Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Buying a home is a big step in many people’s lives, but the cost of maintaining it can get expensive over time, especially if your home in Waukegan is on the older side. A home warranty can help protect homebuyers and current homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
The home warranty market is filled with a lot of providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you choose the best home warranty companies in Waukegan.
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 Waukegan, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. The 3 policies that Liberty offers include options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, Liberty is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, 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
In Waukegan, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. The 2 policies that Choice offers include options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, Choice is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, 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
In Waukegan, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. The 3 policies that Select offers include options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, Select is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, 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
In Waukegan, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. The 3 policies that AHS offers include options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, AHS is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, 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
In Waukegan, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. The 3 policies that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, Cinch is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, 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
In Waukegan, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. The 2 policies that HSC offers include options for appliance and system 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, HSC is the perfect provider 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 Home Service Club has 2 plans that offer a combination of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
Read more by visiting our detailed review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, 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 | $6,087 |
| Heating | $4,058 |
| Electrical | $609 |
| Toilets | $507 |
| Washer/Dryer | $812 |
| Plumbing | $609 |
| Oven | $1,623 |
| Fridge | $609 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps Waukegan homeowners in lowering the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial 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 plan gives homeowners a sense of security and can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for buyers of older homes or homes with appliances near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with modern appliances and fixtures may not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Common covered appliances include microwaves, refrigerators, dryers, dishwashers, washers, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical. Many home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for central vacuums, septic systems, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. Waukegan should understand that most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repairs are covered. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or improperly using a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranties use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing a contract, such as:
When selecting 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, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances. More robust coverage options also offer coverage on other items such as spas, roof leaks, pools, and well pumps. 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 systems and needs.
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 company with lower service fees to maximize savings on every claim. Some companies also eliminate deductibles when customers have a claim-free period.
A home warranty company's reputation can offer insight into things such as approval rates for claims, speed of repairs, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers use networks of local repair professionals to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential providers to learn the number of repair technicians they have in Waukegan and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Wider networks improve the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Home warranty companies often offer bonuses such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and coverage for smart home devices. These add value beyond just repair coverage. Additional perks can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Temperatures in Waukegan can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are likely to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Waukegan, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is knowing that these home systems and major appliances can be covered if they have to be repaired or replaced.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching 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 if you want to sell 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 may help your house sell faster.
One of the major drawbacks of home warranties is not every home system and appliance may be covered. It’s important to research the different policies and choose one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover items that haven’t been properly 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 Waukegan can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans usually have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. This cost is often lower if you pay annually instead of monthly. Some companies will also decrease your up-front costs when you opt for a higher service fee.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty protects against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or oven, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Waukegan.
First-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, real estate agents, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your house more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty policy can cover your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Combination plans are great if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be useful if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some providers may offer month-to-month plans.
Usually the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, however, the home seller may purchase a home warranty 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 Waukegan is $198,701, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
