Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
As much as you may enjoy homeownership in Reading, there's always that fear about whether your systems and appliances are going to need to be replaced in the next few years. A home warranty policy can help protect homeowners by covering major repairs and replacements on your home’s most important systems and appliances.
Finding the best protection for your home can be difficult, so our team at Today's Homeowner has compiled this guide to help you find the best home warranty companies in Reading. Read on for our home warranty recommendations.
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 Reading, Liberty Home Guard offers the most trustworthy home warranty. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry. The 3 policies that Liberty offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
Liberty Home Guard offers 3 plans for Reading homeowners. The Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from Liberty are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Reading, Choice Home Warranty offers the best overall home warranty. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 policies that Choice offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Reading homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from Choice are around $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Reading, Select Home Warranty offers the most cost-effective home warranty. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance. The 3 policies that Select offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Reading homeowners. The Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from Select are around $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Reading, American Home Shield offers the most customizable home warranty. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 policies that AHS offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Reading homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from AHS are around $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Reading, Cinch Home Services offers the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. 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 3 policies that Cinch offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Reading homeowners. The Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from Cinch are around $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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
In Reading, The Home Service Club offers the best home warranty with the quickest service. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 policies that HSC offers include options for appliance and system coverage.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Reading homeowners. The Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage caps from HSC are around $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is lower than other providers in the Reading area.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 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 | $6,804 |
| Heating | $4,536 |
| Electrical | $680 |
| Toilets | $567 |
| Washer/Dryer | $907 |
| Plumbing | $680 |
| Oven | $1,814 |
| Fridge | $680 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that helps cut costs for Reading homeowners needing appliance and system repairs. These plans provide coverage to repair or swap out appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
Homeowners submit a claim and pay a service fee when something breaks. The home warranty provider then arranges 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 peace of mind, as it helps avoid high-priced emergency repairs. The coverage is particularly helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with fixtures near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and modern appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many household systems and appliances. Warranties usually cover appliances such as dryers, dishwashers, washers, garbage disposals, microwaves, refrigerators, and more. Covered systems include plumbing, air conditioning, electrical, and heating. Many home warranty companies also offer additional coverage for septic systems, roof leaks, central vacuums, and locksmiths. It's important for Reading homeowners to understand most home warranty plans have a waiting period of 30 days before repair claims will be approved. Most policies also only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Stay current with preventative maintenance to help guarantee your next repair or replacement is covered.
Home warranty contracts use several terms that you'll want to learn before signing, such as:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty plans can have major differences in covered items. Most plans provide protection for plumbing, heating, AC, electrical, and appliances. More comprehensive options also extend protection to other items such as pools, roof leaks, spas, and well pumps. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive coverage choices, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
Homeowners should anticipate paying a $60–100 service fee when filing home warranty claims. These per-repair charges can potentially accumulate over time, so some homeowners prefer using companies with lower service fees to maximize savings. Some companies also offer disappearing deductibles after periods where a customer files no claims.
A home warranty company's reputation gives insight into things such as contractor quality, timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Complimentary ratings and reviews indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies have networks of local contractors to handle repairs in your area. Contact potential providers to find out how many repair professionals they have in Reading and get an idea for how fast your repairs could take place in an emergency situation. More extensive networks raise the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Certain home warranty providers include perks such as energy-efficient upgrades, protection for smart home devices, and discounts on maintenance. These bonuses offer extra value beyond repair coverage. Extra perks can enhance your home and maximize your home warranty.
Home warranty policies are an affordable way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in Reading reaching an average high of 56℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your A.C., get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably bring down out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Not only can a home warranty save you some money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of having to vet contractors yourself, home warranty companies do the work for you and send a contractor from their network right to your door when you need them. A home warranty can also offer value in other ways. For instance, some plans can be transferred to another owner during a home sale.
There are also some downsides to buying a home warranty policy, such as the coverage exclusions. For instance, home warranties may not cover systems or appliances that already have a manufacturer's warranty.
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 denied, so it’s important to be sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty plan costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Reading. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can lower your monthly bill with some companies by opting for a higher service fee. Additionally, it's often cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty helps protect against normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. Homeowners insurance protects the entire home in a situation such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you won't be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or air conditioner, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which isn't that common in Reading.
Homebuyers, landlords, home sellers, homeowners, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different home warranties in Reading include plans that cover either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover many of your systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. A plan that only covers appliances or systems will cover only the specific items listed in the policy.
Home warranty plans usually provide coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month options as well.
In general, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, if you have just bought a new home, sometimes the seller will pay for the policy. This can then be transferred to the new homeowner, who will pay the service fees. In Reading, where the median value of a home is $807,573, having the seller pay for the home warranty can be a good asset for your new home.
