Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Homeownership in Princeton comes with quite a few positives, but it also comes with its challenges. Your home’s appliances and systems will eventually need repairs, and this could mean a large expense. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and protect your bank account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
The home warranty market is saturated with a variety of providers — all with different offerings — so our team at Today's Homeowner has done the research to help you find the best home warranty companies in Princeton.
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 Princeton, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has around 6 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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. The 3 plans from Liberty are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Liberty Home Guard: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. Service fees from Liberty are an affordable $75. The coverage caps are also typically about $3,000.
Read our Liberty Home Guard Review to learn more. 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
In Princeton, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has around 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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. The 2 plans from Choice are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also typically about $3,000.
Read our Choice Home Warranty Review to learn more. 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
In Princeton, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has around 11 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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. The 3 plans from Select are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Select Home Warranty: Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. Service fees from Select are a reasonable $60. The coverage caps are also typically about $2,000.
Read our Select Home Warranty Review to learn more. 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
In Princeton, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has around 26 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also typically about $2,500.
Read our American Home Shield Review to learn more. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Established company with a bbb accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
In Princeton, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has around 39 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, First American is the perfect provider for you. Plus, it has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified. The 2 plans from First American are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. Service fees from First American are a reasonable $85. The coverage caps are also typically about $1,500.
Read our First American Home Warranty Review to learn more. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
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 Princeton, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has around 44 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also typically about $1,000-$2,000.
Read our Cinch Home Services Review to learn more. 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
In Princeton, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has around 15 years of industry experience and in that time has built a a skilled network of service technicians in the country. 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 2 plans from HSC are easy to comprehend and offer a mix of both system and appliance coverage.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also typically about $2,000.
Read our The Home Service Club Review to learn more. 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 | $5,603 |
| Heating | $3,735 |
| Electrical | $560 |
| Toilets | $467 |
| Washer/Dryer | $747 |
| Plumbing | $560 |
| Oven | $1,494 |
| Fridge | $560 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Princeton homeowners in lowering the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to swap out or repair appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider 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 because it can help avoid costly emergency repairs. They can be especially helpful for people purchasing older homes or homes with systems near the end of their life span. However, newer homes with appliances and fixtures in good condition may not require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home's systems and appliances. Typical covered appliances are microwaves, washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, and others. Protected systems include air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and heating. Various home warranty plans offer add-on coverage for roof leaks, central vacuums, septic systems, and even locksmiths. Most home warranty plans require Princeton homeowners to wait 30 days before they can use the policy to pay for repairs. Moreover, policies usually only cover repairs and replacements resulting from normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover cosmetic issues, natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, or misuse of a system or appliance. To help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered, keep up with preventative maintenance.
There are a number of home warranty terms to understand before signing an agreement, including:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty plans vary widely in what they include. Most plans provide protection for heating, electrical, plumbing, AC, and appliances. More inclusive options also extend protection to other items such as well pumps, pools, spas, and roof leaks. Focus on providers with an expansive array of coverage choices including upgraded plans. Flexibility like this will help you customize your plan to meet your needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee that can range from $60 to $100, which gets paid per service call made. The per-request costs 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 for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, contractor quality, approval rates for claims, and customer satisfaction. Look at third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research providers. Positive ratings and reviews indicate that a company is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty providers maintain networks of professionals to handle covered repairs. Bigger networks increase the probability of getting qualified technicians to service your home ASAP. Reach out to potential providers and ask how many contractors they have in Princeton to get a sense of how soon your repairs could happen in an emergency.
Home warranty companies might offer extras such as energy efficiency upgrades, maintenance discounts, and coverage for smart home devices. These extras can add value beyond basic repair coverage. Additional perks help maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Princeton can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Having a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks unexpectedly.
In addition, having a home warranty can save you time by removing the need to research technicians — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to complete the necessary repair or replacement. Plus, though home warranty companies vary, some providers will allow you to transfer your warranty if you sell your home. This can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers and maybe even help your home sell faster.
As for the negatives of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to read what each policy covers and doesn’t include in the contract.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that have been improperly maintained. This can lead to your claims being rejected, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Princeton. 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 choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan protects against normal wear and tear to systems and appliances in a home. Homeowners insurance protects your home in case of a situation such as a natural disaster or fire. Under 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 isn't that common in Princeton.
A home warranty plan can help real estate agents, investors, home sellers, homeowners, and homebuyers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved with homeownership.
The different kinds of home warranties in Princeton include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as combination plans. A combination plan will cover your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the items listed in the policy.
Home warranty plans typically last a year. Many providers let you renew your plan annually, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
Usually the one who owns the home pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Princeton is $166,920, a home warranty can be an added asset when buying a home.
