Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
Are you considering a home warranty? Go with one of our recommended home warranty companies. With hot summers and cool winters, working home appliances and systems, particularly HVAC, are extremely important for homeowners in the Ames area of Iowa.
A home warranty can help protect you by reducing the costs of major repairs and replacements on your home's appliances and systems. Finding the right home warranty plan for your Ames home can be time-consuming, so our team at Today's Homeowner did the research to help you find the best plan that will work for your home. Keep reading for our home warranty recommendations.
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 in Ames. Choice has around 15 years of experience in the industry and in that time has built a an network of service technicians in the country. Choice offers very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Plus, it also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. Choice offers 2 plans for you to choose from.
The plans that Choice offers to homeowners are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage limits from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is less than other providers in the Ames area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty.
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 is the most cost-effective home warranty for Ames residents. Select has been operating for over 11 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. If you're looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, you'll want to have this plan on your side. 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.
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 generally about $2,000 at the maximum.
Read our Select Home Warranty full review to learn more. To get 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 Ames, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has more than 26 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance 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.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. AHS has coverage caps of around $2,500 for most appliances and systems, but some plans may have different coverage caps, so make sure to check with the provider. 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 give them a call at 888-365-2839. For more information on this provider, read our review of American Home Shield.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
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 Ames, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. When you buy a home warranty 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 offers 2 plans for you to decide between.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. HSC's service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, and the coverage caps come out to about $2,000 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
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
Isn’t available in 2 states
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty in Ames. Liberty has more than 6 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. The 3 plans that Liberty offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options. 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.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage limits from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the Ames area.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. Read more by visiting our review of Liberty Home Guard.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
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 Ames, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has been in the home warranty industry for around 39 years. The 2 home warranty plans that First American offers include options for appliance and system coverage. When you purchase a policy from First American, you will get very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. First American Home Warranty also 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.
There are 2 home warranty plans from First American Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage limits from First American are around $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Ames area.
To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. To read more, visit our First American Home Warranty Review.
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
Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee in Ames. Cinch is a home warranty company with 44 years of experience in the industry, and it has become one of the best providers in the business. The 3 plans from Cinch are comprehensive and offer both system and appliance coverage. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The plans that Cinch offers to homeowners are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Cinch's service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, and the coverage limits come out to around $1,000-$2,000 for each covered system or appliance.
Read more by visiting our full review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home 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 | $6,089 |
| Heating | $4,059 |
| Electrical | $609 |
| Toilets | $507 |
| Washer/Dryer | $812 |
| Plumbing | $609 |
| Oven | $1,624 |
| Fridge | $609 |
A home warranty is a service contract that reduces the cost of repairs when one of your home systems or appliances breaks down. A home warranty can help homeowners who need to stick to their budget and don't want to use their savings to pay for large repair or replacement expenses. Typically, about 30 days after a home warranty plan is paid for, the coverage will start on your home systems and appliances.
When one of your systems or appliances experiences an issue, you file a claim with your service provider. You can do so in an online portal or by telephone, and then a technician will come and fix the problem.
The claim is then processed, and a homeowner will pay the predetermined service fee to schedule the repair for their home. This repair will generally happen within 24 to 72 hours and there shouldn't be any out-of-pocket expenses. Most service fees range between $60 and $150.
Home warranty plans help protect both your home systems and appliances. A home warranty can cover repair and replacement-related costs that are a result of normal wear and tear. Common appliances covered under a home warranty plan include a garbage disposal, washer, dryer, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and more. The systems that are usually covered will be air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Add-on options can vary by company but often include things such as a sprinkler system, plumbing stoppages, second refrigerator, central vacuum, and septic system.
Ames homeowners should understand that a home warranty policy will only cover repairs and replacements that arise from normal wear and tear. Home warranties do not cover things like pre-existing conditions, misuse of a system or appliance, natural disasters, or cosmetic issues. You must keep up with preventative maintenance on your home systems and appliances to be sure that your next repair or replacement-related complication will be covered by the policy.
Ames' cold winters can put a strain on a home's HVAC system. Whether it's summer or winter, a home warranty can help cover your home's appliances and systems in the event they need to be repaired or replaced. For example, if your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of July, a home warranty can cover the necessary repairs, saving you from spending a lot of money out of pocket.
Not only does a home warranty offer some financial relief, but it also saves you time. If an appliance breaks, the last thing you want to do is find a repair person and schedule a repair. A home warranty handles the research by sending trusted professionals to your door when you need them most.
Home warranties also have some cons. Though it can give you less to worry about since the home warranty sends out a repair person who carries out the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would rather select a contractor themselves. If that's important to you, some home warranty providers let you select a contractor.
Also, if you don't maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs or replacements due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
Picking the best home warranty in Ames for you and your family comes down to the coverage you're looking for, the home warranty provider you opt for, and where you live, among other factors. Before making your final decision, here are a few additional factors to consider:
The best home warranty provider in Ames is Choice Home Warranty. Choice Home Warranty has an expansive network of professional contractors and a great reputation in the Ames area.
A home warranty plan helps protect against the normal wear of home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under homeowners insurance, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new dryer or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which are not that common in Ames.
A home warranty policy can help real estate agents, homebuyers, home sellers, homeowners, and investors. It can offer peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
Most home warranties are going to cover replacement costs in addition to repair costs. How much the coverage cap is varies from one plan to the next. Your home warranty will give you some money towards a replacement but the entire replacement may not be paid for.
Usually, the homeowner is the one who pays the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Ames, where the median value of a home is $194,993, when the seller pays for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
Home warranties usually don't cover issues due to natural disasters, pre-existing conditions, intentional breaking of an appliance, or lack of proper maintenance. They only cover damage from normal wear and tear. Although it doesn't cover all kinds of damage, a home warranty can still be useful to help you save some money in a city like Ames.
