Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Homeownership in Effingham can be gratifying for many people, but it also comes with its fair share of headaches. Home repairs can be an unanticipated financial burden for many homeowners. 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 allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be difficult because of the numerous options available. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty companies in Effingham.
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 for Effingham residents. When you buy a plan from Liberty, you will get a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Liberty Home Guard also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. Liberty’s service fees are an affordable $75, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 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
Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty for Effingham residents. When you buy 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. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. Choice’s service fees are an affordable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $3,000 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 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
Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty for Effingham residents. When you buy 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. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. Select’s service fees are a reasonable $60, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 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
American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty for Effingham residents. When you buy 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. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. AHS’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,500 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Effingham residents. When you buy 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. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. Cinch’s service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,000-$2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive 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
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 for Effingham residents. When you buy 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. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process quick and easy.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. HSC’s service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage limits come out to about $2,000 per covered appliance or system.
To read more, visit our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 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 | $5,575 |
| Heating | $3,717 |
| Electrical | $557 |
| Toilets | $465 |
| Washer/Dryer | $743 |
| Plumbing | $557 |
| Oven | $1,487 |
| Fridge | $557 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Effingham homeowners in lowering the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans provide coverage to swap out or repair appliances and systems that stop working 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 replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives reassurance to homeowners, as it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are particularly useful for older construction homes with aging systems. New homes with up-to-date appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your household systems and appliances. Covered appliances typically include garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers, microwaves, and more. Covered systems include air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty providers also offer additional coverage for central vacuums, locksmiths, septic systems, and roof leaks. Effingham should understand that most home warranty plans have a 30-day waiting period before repair claims will be approved. The majority of policies also only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misusing a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are a number of home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a home warranty provider:
Home warranty policies vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for AC, electrical, plumbing, heating, and appliances. More inclusive options also offer protection for other items such as pools, roof leaks, well pumps, and spas. Focus on companies with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet 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, some homeowners prefer to choose a provider with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some providers also eliminate deductibles for homeowners who don't file claims in a certain period.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as approval rates, repair timeliness, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Check review platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or TrustPilot to research companies. Positive ratings and feedback indicate a company known for great service.
Home warranty companies keep networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to ask how many repair professionals they have in Effingham and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. More extensive networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to quickly service your home.
Home warranty companies often include extras such as maintenance discounts, coverage for smart home devices, and energy efficiency upgrades. These extras add value beyond just repair coverage. Added perks can maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Home warranty policies are an affordable way to guard your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Effingham hitting an average high of 63℃F, you may find that some appliances, like your air conditioner, get a lot of use. A home warranty can significantly decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only can a home warranty provide some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a contractor and schedule a repair. A home warranty deals with this process by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Another added benefit of having home warranty coverage is that it can raise your home’s real estate 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 purchased your home warranty through.
One of the major drawbacks of home warranties is not everything you care about may be covered. It’s important to compare the different plans and get one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another drawback is that home warranties may not include some repairs, like those needed because of natural disasters. For example, if your house floods, the affected systems and appliances most likely won’t be covered by the home warranty.
A home warranty costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Effingham. 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 opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what sorts of damage they cover. Home warranties cover issues with home systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements 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 Effingham. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system repairs.
First-time homebuyers, landlords, homeowners, real estate agents, and home sellers 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 types of home warranties in Effingham include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan covers almost all your home 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 offers coverage for a year and can be renewed yearly. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
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 will pay for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Effingham, where the median home value is $215,552, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
