Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Owning a home in Wilmette has a lot of great advantages, but there are some negatives. The weather throughout the four seasons can cause problems in a home and lead to wear and tear on systems like your HVAC. A home warranty can help protect homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging because of the numerous options available. If you're tired of trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide to the best home warranty providers in Wilmette.
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 Wilmette residents. 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 has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Liberty Home Guard Review.
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 Wilmette residents. 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 has 2 plans for homeowners to choose from.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are close to the $3,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Choice Home Warranty Review.
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 Wilmette residents. 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 has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
Select Home Warranty has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Select Home Warranty Review.
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 Wilmette residents. 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. AHS has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are close to the $2,500 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our American Home Shield Review.
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 Wilmette residents. 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 has 3 plans for homeowners to choose from.
Cinch Home Services has 3 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are close to the $1,000-$2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our Cinch Home Services Review.
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 Wilmette residents. 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. HSC has 2 plans for homeowners to choose from.
The Home Service Club has 2 plans that provide a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are close to the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and 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. For a more detailed breakdown, read our The Home Service Club Review.
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 | $7,174 |
| Heating | $4,783 |
| Electrical | $717 |
| Toilets | $598 |
| Washer/Dryer | $957 |
| Plumbing | $717 |
| Oven | $1,913 |
| Fridge | $717 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps reduce the high costs for Wilmette homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide financial coverage to fix 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 provider then finds 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 reassurance, as it helps avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for those living in older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, people with newer homes and functioning appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, and more. Covered systems include electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranties also offer add-on coverage options for central vacuums, septic systems, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. Most home warranty plans require Wilmette homeowners to refrain from making claims for 30 days before the plan will cover repairs. Moreover, policies usually only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover natural disasters, cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, or misusing a system or appliance. To make sure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to understand before signing, such as:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans include protection for electrical, plumbing, AC, heating, and appliances. More inclusive plans may also include additional items such as spas, roof leaks, well pumps, and pools. Look for companies with an array of coverage options, such as upgraded plans. Flexibility helps you tailor your protection for your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a repair fee that typically ranges between $60 and $100, which gets paid per repair request filed. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for companies with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles when customers go a period with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Favorable reviews and ratings indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty businesses keep networks of local professionals to handle repairs in your area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair contractors they have in Wilmette and get an idea for how fast your repairs might happen in an emergency situation. More extensive networks raise the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Home warranty companies sometimes include bonuses such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and coverage for smart home devices. These can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks maximize the usefulness of the home warranty.
Temperatures in Wilmette 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 Wilmette, one benefit 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.
Not only does a home warranty offer some savings, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks down, the last thing you want to do is find a technician and schedule a repair. A home warranty takes care of the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most. Plus, having a home warranty can help make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty companies will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been getting.
Home warranties also have some cons. While it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who handles the repair for you, some may not like this, and they may want to select their own contractor. If that’s important to you, some home warranty companies let you select a contractor.
Another thing to take into consideration is that some providers don’t cover pre-existing problems and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about this if you need more information or if this is an issue for you.
A home warranty in Wilmette can cost between $30 and $60 a month. The higher-priced plans typically have higher coverage limits, broader coverage, and a lower service fee. Home warranties are often cheaper when 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 kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. A homeowners insurance plan protects your entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With homeowners insurance, you won't be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which can be a threat in Wilmette.
A home warranty policy can help homebuyers, real estate agents, homeowners, investors, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
A home warranty policy will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are beneficial if you need 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.
Home warranty plans typically offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan each year, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
In general, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Wilmette, where the median home value is $795,360, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
