dover homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. Additionally, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
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 differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans provide coverage for heating, plumbing, AC, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive plans also offer coverage on other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, pools, and spas. Look for companies with a diverse range of coverage options, including upgraded plans. This allows you to customize your plan to your home's needs.
Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. As this charge applies to every separate claim, you may want to choose a company with more affordable fees to maximize savings. Some companies also do away with deductibles for homeowners who don't file claims in a certain period.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as contractor quality, approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, or Google Reviews to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty businesses have networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to find out how many repair contractors they have in Dover and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. Bigger networks increase the chances of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty companies may include perks such as smart home device coverage, energy efficiency upgrades, and reduced maintenance fees. These extras can offer extra value beyond just repair coverage. Added bonuses help you enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.
Home warranty policies are a great way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Dover reaching an average high of 62℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioner, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably bring down out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system stop working.
In addition to saving you money on out-of-pocket expenses, a home warranty can offer you peace of mind and save you the headache 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 come across. Another added benefit of having a home warranty policy is that it can increase your home’s property value. If you ever decide to sell your house, 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 drawbacks. Though it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who takes care of the repair for you, some people may not like this, and they would rather select a contractor themselves. If that’s important to you, some home warranty plans let you select a contractor.
Another drawback is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, like those due to natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the affected systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Dover. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can reduce your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's often less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects a home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. Under 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 is somewhat common in Dover.
First-time homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, home sellers, and landlords 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 Dover include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers many of your home systems and appliances, including your washing machine, drier, and HVAC. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty policy offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Usually the homeowner is responsible for paying for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may purchase a home warranty plan 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 Dover is $307,251, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
