6 Best Home Warranty Companies in Macomb, IL

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty is a protection policy that helps Macomb homeowners cut the high costs of household repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that break down from normal wear and tear.

Homeowners file a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty company then arranges a contractor to make the repair or replacement. The only time you may pay out-of-pocket is if the repair or replacement costs exceed the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners peace of mind by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for owners of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and modern appliances may not require a home warranty.

What Does a Home Warranty Cover?

Home warranties cover your home's systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers, refrigerators, microwaves, dryers, and others. Covered systems include electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, and heating. Many home warranty plans offer additional coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. Macomb homeowners should know that most home warranty plans impose a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only help pay for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, or misusing a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.

Key Home Warranty Terms to Know

Before agreeing to a home warranty contract, you should understand key terms like:

• Service fee: The out-of-pocket cost per claim that you pay for contractor access and repair coverage.
• Trade call fee: An added fee that you'll sometimes need to pay for appliance-related claims.
• Coverage limits: Dollar limits that cap how much the warranty will pay for certain repairs or replacements. Check limits on appliances, roof leaks, air conditioning units, and similar repairs.
• Claim approval: The process a provider uses to validate that a requested repair or replacement is covered under your plan.
• Deductible: The amount you're responsible for before your warranty covers the remainder of the cost. Deductibles apply to covered repairs and may be on a per-claim or yearly basis.
• Contract rate: The rate that your home warranty provider has pre-negotiated with its contractors. Normally, this rate is lower than what you'd pay retail.
• Endorsements: Optional add-ons that expand coverage for additional systems like pools, septic, well pumps, and more. Endorsements typically cost an additional fee.

If you remember these important factors, it’ll help you understand costs and select a home warranty tailored to protecting your most vital home systems. Make sure to talk to companies about coverage specifics during the quote process, so you can avoid unexpected fees.

Key Factors in Choosing a Home Warranty Company

There are several key considerations when selecting a home warranty provider:

Coverage Options

Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans include protection for electrical, heating, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More extensive plans may also cover extra things such as well pumps, spas, pools, and roof leaks. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific needs.

Service Fees

Expect to pay a per-service fee of $60-100 for each home warranty claim. With these per-request costs adding up over time as you file claims, you may want to choose a provider with more affordable fees to maximize savings. Some providers also remove deductibles if a customer goes a period of time without filing any claims.

Reputation

A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, contractor quality, speed of repairs, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to research companies. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for quality service.

Contractor Network

Home warranty companies have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to your home quickly. Contact possible providers to learn how many contractors they have in Macomb. This helps you understand how long repairs might take in an urgent situation.

Added Benefits

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 let you enhance your home and get the most from your home warranty.

Is a Home Warranty Worth it in Macomb?

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Benefits of a Home Warranty

Temperatures in Macomb can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are likely to get a decent amount of use. As a homeowner in Macomb, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they need to be repaired or replaced.

A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours finding and selecting a technician 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. Additionally, though it varies by company, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.

Downsides of a Home Warranty

One of the major drawbacks of home warranties is not everything may be covered. It’s important to weigh the different plans and select one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.

Another stipulation is that home warranties usually only cover repairs needed due to normal wear and tear. They often won’t cover systems or appliances that need repairs or replacements due to improper maintenance, animal infestations, natural disasters, etc.