Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Buying a home is a big step for many, but maintaining it can be costly over time, especially if your home in Centreville is on the older side. A home warranty is a way to protect your savings from unexpected home repairs and expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the right protection for your home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Centreville. Keep reading for our recommendations.
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 is the most trustworthy home warranty in Centreville. Liberty is a home warranty company with 6 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 plans from Liberty are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Liberty has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $75.
To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our review of Liberty Home Guard.
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 is the best overall home warranty in Centreville. Choice is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans from Choice are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. Choice has coverage caps of around $3,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are an affordable $85.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our 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
Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty in Centreville. Select is a home warranty company with 11 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 plans from Select are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from Select Home Warranty are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Select has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are a reasonable $60.
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 is the most customizable home warranty in Centreville. AHS is a home warranty company with 26 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read more by visiting our review of American Home Shield.
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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Centreville. Cinch is a home warranty company with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services 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 with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read more by visiting our 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
The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service in Centreville. HSC is a home warranty company with 15 years of experience in the industry, and it has proved to be one of the best providers in the business. 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, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 plans from HSC are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC has coverage caps of around $2,000 for most appliances and systems, but with some plans, the coverage caps can be higher, so make sure to check with the company. Service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read more by visiting our 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 | $5,783 |
| Heating | $3,856 |
| Electrical | $578 |
| Toilets | $482 |
| Washer/Dryer | $771 |
| Plumbing | $578 |
| Oven | $1,542 |
| Fridge | $578 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps lower expenses for Centreville homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to repair or replace appliances and systems that break due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company 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, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older houses or those with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered include garbage disposals, microwaves, dryers, washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. Included systems are normally air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and roof leaks. Centreville homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for 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. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should know key terms like:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies widely in the items that are included. Most plans include protection for plumbing, AC, electrical, heating, and appliances. More robust coverage options also cover other items such as well pumps, spas, pools, and roof leaks. Look for companies with a range of coverage choices, such as upgraded plans. You'll want to tailor your protection for your home’s needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per claim you submit. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for companies with lower service fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some firms also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty provider's rating gives you insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, claim approval rates, and overall 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 a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies maintain networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to learn how many repair contractors they have in Centreville and get an idea for how quickly your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. Wider networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Certain home warranty companies offer extras such as energy-efficient upgrades, protection for smart home devices, and discounts on maintenance. These provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Centreville’s relatively mild winters and hot summers can put a strain on a home’s HVAC system. Whether it’s summer or winter, a home warranty can help cover your home’s appliances and systems if they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the repairs, preventing you from spending unexpected money out of pocket.
A home warranty also can also save you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting a contractor to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies 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 when you’re selling your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and help your home sell faster.
Home warranties also have some downsides. While it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a service technician who handles the repair for you, some homeowners may not like this, and they may want to choose their own contractor. If that’s the case for you, some home warranty companies let you select a contractor.
Another downside is that home warranties may exclude some repairs, such as those due to natural disasters. For example, if your HVAC system is damaged from an animal infestation, the impacted systems and appliances probably won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Centreville. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover problems with systems and appliances that need to be repaired or replaced due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a larger plan that protects the entire home from natural disasters, which can sometimes be a concern in Centreville. It doesn't cover a normal appliance or system damage.
Homebuyers, landlords, home sellers, homeowners, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Centreville include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and heating and cooling systems. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the items listed in the contract.
Home warranty plans generally last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Generally, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees. In Centreville, where the median home value is $38,184, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
