Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Benton Harbor gives homeowners some great housing options and the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons. However, temperatures can put quite a strain on your home’s systems, such as your HVAC. A home warranty can bring you the peace of mind you need and shield your savings account from large expenses by covering your home’s major appliances and systems.
Choosing the best home warranty on the market can be a challenge because of the sheer number of options available. If you're overwhelmed by trying to compare them all, keep reading for our guide on the top home warranty providers in Benton Harbor.
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 in Benton Harbor. If you’re looking for a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. 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 understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
Liberty Home Guard offers 3 plans for Benton Harbor 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 limits from Liberty are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $75, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, you can fill out this online form or call 866-451-2281. For more information on this provider, 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 in Benton Harbor. If you’re looking for very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. 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 understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
Choice Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Benton Harbor homeowners. The Basic Plan and Total Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage limits from Choice are about $3,000. The service fees are an affordable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. For more information on this provider, 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 in Benton Harbor. 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. The 3 plans from Select are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
Select Home Warranty offers 3 plans for Benton Harbor 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 limits from Select are about $2,000. The service fees are a reasonable $60, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from Select Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 888-370-3953. For more information on this provider, 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 in Benton Harbor. If you’re looking for the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans from AHS are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
American Home Shield offers 3 plans for Benton Harbor homeowners. The ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage limits from AHS are about $2,500. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. For more information on this provider, read our American Home Shield Review.
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
First American Home Warranty offers the best home warranty for appliance coverage in Benton Harbor. If you’re looking for very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. 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 understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
First American Home Warranty offers 2 plans for Benton Harbor homeowners. The Basic Plan and Premier Plan are the options they have, which contain a mix of system and appliance coverage. The coverage limits from First American are about $1,500. The service fees are a reasonable $85, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from First American Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 833-204-7164. For more information on this provider, read 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 Benton Harbor. If you’re looking for a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. Plus, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans from Cinch are easy to understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
Cinch Home Services offers 3 plans for Benton Harbor 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 limits from Cinch are about $1,000-$2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. For more information on this provider, 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 in Benton Harbor. 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, you’ll want to have this plan on your side. 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 understand and offer both system and appliance coverage.
The Home Service Club offers 2 plans for Benton Harbor 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 limits from HSC are about $2,000. The service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90, which is cheaper than other providers in the Benton Harbor area.
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 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 | $5,824 |
| Heating | $3,883 |
| Electrical | $582 |
| Toilets | $485 |
| Washer/Dryer | $777 |
| Plumbing | $582 |
| Oven | $1,553 |
| Fridge | $582 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Benton Harbor homeowners in lowering the expenses of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to replace or fix appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear.
When something stops working, you submit a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the replacement or fix. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the cost of the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives peace of mind to homeowners because it helps prevent costly emergency repairs. Home warranties are the most useful for owners of older homes or homes with aging systems. New homes with modern appliances might not require a home warranty.
Home warranties help protect both your home systems and appliances. Common appliances covered under a home warranty include dryers, washers, garbage disposals, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and others. Covered systems include electrical, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. Many home warranties offer additional add-on coverage options for septic systems, central vacuums, locksmiths, and even roof leaks. Benton Harbor homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only address repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include cosmetic issues, pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to help ensure your next repair or replacement is covered.
Here are some key home warranty terms to know before signing a contract:
When selecting a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage differs significantly when it comes to what's covered. Most plans cover AC, plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive options also include protection for other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, pools, and spas. Look for a provider that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific 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 provider's reputation can offer insight into things such as speed of repairs, approval rates for claims, contractor quality, and customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Good ratings and reviews indicate that a provider is known for top-tier service.
Home warranty companies have networks of technicians that they use to tackle covered repairs. More extensive networks improve the chance of getting skilled contractors to your home quickly. Contact possible providers to ask how many technicians they have in Benton Harbor. This helps you understand how long repairs might take in an urgent situation.
Certain home warranty providers offer extras such as energy-efficient upgrades, discounts on maintenance, and protection for smart home devices. These bonuses provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks help improve your home and maximize your home warranty.
Temperatures in Benton Harbor can vary greatly throughout the year, which means your air conditioner and heating systems are most likely going to get a lot of use. As a homeowner in Benton Harbor, one of the benefits of having a home warranty is that these home systems and major appliances can be covered in the event they have to be repaired or replaced.
Not only can a home warranty save you money on repairs and replacements, it saves you time as well. Instead of having to vet technicians by yourself, home warranty providers do the work for you and send pre-screened technicians right to your door when you need them. Another good thing about having a home warranty is if you want to sell your home, some providers let you transfer your home warranty policy to the new owners. This can make your house more attractive to potential homebuyers and may help your house sell faster.
One major drawback of a home warranty is not every home system and appliance you care about may be covered. It’s important to research the different policies and get one that covers all the appliances, systems, and add-ons you need.
Also, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they were damaged due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything other than normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty policy costs, on average, about $300 to $600 a year in Benton Harbor. Our high-rated home warranty providers' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can decrease your monthly bill with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. In addition, it's typically less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
Home warranties and home insurance differ in what kinds of damage they cover. Home warranty plans cover problems with systems and appliances that need repairs or replacements due to normal wear and tear. A home insurance policy is a different kind of insurance that protects your entire home from natural disasters, which might not be too much of a concern in Benton Harbor. It doesn't cover a typical appliance or system breakage.
Homebuyers, landlords, real estate agents, homeowners, and home sellers can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your home more attractive to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
A home warranty will cover your appliances, systems, or both. Combination plans are great if you'd like more coverage for your home, but a system- or appliance-only plan can be helpful if you're concerned about one more than the other.
Generally, a home warranty plan lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month options.
Typically, the homeowner is responsible for paying the premium and service fees. However, when buying a new home, sometimes the seller is the one who paid for the policy. This can then be given to the new homeowner, who has to pay the service fees when using the policy. In Benton Harbor, where the median home value is $113,417, having the seller pay for the home warranty can save you some money on your new home.
