Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By Todays Homeowner Local Pros
Last Updated June 2023
Find the best home warranty company that's right for you. Although homeownership in Ottumwa has a great number of benefits — such as being surrounded by nature — there are also not so glamorous sides, similar to owning a house anywhere else. One major issue many homeowners have to deal with eventually is replacing or repairing their appliances and home systems.
A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected large expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind. Finding the right home protection plan for your Ottumwa home can be hard, so our team at Today's Homeowner did the research to help you find the best home warranty in Ottumwa for your home. Keep reading for our 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 for Ottumwa residents. Choice has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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 has 2 plans for homeowners to decide between.
Choice Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a combination of appliance and system coverage. The coverage caps from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Ottumwa area.
To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read more by visiting our detailed 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 in Ottumwa. Select has more than 11 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. Select has 3 plans for homeowners to decide between. If you're looking for a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan, this is the home warranty for you. Plus, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
The plans that Select offers to homeowners are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage limits from Select are about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Ottumwa area.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty. 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 Ottumwa, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been in the home warranty business for about 26 years. The home warranty company offers 3 plans to policyholders that have various options for appliance and system coverage. AHS offers the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Plus, it also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
American Home Shield has 3 plans that provide a combination of system and appliance coverage. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also around $2,500.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For a more detailed breakdown, 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
The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service in Ottumwa. HSC has more than 15 years of experience in the home warranty sector, and has provided exceptional customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. 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, this is the plan 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 simple plans, making the selection process easy.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC's plans are around the $2,000 mark for many of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. For more information on this provider, read our review of The Home Service Club.
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 is the most trustworthy home warranty for Ottumwa residents. Liberty has been in the home warranty business for about 6 years. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. Liberty has established itself as a company with a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. It also has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
Liberty Home Guard has 3 plans that provide a combination 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.
Read our Liberty Home Guard Review to learn more. To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281.
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 Ottumwa, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has over 39 years of experience in the home warranty industry, and has provided excellent customer service at an affordable cost to its customers. First American offers very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Plus, it 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. First American offers 2 plans for you to decide between.
First American Home Warranty has 2 plans that offer a mix of system and appliance coverage. First American's service fees are a reasonable $85, and the coverage limits come out to about $1,500 per covered system or appliance.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee for Ottumwa residents. The 3 plans that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it 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. The coverage caps associated with Cinch's plans are around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most 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 detailed review of Cinch Home Services.
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 | $5,827 |
| Heating | $3,884 |
| Electrical | $583 |
| Toilets | $486 |
| Washer/Dryer | $777 |
| Plumbing | $583 |
| Oven | $1,554 |
| Fridge | $583 |
A home warranty is a service contract that makes it more affordable when one of your home systems or appliances breaks down. A home warranty can help homeowners who need to keep a budget in place 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 a problem, you file a claim with your home warranty provider. You can do so in an online portal or by telephone, and then a contractor will come and fix the problem.
At this point, you'll pay the service fee, which is usually between $60 and $150, depending on what plan you have. Once the service fee is paid, a repair person will come to your home, assess the issue, and make the repair. As long as the repair is covered by the warranty and it's within the coverage cap, most homeowners will not have to pay any other out-of-pocket costs after the service fee is paid.
A home warranty plan offers coverage on your home's major appliances and systems and it can help bring down your home maintenance expenses. The appliances usually covered under a home warranty include a microwave, clothes washer, clothes dryer, garbage disposal, refrigerator, dishwasher, and more. The systems included are ductwork, plumbing, electrical systems, and air conditioning.
The add-on coverage options can include septic system, spa, roof leak, pool, and sometimes even things like locksmith or pest control.
Ottumwa homeowners should be aware that a home warranty will only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties do not cover things like cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. You must keep up with preventative maintenance on your home systems and appliances to be sure that your next repair or replacement-related issue will be covered by the policy.
Since temperatures in Ottumwa can be quite hot in the summer, the weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioning unit and HVAC system. Purchasing a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down unexpectedly.
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 providers do the hard work for you and just send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them.
Home warranties also have some drawbacks. Though it can save you time when the home warranty sends out a repair person who takes care of the repair for you, some may not like this, and they would rather select their own contractor. If that's the case for you, some home warranty providers let you select a contractor.
Another thing to consider is that some providers don't cover pre-existing damage and may require an inspection before coverage begins. Ask the home warranty company for clarification about these things if you need more information or if this is an issue for you.
Determining the right provider for your home warranty is a step you can take to help protect your house. Before deciding which home warranty to purchase, here are a few additional factors to consider:
The best overall home warranty in Ottumwa is Choice Home Warranty, but the perfect company for you will vary based on factors such as what appliances and systems you need coverage for.
A home warranty is a type of contract that covers the repairs and replacements of major home system components and appliances.
A home warranty protects against the normal wear and tear of home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects a home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new refrigerator or stove, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which are somewhat common in Ottumwa.
A home warranty can help investors, real estate agents, homebuyers, homeowners, and home sellers. It can offer peace of mind to anyone involved in homeownership.
Most home warranty plans cover replacement costs as well as repair costs. How much the home warranty will cover 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.
A service fee is a cost that a homeowner must pay before a service technician or contractor comes to your home to repair your home warranty-related issue. The pricing is typically between $60 and $150. Service fees are sometimes called deductibles, and they should be the only out-of-pocket cost that homeowners have with a home warranty in place apart from the policy's premium unless the cost of the repair is higher than the coverage cap.
The systems and appliances in a home are covered under a home warranty plan in Ottumwa. Everything from a fridge to a washer can be covered under a home warranty depending on the plan.
